looking for 318 tips and advice

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Cold Lake Alberta
Hey so, I got a 76 Plymouth Volare coupe. AC car and has power steering, pretty sure its numbers matching with a 318, I believe I am the third owner, the story I was told was that the car belong to the guys uncle who bought it new in 76 and in i believe it was 84 they put it in the barn where it sat till he died and then the nephew got it and sold it to me, anyways i owned it for about a year n a half and well I was gonna leave it alone until someone with no insurance crashed into it so now i have put new panels on it and gonna paint it in the spring so now my plan is to build it into a fun street machine. so i was curios if yall have any suggestions on what to do with it? id like to keep the 318 but make it a lot more fun than the factory smog engine puts out. I am planning on just rebuilding the rear end and putting in 3.23 gears with a LSD and probably keep the 904 trans and just upgrade it since it seems that mopar parts in my area are kinda hard to come by. I aint got a very big budget and the paint job is gonna run me a pretty penny so if yall have low buck tips id greatly appreciate it
 
Hey so, I got a 76 Plymouth Volare coupe. AC car and has power steering, pretty sure its numbers matching with a 318, I believe I am the third owner, the story I was told was that the car belong to the guys uncle who bought it new in 76 and in i believe it was 84 they put it in the barn where it sat till he died and then the nephew got it and sold it to me, anyways i owned it for about a year n a half and well I was gonna leave it alone until someone with no insurance crashed into it so now i have put new panels on it and gonna paint it in the spring so now my plan is to build it into a fun street machine. so i was curios if yall have any suggestions on what to do with it? id like to keep the 318 but make it a lot more fun than the factory smog engine puts out. I am planning on just rebuilding the rear end and putting in 3.23 gears with a LSD and probably keep the 904 trans and just upgrade it since it seems that mopar parts in my area are kinda hard to come by. I aint got a very big budget and the paint job is gonna run me a pretty penny so if yall have low buck tips id greatly appreciate it
I'm assuming its a 2 barrel carb? On the cheap, I'd say start with a 4bl carb/intake and a good flowing exhaust will pep it up.
 
Build it like a 340 with a step less cam & valve size for the street and you’ll be fine.
The real question here is what do you want out of the car?
A certain power level? Time slip ET? Mileage master to travel with?
 
I'm assuming its a 2 barrel carb? On the cheap, I'd say start with a 4bl carb/intake and a good flowing exhaust will pep it up.
Yeah it still has the crappy 2bl carter and I already got a edelbrock rpm performer (I think that's what it is) used for like $100 canadian and plan on getting a 4bl soon for it, I'm curious what kinda of cfm would I be able to run?
 
Build it like a 340 with a step less cam & valve size for the street and you’ll be fine.
The real question here is what do you want out of the car?
A certain power level? Time slip ET? Mileage master to travel with?
I like to think around 300hp at the wheel would be realistic but I might be dreaming a bit. Mainly just want a pretty quick summer car for now.
 
Yeah it still has the crappy 2bl carter and I already got a edelbrock rpm performer (I think that's what it is) used for like $100 canadian and plan on getting a 4bl soon for it, I'm curious what kinda of cfm would I be able to run?
For a stock 318, I would think a 600/650 would be doable and still give you room to step up some.
 
Yeah it still has the crappy 2bl carter and I already got a edelbrock rpm performer (I think that's what it is) used for like $100 canadian and plan on getting a 4bl soon for it, I'm curious what kinda of cfm would I be able to run?


Frist is to get dual exhaust 2 1/4" or 2 1/2"... The stock single exhaust really chokes the 318....

Second thing to change is get a double roller timing chain, the stock 318 single row chain is junk... It stretches too easily and can jump a tooth... Get a 340 double roller timing chain or better...

Then go 4 bbl, I like the Holley 80457 600 vacuum secondary carb with electric choke... The electric choke is very streetable...
 
300 on the tires is doable, but not with just a cam and intake swap. You'll need more compression and better flowing heads/worked stock heads.
Yeah I figured I'd need to jump the compression up. Any suggestions on what you'd do if you're trying to increase compression and run better heads on a budget?
 
Yeah I figured I'd need to jump the compression up. Any suggestions on what you'd do if you're trying to increase compression and run better heads on a budget?


If you are on a budget, forget the heads for now...
 
Frist is to get dual exhaust 2 1/4" or 2 1/2"... The stock single exhaust really chokes the 318....

Second thing to change is get a double roller timing chain, the stock 318 single row chain is junk... It stretches too easily and can jump a tooth... Get a 340 double roller timing chain or better...

Then go 4 bbl, I like the Holley 80457 600 vacuum secondary carb with electric choke... The electric choke is very streetable...
I've never thought bout the timing chain before, thank you that probably saved me a lot of issues in the future
 
My plan of action would be to really really pay attention to the state of tune of the carb and ignition timing ago start with. The known use of 3.23 gears on a stock tire size (which is what now?) limits cam size for a hood daily driver with pep. Before we even discuss a cam, you can do well without it. This is y list of suggested bolt on parts.

First decide on what carb your going to use. A 318 really needs no more than 600 cfm’s at your level. The exception would be a TQ. Just use the small primary version.
If your not going to use a cast iron factory intake manifold for the 4bbl. upgrade, look to the Edelbrock Performer. There about as equal as you can get. And a good few pounds lighter.
I like an Accel distributor or equal to customize the timing curve in event yours does t have a vacuum advance canister or is just pain old shot out.
Couple it with a multi spark box & upgraded coil. Then open up the plug gap to approximately.050.
Headers aren’t really necessary and there a royal PIA to install. A good dual exhaust system even off of the stock manifolds will be really good. A set of earlier manifolds flow best.

