The 318 actually came in my 71 scamp I bought late last summer. They guy said the heads where ported and reworked. Didnt really say anything about the bottom end
but I got the feeling he had it
rebuilt by the way he talked. It had a 340 cam in it and when I pulled the heads sure enough they have been ported. Heads where very clean. No oil sludge etc. So I know the engine was apart. Had it all painted up pretty and all! When I test drove the car it didnt fire right off and actually took a little bit of time to fire.
I figure they just slapped the carb on and never really tuned the engine. Engine seemed strong on the test drive. Hell the guy even had me lay rubber thru the intersection.
I understand your frustration but if the guy never said he rebuilt it and you never asked, by assuming these things you set yourself up for a fall. Please don't take that as criticism as it's not meant that way. Just take it from one that experienced the same sort of thing when I was young and learned the hard way to never go by feelings or assume anything. If you don't know the person well enough to trust him and he doesn't have reciepts your best assumption is it could need rebuilt, no matter what he says
I've been tossing around just going to the junk yard and picking up a 318 or 360 magnum and throwing that in the car for now but Im not all up on the magnum swaps.
Magnums bolt right in place of an LA. The only difference is the engine mount on one side (I always forget what side) is different on a 318 to a 360 and a 360 magnum is externally balanced so you'll have to change the torque converter or buy a B&M or TCI weighted flexplate to properly balance it. Of course you'll also have to buy a intake that accepts a carb. and swap the magnum dist. for a LA dist, such as your 318 dist.
Never looked at a crate engine, but I think those cost a ton more! I would love to hear more opinions about what to do for a engine
