Ok so I've been going back and forth on what I should do. I've read a lot but the main thing I'm getting is you need to change this or that....I have a 318/a904/7.25 in my 70 dart. My question is how can I get the best performance out of what I already have. I would like a street/strip build. I already know the rear end I have is small and I would love to be able to put a 8 3/4 in the car but can't find/afford one right now. What is a good set up for what I have? I have the motor torn down and the trans is out. I've already started on a disc brake conversion on the front. Plan on replacing pitman, idler, end links etc....I need help knowing what combo of parts to get for the motor and trans. I do not care about fuel economy as this will not be a daily, but I still would like to be able to drive to work or to the track from time to time. Is it even possible to make a "fast/quick" car with the rear I have?.....I know people have probably asked or had the same problem as I am having, but every time I try and find something about it, people just say get a new motor/ rearend. Any help would be awesome!!!!
70 dart 318/904/7.25
- Thread starter Firedart
- Start date
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Help us by telling what you can afford to spend.
It's not so much about what I can afford to spend as to what I have to work with at the moment. I have found a 400/727 for $450 but I know there would be ALOT more to do to make it fit. I will be able to afford like $100 a week to throw at the car.
So, it's not about the money, then it's about how long your willing to wait. In 20 weeks you'll have enough to put a stout 360 magnum with a set of EQ heads in your car.
here is a "under 500.00 dollar build 318" I did recently.
my Low dollar 318 hop-up project
my Low dollar 318 hop-up project
That's exactly my point. If I wanted to put in another motor right now I would go ahead and buy the 400. I want to know can I build what I have not wait 20weeks and build a motor I don't have.....the whole point of the thread was to build what I have not get a new motor/trans/rear end.
I just posted a 318 build I did for under 500.00 bucks. Read it.
nm9stheham
Well-Known Member
One reply is confusing.... are you OK with waiting 20 or 30 or 40 weeks and saving up the $$, or not? If you don't want to wait, then the immediate budget that you have to spend is the question. The answers to recommended parts depends a lot on what you have to spend. Putting in better pistons with higher CR would be a good first step for the 318 (it has a low CR from the factory) but if you don't have the $$, for just racing and hard hot-rodding, you can skip that and save some dough. You can put the $$$ into the right torque converter to work with a hotter cam instead. Then comes the question of heads....
It will be fine to build the 318 that you have now; the question will be if you be happy with that or want more? Of course you can always build the 318 and sell it later and build something bigger. I can recall that decision point a few decades back: build up the 302 I had, or get and build a 351C? I jumped ahead to the 351C and was sure happy I did.
You can make the car a lot faster with a stronger motor and it will last until the 7.25" rear axle fails. It almost sounds like you are heading down that road anyway so I'd go for it and enjoy; you can always replace the axle when it goes out.
Is the 400 in known good running condition? What fit problems do you anticipate? This seems like a good option to me.
It will be fine to build the 318 that you have now; the question will be if you be happy with that or want more? Of course you can always build the 318 and sell it later and build something bigger. I can recall that decision point a few decades back: build up the 302 I had, or get and build a 351C? I jumped ahead to the 351C and was sure happy I did.
You can make the car a lot faster with a stronger motor and it will last until the 7.25" rear axle fails. It almost sounds like you are heading down that road anyway so I'd go for it and enjoy; you can always replace the axle when it goes out.
Is the 400 in known good running condition? What fit problems do you anticipate? This seems like a good option to me.
The guy I have been talking to about the 400 said I could hear it run but it is out of the car. He said it came out of a 69/70 New Yorker. I'm not sure but what I could find was that the 69/70 New Yorker came with a 440 not 400. The only casting number he gave me was 400-1 he hasn't sent me the whole number yet. I was trying to go an easier route from not having to change a lot on the car. Like drive shaft or rear end. An 8.8 rear I thought would work to hook up the 400.....I want to go the easier route which ever that might be. Since I already have what I do, I thought it would be easier and quicker to get on the road. If I was to get the 400 I'd make it a stroker motor for sure.
