Pick up a 318 or continue my search for a 360

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69barracudavert

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Hello,

My current project has a tore down non-working (Was torn down 17-18 years ago and never put back together) 318. I was looking for a 360 to put in its place from recommendations here. However, I have found a supposed working 318 with a 904 transmission and converter for $350. The owner knows little about it other that it was slightly modified and was running when pulled from the vehicle. He was only able to say that it came from a performance shop and was removed in favor of a crate engine. So in short the history of the engine is unknown.
Should I keep looking for a 360 to build or pick up this 318 which in theory I can drop in the car and be one step closer to having the car run. $350.00 is not a lot, but time and effort right now seems to be a commodity.

Thanks
 
I went with my 318 because it was cheap, low mileage and running. If you're going to invest in machine work, in my opinion, 360 all the way. The only exception IMO is if you're going to stroke it, then the two are close enough for me not to worry about it. If you know it's a good running engine, $350 is cheap.
 
I would be hard pressed to pay that for a 318 if I couldn't see it run.Keep looking there has to be some old mopar vans/trucks around with a running small block.
 
I would also NOT pay that kind of money for a "pig in a poke." Why would it be worth more than what you have?

So far as what to do, can't help you. If you run into a deal on a 318, I'd stick it in "for awhile" and continue to look for a 360

In my own case, I scored a low miles 318 for 200, ran it a week to see how it did, and put a little cam I had in it, and the Performer intake. The thing was surprisingly snappy
 
Go with the 318. I've been looking like you, 360s come and go - but not that often. I think my rear main seal is leaking oil, but I haven't tracked it down yet and was hoping to swap something in if I have to pull everything out.
 
It depends on what your plans are. If you just want a mild cruiser, then a 318 is fine. If you want some real performance, I'd keep looking for a 360 or a 340. BEFORE THE "WHAT'S WRONG WITH A 318" HATE MAIL STARTS: I know that the 318 is a good motor and that you can get decent performance out of them, but a 360 has 42 more cubic inches to start with. I would rather have a 340 or a 360.
 
stick with your original plan you will be happier in the long run
 
harrisonm said:
It depends on what your plans are. If you just want a mild cruiser, then a 318 is fine. If you want some real performance, I'd keep looking for a 360 or a 340. BEFORE THE "WHAT'S WRONG WITH A 318" HATE MAIL STARTS: I know that the 318 is a good motor and that you can get decent performance out of them, but a 360 has 42 more cubic inches to start with. I would rather have a 340 or a 360.
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Bottom line is most 318s need heads, cam, and intake before the playing field can start to be leveled. Used to be the pistons in the strokers were more expensive. Now it's about equalized to the point where it just doesn't make a difference- especially if you start with a good motor like a 318 cop 4bbl motor or a Magnum engine.
 
I would be interested to see what performance option are on the 318
if it has a good intake, 4 barrel and cam, that alone might be worth the price (specially if you still need a transmission and need to ad that to the cost aswell)
 
Try looking here for a 360. It's a nationwide database for salvage yards across north america and you can narrow your search to one near you. You may even be able to get a short warranty with it. Do a search near you for a low mileage 360...


www.car-parts.com
 
69barracudavert said:
However, I have found a supposed working 318 with a 904 transmission and converter for $350. The owner knows little about it other that it was slightly modified and was running when pulled from the vehicle. He was only able to say that it came from a performance shop and was removed in favor of a crate engine. So in short the history of the engine is unknown.
Click to expand...
Honestly, this is too easily just a 'story' to make motor that is totally unknown sound like a good running engine, with just enough excuses rolled in for the seller to feel blameless when it turns out to be a POC. ("I told you I was not totally sure, man....") I'd anticipate a rebuild with at least a 50/50 probability; i.e., flip a coin to determine the actual condition!
 
69barracudavert said:
but time and effort right now seems to be a commodity.

Thanks
Click to expand...

This I understand totally.

If I were you either look for a Magnum 5.2 or 5.9 or rebuild what you have. Any engine you can not hear run and drive I'd consider a core, then at that you don't know if its cracked, or bored beyond life, crank turned .030/.030 etc.
 
69barracudavert said:
Hello,

My current project has a tore down non-working (Was torn down 17-18 years ago and never put back together) 318. I was looking for a 360 to put in its place from recommendations here. However, I have found a supposed working 318 with a 904 transmission and converter for $350. The owner knows little about it other that it was slightly modified and was running when pulled from the vehicle. He was only able to say that it came from a performance shop and was removed in favor of a crate engine. So in short the history of the engine is unknown.
Should I keep looking for a 360 to build or pick up this 318 which in theory I can drop in the car and be one step closer to having the car run. $350.00 is not a lot, but time and effort right now seems to be a commodity.

Thanks
Click to expand...
I find it hard to beloirve 360/5.9 are hard to find.
If you lived closer I have four
360's and one 5.9
I'd take $150.00 for a complete 360.
My best luck was I came across a 95 dodge 3500 van with a 5.9 and 46rh trans with Dana 70 rear with new tires on centerline wheel that I put on my m880.
Gonna paint the van with rustoleum,remove the axle for my m880 and use van for storage.$600.00 is all I paid.
Wheels with the new tires were worth that.
Also had a new battery that was dead but under warranty,guy was a jobber so I got a new$178.00 battery to,deals are out there.
5.9 is getting eq318b heads ported etc.to go in my 2000 durango.
Already have a auburn suregrip and 4.11 r&p to go in the 9.25"
Turbo grind can and turbo going in/on it latter.
 
360's are a dime a dozen at pretty much any yard. I'd keep looking. I just went from a .20 over 318 to a mild built .30 over 360 and there is no comparison. 360 all day for the win.
 
If you decide to use the 318 for now then do a compression test if at all possible before you buy the engine. Since it has a transmission and converter you should be able to run this test. If you can't hear it run then this is the next best thing. Depending on how complete it is you might be able to test fire it on the ground. That's what I did with mine.

I ran my 318 until I was able to find and build the 340 I have now. No regrets about it at all. 318's are cheap and they're great little engines. You could drive the car and enjoy it while building a mean 360. With a little larger cam, a 600 CFM four barrel and some headers, the 318 might surprise you. Mine would burn my 295's to the ground if I let it :burnout:

Both are good engines. Which is "better" just depends on what's available to you and what you plan to do with the car.
 
Unless I missed something, we don't know enough about the 318/904. To the OP: Go look at it an open your eyes. Does it have a 4bbl intake already on it? if so, that could be 100.00 bucks. If it doesn't have an intake on it, you can look at some of the pieces (like cam, push rods, etc.). Pull a valve cover off and see what heads are on it, especially since you think it may already been "beefed up a little". If it already has good heads and a 4bbl intake, these components will work on a LA 360/340. Is it a stock converter?? You should be able to tell. 350 dollars for the pair may end up being a great deal, just have to look
 
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