302 heads-Is it worth putting them on a stock 318

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I think so many people are enamored by them because they can raise compression....and they can. I think they "could" add power maybe from bone *** stock, while adding a four barrel and maybe headers......but it would remain to be seen just "how much" would come from the heads? Might be a wash. Who knows?
 
RustyRatRod said:
I think so many people are enamored by them because they can raise compression....and they can. I think they "could" add power maybe from bone *** stock, while adding a four barrel and maybe headers......but it would remain to be seen just "how much" would come from the heads? Might be a wash. Who knows?
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I wouldn't put them anything on bone stock.
Ported? Yes. I've gained 38cfm@.300 and 50cfm @.400. That you could feel.
 
mguner said:
This^^^ Definitely want to upgrade the carb and add dual exhaust if you haven't already. If you are into it that far a 340 cam and roller timing set is definitely worth doing!
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We stuck a " radical resto" MP cam in one like that... Man! That thing Moved the D100! Well, with some gears too! Lol
 
RustyRatRod said:
I think so many people are enamored by them because they can raise compression....and they can. I think they "could" add power maybe from bone *** stock, while adding a four barrel and maybe headers......but it would remain to be seen just "how much" would come from the heads? Might be a wash. Who knows?
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With a competition valve job and port work would help.
 
I wouldn't bother with 302's. Many years ago my Barracuda ran a 318 with some J heads that I had ported. One weekend I swapped out my J heads for a set of 302's that I also ported....the results were the car ran half a second slower at the drag strip with the 302's....needles to say, those 302 heads came off the car and were sold.
 
flyfish said:
I wouldn't bother with 302's. Many years ago my Barracuda ran a 318 with some J heads that I had ported. One weekend I swapped out my J heads for a set of 302's that I also ported....the results were the car ran half a second slower at the drag strip with the 302's....needles to say, those 302 heads came off the car and were sold.
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Thank you.
Exactly.
People like @George Jets who push them might want to re think that.

Can you make them good, sure.
Is it cheap or easy? No f'n way.

To obsess over one feature...be it tits.. wheels...or closed chambers.. is always gonna bite you.
 
Those 302's have their place and really should be used for specific purposes. Hardened seats are good. The small heart shaped combustion chamber is good for efficiency and to raise compression over a stock open chamber 273/318 head. Are they going to light the world on fire? no. Are they better than many stock 273/318 heads. Yes in some ways. I wouldn't use them on 340/360 blocks thinking the chamber shape and size are the magic. The small ports will spank you every time on the larger bore and cube engines. And like many here have mentioned, hogging them out to big cube size isn't a good idea. Might as well start out with a J or X head or carve on some aluminum's. Have a set of 302's available and you need a replacement (I said replacement and not necessarily a upgrade) head for your stock 273/318? Clean them up, surface them if needed. Do a quality valve grind. You can go one step further with a port match and a little bowl blend. No reason to do much more than that really. There's better heads out there to go to the next step.
 
All they mostly do is raise the compression a tiny amount over early open chamber heads
..That's what you feel.
But...
Air flow trumps all.

To say the 302's are better than other 318 heads "in some ways" is to say compression is king... when it's not.
"Ways"? what "ways"?
There aren't "ways" when the head will ultimately show less hp and tq on a factory 1971 318 than the 675 heads that came on it to begin with. The "gain" as people put it is just a bump in throttle response, a jolt...then it's all revs,noise...tractor motor.

Only if you do the chamber deshroud and a good valve job do they flow like a 675 from .300 up, they are short .100-.200 ..part of that is the closed chamber and the other is the decision whether to put a 15 top..which will probably help but not support the higher lift flow.

Maybe better milage, but less power. That's what the 302 head offers bone stock.
The numbers don't lie.
The early open heads are only 4cc bigger chambers. The later open chamber heads mid 75 n up are as big as 72cc.
The early open chamber heads flow the best while the later ones flow the worst and only a hair better than the 302 in the low lift. A lot of head stink till you work them.
Big wow, it changing heads to gain a dismal amount of compression while giving up even 10cfm is a waste.
 
You're preachin' to the choir here. The only plusses I mentioned were compression (a little) and hardened seats.
 
MOPAROFFICIAL said:
If you did a bunch of mods all at once how would you determine that it was a heads alone that made the biggest power increase.
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I never said that. You are putting words in my mouth. With the KB pistons, for quench, I like them. Period. BTW you know this thread is from 2016? Who are you trying to convince?
 