Precisely the question I asked, but got no answer except 100 bucks a week. So, if he is willing to wait 2 weeks, it's a 200 dollar budget.
To the OP, we are very helpful here, but YOU have to TELL us what you have to spend. We cannot guess. One hundred bucks a week makes us ask how long your willing to wait. If you don't help, we can't help.
Sorry to not clarify a budget, it all depends on the hours I can get at working 3 jobs and trying to have a kid. If I work more hours it could be 100-400 a week. It just depends on the hours I can work and keep the wife happy. I'm not to concerned with price. Ideally I'd like to stay under 3k I just don't have all 3k right now. would it be worth it to do the stroker kit? I've rescued this car from sitting in a shop for 15years and trying to bring her back to life. Just want realistic ideas for what I can do with what I have. I really don't know a good direction to take with this build, that maybe I can add to as time goes on.
seabee
Well-Known Member
How fast is "fast" for you? I have a 318/904/7.25 and enjoy driving it almost every day.
My opinion: I would focus on keeping the car on the road with brakes, suspension, etc. while upgrading the 318 with parts that will transfer over to a hotter engine down the road.
Like Ignition upgrades and Cooling system. Then, when you drop that new rear and drivetrain you are good to go.
Then don't let a couple of weeks stop you from getting what you want. Really, what is the real difference if it's done in 3 weeks vs. 5? It's going to cost you at least 500 bucks to do a low cost build as I did. And time.
As mentioned above, if you use the 318, it's going to appreciate a decent torque converter, especially with your gears.
If you want a quick run down of a parts list for your 318, then here it is:
4bbl (125.00 - 225.00 2nd hand bolt and go)
4bbl intake (dual plane 2nd hand 125.00)
around a factory 340 size cam/lifter kit (new 110.00 cheapy from summit)
headers. (135.00 cheapies from summit)
gaskets - (50.00 bucks)
Timing chain - (35.00 summit double roller)
Heads - minimum a valve job. Could always home port. $$$$ unknown......
As mentioned above, if you use the 318, it's going to appreciate a decent torque converter, especially with your gears.
If you want a quick run down of a parts list for your 318, then here it is:
4bbl (125.00 - 225.00 2nd hand bolt and go)
4bbl intake (dual plane 2nd hand 125.00)
around a factory 340 size cam/lifter kit (new 110.00 cheapy from summit)
headers. (135.00 cheapies from summit)
gaskets - (50.00 bucks)
Timing chain - (35.00 summit double roller)
Heads - minimum a valve job. Could always home port. $$$$ unknown......
Slow down, you are all over the place.......want's, idea's, dreams are causing you great confusion!
what you can do now that is low dollar would be pick up a factory 4 bbl intake out of a salvage yard, hopefully it will still have carb bolted to it, if not look for cheap carb and rebuild it. Put a set of 360 iron exhaust manifolds on it, might be able to get them for free. This takes care of more air in and out. This is easy-peasie simple low buck hot rodding that has been done since the day after dirt was invented.
Next, you could do a cam swap, something on the small side; ask here and you'll get ALOT of suggestions........one that comes to my mind would be a stock 360.
You could have fun driving this right up till you break the 7 1/4.....a less expensive axle swap would be an 8 1/4
what you can do now that is low dollar would be pick up a factory 4 bbl intake out of a salvage yard, hopefully it will still have carb bolted to it, if not look for cheap carb and rebuild it. Put a set of 360 iron exhaust manifolds on it, might be able to get them for free. This takes care of more air in and out. This is easy-peasie simple low buck hot rodding that has been done since the day after dirt was invented.
Next, you could do a cam swap, something on the small side; ask here and you'll get ALOT of suggestions........one that comes to my mind would be a stock 360.
You could have fun driving this right up till you break the 7 1/4.....a less expensive axle swap would be an 8 1/4
stroked340
Well-Known Member
Replace it with a 360...................
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