More expensive upgrades.
You have a low compression engine. This hurts in a small way but almost guarantees the use of 87 octane or lower. This also has an effect of how large of a cam you can install with good results. Milling the heads, upgrading to the next valve size up (360 valves) and some bowl work helps nicely in the power department but is expensive to almost the point of why do it when Edelbrock or SpeedMaster heads are available for a few bucks more and return more power per dollar spent. Then add a Summit Racing header and 2-1/2 exhaust kit combo.
This is a really nice power package combo when used with upgraded heads and camshaft!

Keep cam timing below 218@050 or lower. This will work with the stock converter, rear gear and tire size very well.

Been there done that and it was fun.
 
Hey so, I got a 76 Plymouth Volare coupe. AC car and has power steering, pretty sure its numbers matching with a 318, I believe I am the third owner, the story I was told was that the car belong to the guys uncle who bought it new in 76 and in i believe it was 84 they put it in the barn where it sat till he died and then the nephew got it and sold it to me, anyways i owned it for about a year n a half and well I was gonna leave it alone until someone with no insurance crashed into it so now i have put new panels on it and gonna paint it in the spring so now my plan is to build it into a fun street machine. so i was curios if yall have any suggestions on what to do with it? id like to keep the 318 but make it a lot more fun than the factory smog engine puts out. I am planning on just rebuilding the rear end and putting in 3.23 gears with a LSD and probably keep the 904 trans and just upgrade it since it seems that mopar parts in my area are kinda hard to come by. I aint got a very big budget and the paint job is gonna run me a pretty penny so if yall have low buck tips id greatly appreciate it
Well the LSD should make whatever you do...fun. if you dont have to smog test it...
Do an intake and 4 brl swap, up the exhaust to dual 2 1/4 pipes, install and "MSD" ignition, recurve the distributor with some lighter springs and you can keep the egr if you want.. because its just a milage enhancer and shuts off when you stomp on it. It only opens at cruise...Oh and put air in your tires, that helps too-B.Obummer.
After market air cleaner is a good idea too.
Flex or electric fan will free up 5-20hp depending on the rpm.
 
My plan of action would be to really really pay attention to the state of tune of the carb and ignition timing ago start with. The known use of 3.23 gears on a stock tire size (which is what now?) limits cam size for a hood daily driver with pep. Before we even discuss a cam, you can do well without it. This is y list of suggested bolt on parts.

First decide on what carb your going to use. A 318 really needs no more than 600 cfm’s at your level. The exception would be a TQ. Just use the small primary version.
If your not going to use a cast iron factory intake manifold for the 4bbl. upgrade, look to the Edelbrock Performer. There about as equal as you can get. And a good few pounds lighter.
I like an Accel distributor or equal to customize the timing curve in event yours does t have a vacuum advance canister or is just pain old shot out.
Couple it with a multi spark box & upgraded coil. Then open up the plug gap to approximately.050.
Headers aren’t really necessary and there a royal PIA to install. A good dual exhaust system even off of the stock manifolds will be really good. A set of earlier manifolds flow best.

More expensive upgrades.
You have a low compression engine. This hurts in a small way but almost guarantees the use of 87 octane or lower. This also has an effect of how large of a cam you can install with good results. Milling the heads, upgrading to the next valve size up (360 valves) and some bowl work helps nicely in the power department but is expensive to almost the point of why do it when Edelbrock or SpeedMaster heads are available for a few bucks more and return more power per dollar spent. Then add a Summit Racing header and 2-1/2 exhaust kit combo.
This is a really nice power package combo when used with upgraded heads and camshaft!

Keep cam timing below 218@050 or lower. This will work with the stock converter, rear gear and tire size very well.

Been there done that and it was fun.
That is a lot of information but exactly what I was looking for thank you!
 
I like to think around 300hp at the wheel would be realistic but I might be dreaming a bit. Mainly just want a pretty quick summer car for now.
You'll get a ton of ideas, and all of them pretty much will help in a positive way. Here is a very low dollar 318 project I did about 5 years ago. You might find something in this worth noting. I didn't raise compression because of the "under 500" budget I allowed.
my Low dollar 318 hop-up project | For A Bodies Only Mopar Forum
 
Well the LSD should make whatever you do...fun. if you dont have to smog test it...
Do an intake and 4 brl swap, up the exhaust to dual 2 1/4 pipes, install and "MSD" ignition, recurve the distributor with some lighter springs and you can keep the egr if you want.. because its just a milage enhancer and shuts off when you stomp on it. It only opens at cruise...Oh and put air in your tires, that helps too-B.Obummer.
After market air cleaner is a good idea too.
Flex or electric fan will free up 5-20hp depending on the rpm.
I don't gotta smog test thankfully
 
You'll get a ton of ideas, and all of them pretty much will help in a positive way. Here is a very low dollar 318 project I did about 5 years ago. You might find something in this worth noting. I didn't raise compression because of the "under 500" budget I allowed.
my Low dollar 318 hop-up project | For A Bodies Only Mopar Forum
This is the basic direction I was pointing to in the beginning of my reply and only added “Other Performance Parts” as time & money allow.
This is a good thread/video by 318WR
 
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