I don't know why were trying to make this 318 work you got a 440, at best get 318 running with minimum cost gather all the parts needed for the swap then swap, or just start the swap now and have it ready for spring.
There's nothing wrong if you got a decent running 318 and add 4bbl cam headers to it but once you want to go more then that, you need different heads and generally higher cr pistons and if going that far might as well start with a 360 core.
If you really want to stick with a sbm, I do magnum truck idea someone mentioned, test the compression, hear it run, better chance starting with a decent core.
Makes sense..
440 requires the swap pan, mounts headers and trans .. that alone is 2k.
Tge 8-1/4 rear will not hold up(.I heard) so another 2k in rear end upgrade.
(Car cost me 1k)
But yea I get what you saying.
My thought was to sell the BB instead of adding more $.
Then use half the $ to make work what I got.
Since I'm pulling the engine anyways I can easily put new rings and bearings for 150$.to the SBE.
Then add cam but here I have to upgrade the 318 heads and that is in my view not worth it.
The SM heads cost 1000$roughly.
And have 65cc good runners and have valve springs up to .600 lift.
AND just to elaborate here, I had SM BBC and sbc heads I had both checked and the hardware is much better than what it was.... and worked really good.
It's also simple to explain.. when thinking about it... do you think SM would still be in business in such a competitive market if the stuff is all crap?
Across mopar, gm ,ford new and old engines the product is working....is it the best??? No but for the price you can't beat the heads castings.
Again... it's a street car I'm looking for 350hp. The 904 trans will take it and the rear end too