Lelo Dart said:
I never said that. You are putting words in my mouth. With the KB pistons, for quench, I like them. Period. BTW you know this thread is from 2016? Who are you trying to convince?
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Relax.
You replied to a thread called "302 heads- is it worth it to put them on a stock 318"

Is your 318 a stock 318? Nope.
The only thing relevant aside from being a 318..though rebuilt "with kb pistons" and not stock like the op asked..is some 302 heads. So you have a non stock, modified 318 with 302 heads are chiming in on whether or not they will be a power maker on a stock motor.
I know it's an old thread. Many old threads get read, and by folks looking for factual info
I'm not 'on your case' or anything, its just that your example and chiming in was unhelpful and useless. It doesn't say anything for the heads themselves. It only says to the educated builder that the cam, Intake,carb,headers,higher compression overcame the lacking in airflow of the 302 heads to still build power.
 
Lelo Dart said:
There you go again. Hey, you guys quit chiming in on this FABO forum!
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chime in all you want ...as others are free to chime in and rebut what you post. You don't have to throw a tantrum about it. Just pointing out the obvious. Like I said, I'm not on your case or trying to give you a hard time. Sorry to frazzle you.
 
theres a difference in building a wormed up stockish 318 vs a all out drag race only 318,...some yall over erragent assholes need to learn that!! not every motor needs maxed out heads to do what the owner wants! is it what you want, HELL NO!! is it your time n money, HELL F' NO! get over it and move the hell on!! 302 heads are just fine and f'in dandy for a damn stock 318!! all damn day long!!! save the x an j heads,..the magnum heads,...the elderblock and speedmaster heads for all them 340/360 builds for all out efforts!!! thay all tooo good to wast on a junky worthless 318 in yall's opinions any ways!
 
flyfish said:
I wouldn't bother with 302's. Many years ago my Barracuda ran a 318 with some J heads that I had ported. One weekend I swapped out my J heads for a set of 302's that I also ported....the results were the car ran half a second slower at the drag strip with the 302's....needles to say, those 302 heads came off the car and were sold.
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but he ant drag racing,...he going down the street to get a ice cream cone!!!!!!!!!
 
dirty white boy said:
but he ant drag racing,...he going down the street to get a ice cream cone!!!!!!!!!
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Just trying to save someone the headache of spending hard earned money on parts that won't do anything to their car, other than lighten their wallet....racing or not. My example is from back when my Barracuda was my daily driver in college (in Colorado). The car ran 14.5 with the 302's and 13.9 with the J heads at Bandimere speedway (5800' altitude)....for those that don't race, that is a pretty large difference in the "seat of the pants" feel of the car....which is why I said, I wouldn't bother; otherwise, your ice-cream cone will melt before you get home :D.
 
flyfish said:
Just trying to save someone the headache of spending hard earned money on parts that won't do anything to their car, other than lighten their wallet....racing or not. My example is from back when my Barracuda was my daily driver in college (in Colorado). The car ran 14.5 with the 302's and 13.9 with the J heads at Bandimere speedway (5800' altitude)....for those that don't race, that is a pretty large difference in the "seat of the pants" feel of the car....which is why I said, I wouldn't bother; otherwise, your ice-cream cone will melt before you get home :D.
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Some folks sure get their man thongs in a knot.:D
I agree.
To take a good running stock 318 and remove its heads to bolt on stock 302 heads is a step backwards.
You would think some folks would be grateful to know the truth, but instead some just feel insulted and maybe embarrassed...but they shouldn't be.
The truth...

Screenshot_20210916-075456_Video Player.jpg
 
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Geesh, I have a set of Hughes prepped, large valve's and ported 302's sitting on a shelf that I'm getting ready to put on a mild 0.030 over zero deck 318 I'm assembling soon. They'll be good enough for my use.
 
I also am gonna be swapping in a set of 302 heads onto a 78 318 this winter. Cuz it's WHAT I HAVE. I almost can't believe that a 7 yo thread has been re awakened but since it has ( this topic will never go away, I'm sure there were 20 more mixed in there that came out since this thread was new) I don't have the money for speed masters or Edelbrock. I'm not looking for every last 0.0001 second on the 1/4 mile. And the original heads in that 78 motor are '163 casting number, I never did care for those.
It certainly ain't gonna make it run worse....
 
I never even looked at the date of the thread! I just noticed 302 and said to self, that's what I have! The original heads on my donor engine were cracked between some of the valve seats and Hughes was adamant that with the combo I was considering prepped 302's would be fine.
 
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