What the W

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16richard

16richard

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I acquired this 318 2 barrel engine that came from a 1968 Chysler Imperial or 300. It has this W on the intake it and I can't determine its significance if any. I also included serial numbers if anyone can tell anything interesting about it as I have heard some 318s were special equipped with forged steel cranks and possibly bigger valves. Serial numbers start with PM318R. W=Windsor Ont.?
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I don't mean to give you the news but. Imperials and 300's only came with 440 4bbl's. I just looked at a 318 with that intake. It was in a very low mileage D500 Dodge truck. It had a weird carb and waterpump. The engine was a 318-3 which had a shot peened cast crank. very strong and bob weighted for heavier rods. You might have found a jewel. Very strong bottom end. The crank journals are not drilled they are solid.

Those cranks were use in big trucks to prevent breakage when letting the clutch fly in low range with 5 ton of weight on the back.
 
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The M is Mound Road assembly plant.

The R is for Regular fuel recommended.

2887 is the final assembly date from the 10,000 day calendar - June 23, 1969.

On the passenger side down low is a flat pad, about 3" long. And letters / number stamped on it?

Based on all the hardware store bolts and nuts in the photo, this engine could have been put together with parts from all over?
 
Here is more photos . I suspect it is just an average 318 but it has is some oddities. It cost me $300 dollars and it run like new .

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Alaskan_TA said:
Many of us love 318s. :)
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I do too they run forever but it still just a 318. Millions made. But I’d rather have a 360 a lot more torque and even better fuel economy. Ask me how. I can run a much higher gear with no loss of power and less r’s on the freeway. At least it works for me. But again I think a 318 is a great motor but keep them in something light.
 
Alaskan_TA said:
The M is Mound Road assembly plant.

The R is for Regular fuel recommended.

2887 is the final assembly date from the 10,000 day calendar - June 23, 1969.

On the passenger side down low is a flat pad, about 3" long. And letters / number stamped on it?

Based on all the hardware store bolts and nuts in the photo, this engine could have been put together with parts from all over?
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The numbers on the flat pad on the side passanger bottom of the block is 94312549
Thanks for all the info.
 
If it is a -3 truck block, it would also probably have thicker cylinder walls. One member here has a 1968 truck block that sonic testing showed it having enough cylinder wall for beyond a 4.1 inch bore size. That's a good score just because 1967-1969 318 had an honest 9:1 or more compression. They respond very well as is to moderate performance upgrades.
 
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9 - 1969 model year.

A - Lynch Road car assembly plant.

Your 318 is from a 1969 B-body, not a truck. ;-)
 
The 1969 is best of all as far as car blocks go. Very near zero deck pistons stock, usually 9.2:1 minimum compression.
 
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Looks like the engine has probably been rebuilt sometime in it's life, so, likely a frankenmotor. You won't know about which crank it has without pulling the pan and taking a look at it. I've seen those W intake before too. Never saw anything special about them either. Your engine has some items that are truck specific.....engine mount brackets and passenger side exhaust manifold (318-3 manifold). There's also some sketchy looking pulley and bracket combinations for the water pump and alternator. I wouldn't attach that ground strap to the water pump either. That can cause some weird electrolysis in some cases. What are going to put this engine in? What are the head casting numbers?
 
cudamark said:
Looks like the engine has probably been rebuilt sometime in it's life, so, likely a frankenmotor. You won't know about which crank it has without pulling the pan and taking a look at it. I've seen those W intake before too. Never saw anything special about them either. Your engine has some items that are truck specific.....engine mount brackets and passenger side exhaust manifold (318-3 manifold). There's also some sketchy looking pulley and bracket combinations for the water pump and alternator. I wouldn't attach that ground strap to the water pump either. That can cause some weird electrolysis in some cases. What are going to put this engine in? What are the head casting numbers?
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The engine was bought as a spare as they are somewhat had to find. This 67 coupe barracuda originally came with a 273 2barrel (now contains a 1967 318 2 barrel that came of a Monaco.) I rigged the engine up with whatever parts were on hand it to test in my shed. The truck parts were from a 75 318 that was fitted to another car and the parts were left over . The intake was on the orginal engine I purchased. I finished testing a while ago so a parts tools etc.. needs to cleaned up like the rest of my property .

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Alaskan_TA said:
More detective work you can do.....



Take a close look - is that P actually an E ?
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Double checked it is a P. I may have an answer to the original question as to what the W stands for. This engine would have a wedge combustion chamber which was probably marketed as somehow better.
 
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LO23M8B said:
I do too they run forever but it still just a 318. Millions made. But I’d rather have a 360 a lot more torque and even better fuel economy. Ask me how. I can run a much higher gear with no loss of power and less r’s on the freeway. At least it works for me. But again I think a 318 is a great motor but keep them in something light.
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better fuel economy from 360 vs 318? I've had plenty of both and have never found that to be true unless the 318 is somehow "hurt" and the 360 isn't.
 
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