Best Years for the 318 LA?

Both excellent points on posts #33 & 34. I personally believe that you’ll have more trouble from the stock 318 webbing and caps than you would from the crank. But I wouldn’t worry about those, either, unless spraying or adding boost. A 1973 mound road 318 with studs and stock caps will stand everything a 4 inch crank and 11:1 with edelbrock heads can throw at it. Seen one bouncing off the rev limiter at 7 grand more than a few times before.