318 rebuild

The 74 heads are good heads, unless YOU want to pay someone to port, decent power can be made from them with a good valve job.
If you are keeping the small port heads, a Holley street dominator, Offenhauser dual port (318) or the Marine/273 single plane manifold is a great choice. DOn't matter that the Performer and action minus manifold are small port, the single plane small port manifolds run better.
Pistons of your choice to bring them to the top, and a nice thin gasket if you wish, will be all the compression you need to run a small cam on 87 octane.
A windage tray and studs are a good idea.
Some iron adjustable rockers too.
As far as cam, I would keep it same/same on the duration if you're using small port heads, of close to stock flow. Think 260/260 ISKY.
Carb, use one that has metering rods. (Edel/TQ/QJ)


I have built many many many strong mild little 318's that will last forever with close to this combo. Fun, reliable, sound nice, start easy, and are easy on the pocket book at the pump, but yet are strong on the street.