"Race" Block

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ChargedDart75

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Browsing through Facebook marketplace for stuff I don't need, I came across a 318 the owner swears is a race block (casting number 4104230-318-4). Doing some research, several sites list it as a race block except for the site (mopar casting numbers) says it is a '76-'84 standard block. I wonder what the deal is. I also did read a similar post on FABO about these casting numbers and that one stated it was more than likely a standard block. I know the X on the front of the block is a dead giveaway but I'm still curious about your thoughts on the block and why there would be so much conflicting date on that specific casting number.
 
I have one of those 318 "race blocks"...
Well at any rate it has the number sequence I believe that you're talking about because when I looked it up there was a certain lookups that said race block with its particular numbers. Of course it doesn't have an x on the front of it. It did come out of a cop car and had 360 heads and a windage tray.
 
Many years ago, Popular Hot Rodding magazine built up a 73-74 340. The suggested using a 318-3 or 318-8 crankshaft because they claimed they were a truck shaft & were stronger. I don't believe all of the BS the magazines publish because they can print whatever they wish & it's up to the general public to prove or disprove it. By the time their lawyers get through, whomever disputed them is broke.
 
Many years ago, Popular Hot Rodding magazine built up a 73-74 340. The suggested using a 318-3 or 318-8 crankshaft because they claimed they were a truck shaft & were stronger. I don't believe all of the BS the magazines publish because they can print whatever they wish & it's up to the general public to prove or disprove it. By the time their lawyers get through, whomever disputed them is broke.

I used several of those cranks. Don’t know if they were any stronger because I never broke a crank, but at that time I could find those dirt cheap.
 
I think the main difference between a forged 318/340 crank and a forged 318 truck crank is that the rod journals were either solid or not drilled all the way through.
 
The older I get, the more I despise writers. You come to realize that their talents lie in writing, not in actually doing or even knowing.
 
The regular 318 casting number was used on the "X" blocks, but its likely not a actual race block
 
Many years ago, Popular Hot Rodding magazine ................... I don't believe all of the BS the magazines publish b.

Many years ago that mag or maybe CarCraft had a couple of "project" series, one was a yellow 32-ish coupe. I remember "shortening the driveshaft" they had some dope saw the tube and WELD THE TUBE back together someplace in the middle

=======================

I "would have had proof" of B.S. if I'd saved a little announcement I read. "Some magazine" back in the 70's way in the back, was a little boxed in area in not-very-large print. this was one of the popular mags, Hot Rod, Popular Hot Rodding, or Car Craft.

What this said in essence, is "when we test cars and publish track times"................."and we feel the weather, the car, the driver was not up to what we think it should be, we factor times an mph"

RIGHT THERE ........."We are liars"
 
Ok, as stated in post #1 the research I did brought up conflicting data (posts on FABO, listing of casting numbers, etc.). I am still wondering why this data is so conflicting. I've seen evidence of this casting number with no X, no 4 bolt mains and yet people still insist it's a race block. Makes no sense.
 
back to the 318 truck crank, in my mopar race manual, states, 318 truck crank is nitrate hardened journals. also , it's out of a 318 poly engine. mopar started this in 1965, with 273,
 
Browsing through Facebook marketplace for stuff I don't need, I came across a 318 the owner swears is a race block (casting number 4104230-318-4). Doing some research, several sites list it as a race block except for the site (mopar casting numbers) says it is a '76-'84 standard block. I wonder what the deal is. I also did read a similar post on FABO about these casting numbers and that one stated it was more than likely a standard block. I know the X on the front of the block is a dead giveaway but I'm still curious about your thoughts on the block and why there would be so much conflicting date on that specific casting number.
There is conflicting information because every time a question is asked about these old blocks tons posts talk about regular old 318 blocks.
The fact is when the old race blocks were cast they used an existing casting number. So the only real way to know for sure it is a race block is the other markings on the block itself.
If it has the large X or R on the front of the block it should be a real race block.
Check out post 76 in this thread for photos of real race X block with same casting number you posted, except it was a -5 casting instead of -4:
Mopar R1 block
 
Years ago, Popular Hot Rodding ran an article on the Magnum Force (or Alterkation?) front ends for the A body Mopar. In the article, they bragged about how the suspension setup shaved something like 225lbs. off the nose of the car. I don't recall the exact number, but you get the idea.

It seemd like bullshit to me, and I happened to have an entire 1973 disc brake k frame with brakes, control arms, steering, etc sitting out in the shop. So I hooked it up to my scale and it weighed - covered in dirt and grime, even - 7 lbs more than the poundage the article said was saved.

So I went on the PHR website forum and posted pic of the K frame on the scale and politely (seriously, not being a dick) asked if they had made a mistake. Their response? They deleted my post without any comment!
 
Pictures of a race block including the common casting number of other 318's.

Note X of right side of timing cover, extra meat in the timing cover area, X in the bellhousing area and the extra meat in the main saddles. Another clue is many of them came without the dipstick tube hole drilled.


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Pictures of a race block including the common casting number of other 318's.

Note X of right side of timing cover, extra meat in the timing cover area, X in the bellhousing area and the extra meat in the main saddles. Another clue is many of them came without the dipstick tube hole drilled.


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Interesting. I've never seen an X block with 2 bolt mains, I always thought they were 4 bolt.
 
Interesting. I've never seen an X block with 2 bolt mains, I always thought they were 4 bolt.


I’ve had several of them, all 2 bolt. The X block for my junk car is 2 bolt. The R block I have for the 3.79 stroke W2 junker I’m doing is a 2 bolt block but it’s getting 4 bolt caps.
 
They came in both 2 bolt and 4 bolt. I've got a 4 bolt that I've been using for better than 20 years. Mine is currently 4.1 bore but will go to 4.125 safely. Oil tube hole not drilled.
 
I have 2 with that casting number. One has a 318 poly crank in it. It was built for a 59 dodge to keep original manual transmission. The other came out of a 76 van.
 
I have 2 with that casting number. One has a 318 poly crank in it. It was built for a 59 dodge to keep original manual transmission. The other came out of a 76 van.
You dont have race blocks, you have regular 318s
 
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