Were gonna have to start a forum for the "misfits"
Why dont they all just use the biggest "best" engine in their lineup in every car they make, if its no harder to install that engine vs the one with smaller displacement?
Because then the manufacturer couldn't charge more money for the bigger motor. ;-)
One trend I've noticed over the years is a move to smaller, higher revving engines. Seems like the 318 fits that bill well. As technology improves it gets easier to make a motor rev and make good power but run clean on the low end and give good economy. The new variable cam timing technology helps that, but I bet a well built 318 would do the job just with a good EFI setup. I've thought that would make a really nice setup.
At the same time, it does seem that every time a manufacturer needs more hp, the motor gets bigger (5.7 -> 6.1 -> 6.4 or 4.6 SOHC -> 4.6 DOHC -> 5.4 Supercharged -> 5.8 Supercharged). I think this just proves that if hp is the only goal, bigger is better.
Don't know about the sound they make (318 vs. 360), but I do like the sound of a high revving V8.
I toyed with ideas for a 273 build for a while, came down to the fact that I could (theoretically) find a forged crank 318 easier. But the 273 would make near the hp of a 360, and maybe deliver several mpg better economy. It wont have the low end torque, but gear it right and it wont matter.
My Paper Tiger build would be a 318 with a big roller cam, 10:1 compression, aluminum high flow heads and a programmable EFI setup. Couple that with an MA6 5 speed out of a Colorado or Solstice and a 3.55 rear gear and look out. Get the motor to idle cleanly using the EFI and make sure the induction setup is responsive, and I bet you would have a killer setup. Will it make the most power? No. Will it (potentially) have better economy than a 360 with a similar build? Most likely.
BTW, the 318 and the 5.7 Hemi share the same bore size, so it's not like a 3.91 bore is impossible to make power with.
