“Max effort daily driver” 318 build vs “Budget” 400 swap
BB is heavy. Need better parts for suspension and braking.
Tree’d by 318WR. My Duster is an4 wheel drum car and it had no problem stopping the extra weight. Brake fade is an issue of used in traffic repeatedly & at lengths of time. But no real worry. Drive accordingly.
I’ve done both and I’ll tell ya the 400 is well worth it.
Rebuild the 400 with some reasonable compression, give it a cam that fits the target goal. If you can afford the aluminum, shower the engine with as much as possible to reduce weight.
I had an iron headed 400 in a Duster and you can feel the extra weight. Change it aluminum and it’ll weigh the same or less than a small block. Parts choice will determine final weight loss.
You can of course get the intake and head made of aluminum but also the water pump housing and the pump it’s self in aluminum. Also, the pulleys can be had in aluminum as well.
On a 400, the water pump housing is on the same side as a small block and I got mine from
440source.com I swapped the 318 out and slammed in that 400 quick and easy. I got a larger radiator from Summit racing since the /6 radiator wasn’t up to snuff for the 318. I had a driveshaft cut down to fit the different length of the 727/8-3/4 from the original equipment/6-904-8-1/4.
Edelbrock or Trickflow heads and TTI headers will allow that thing to rock and roll really well. Go for the 400!
