Cheap 318 performance mods.
back about 15 years ago, I picked up a magnum 318 with a spun main bearing for like $200. I took the original 318 that was in my '85 5th ave that had about 65k miles on it, reringed/bearinged it, had a 5angle VJ done on the magnum engine's heads, home bowl port and gasket matched them, used the MP .028" thick head gasket, and had the '85's roller cam sent off to Bullet to be reground to the lobes I specified in my post. reused the stock magnum rockers, used hughes 1110 springs and 2.2L mopar retainers, and found the proper length pushrods for it from summit. back then on moparts there was a jig floating around to redrill the mag heads to LA, I think I used that.....I may have had ~$1k into that long block. took the headers/intake/carb (hedman, RPM air gap, 600CFM edelbrock electric choke AFB) that I had on the 360 I had put in my 5th ave and put it on that 318. it ran just as hard as the 360 (reringed shortblock with bowl ported/gasket matched 1.88" valve heads and a comp XE262) but with better low end response and much better fuel economy (like 20-25% better).
honestly, instead of throwing $$ at a 70's 318 with a cam/headers/intake and those poor flowing heads, it might be worth looking for a good running magnum 318 as a starting platform if you can pick it up for a couple hundred bucks. hardest part would be redrilling the heads to LA intake pattern unless you're OK with running one of the $150 chinese knockoff air gap manifolds
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BW8XLRGD?tag=fabo03-20...
I won’t argue that but then again, I think a re reading of the original post is in order to better answer the actual question asked by the OP.
If the question was not, “What can I do cheaply to my current 318”, I’d say your answer is perfect but it’s not along with a bunch of others here making your answer not only wrong but of no actual help to the OP and his quest for knowledge.
Even though it makes sense… but then again, since your suggestion getting another engine, you should have suggested a 5.9. Or a stroker kit for the 5.9, then suggest a blower, aluminum heads, 5 spd manual, F.I. And etc….
Or just straight to a stroker and poked Gen II HEMI with a 10/71.
Why didn’t you suggest that?
And the thread degrades even further with no one giving a **** to the original question. Just spend mo money! And lots of it. Spend it like the U.S. government throws money at its problems, real or perceived, like the Ukraine! Yes, yes that’s it! He should spend billions of dollars stroking and poking his engine and re-upping his drivetrain for his beater
Bali, you got it, you are the man! You’re so freaking smart. Why are you a freaking genius? Oh wait you are a genius that’s right. And you spend money spend money spend money more money more money screw him spend money spend more
That I tell you a little secret, spend money!
Never mind working with what you have screw that crap spend money!
Thanks to everyone for being helpful!!!!
You guys are incredibly awesome! Now go get your tattoo, spend money!
