318 low-rpm performance ........... for the NEWBE
right?
let's say a 5.9 drops in your lap?
Wooo-Hoooo!!!! My fav sb street engine.
so, you've got a cam re-grind at what? $250, gaskets & seals let's call that $150, intake? let's stay cheap with an offshore unit at like $175 and choose your own adventure with a carb, and since we're cheap, why not a swapmeet special eddy/carter 625 for a princely $100
all off that you need. there's $675.
oh, and throw another $150 for the flexplate, how about a car oil pan? let's do that kit from mancini that you get a pick up and dipstick with, there's $130. oh, and a magnum doesn't have a fuel pump provision. so reuse your old cover with the hughes adapter for $30 or cough up for a pump. duh, we need an oil pump and timing chain, there's another $200 out the door.
okay, i think we've got most of the parts and we're at 1185, that we can call 1200 all day. so let's add $200 in budget overrun for whatzits, thingamajigs and doohickeys. and tack on another, $200 for tax, shipping, and general skull duggery.
$1600
this surmises everything in the motor is useable. and you can reuse major components from your existing small block- distributor, motor mounts (maybe), exhaust, accessories.
how far does $1600 go on a 318 that you have, is known to be in good working order and is reasonably outfitted?
Well, being that there are many ways to skin a cat, obviously the bigger displacement wins. The only issue with the above is;
What many are calling BS on. Sometimes, money IS the issue.
So if we are working on just what we have, and no 360 drops in your lap, you have $2K and that’s IT! What do you do? Get and build half a 360?
I don’t know what the power difference would be other than significantly noticeable between them. I’m sure there’s a few fellas here that could run a few calculations and/or use there desk top dyno. It would be interesting to see what that prediction is.
If a Magnum 5.9 falls into my lap…. And so funny that one has a few years ago…. This is what I did and will do later on.
All prices kind of remembered from years back so… an adjustment will have to be done for anyone reading today.)
A 2000, 5.9 on am using required a B&M flex plate to mate to the transmission. I forget what it costs. $100? And - $15 for ARP bolts! A couple of gallons of trans fluid? Perhaps 1 gallon? I don’t remember. I just got what was needed and moved on.
So… to carry on…. I did this first. (After the flex plate and …..)
The engine got a junk yard distributor I have had for ever. $25.
Ballast resistor and Chrome box, wiring harness and coil.
$2 resistor, $60 Chrome box, $15 wiring harness, $25 coil.
It’s hard to remember the prices & even more so when you don’t give a crud.
(but for today will say what ever price it is to get a full ignition kit.)
(Though now it has a Edelbrock 750…)
625 AFB, Carter Comp model ($200), a RPM-AG ($240-ish) Hooker Super Comps for a B body, ($330) ‘79 Magnum. Trap door air cleaner though an inexpensive aftermarket unit would be cheaper. I scored the trap door unit 30 years ago or so for $45.
That’s a 300 HP engine. It’s going through a 727 down to a 9-1/4 w/3.55’w on 245/60/15’s. The he Magnum weighs in over the Reggie listed 3675 dry weight.
Today, if I was to do this as a on the cheap build……
Same flex plate IF I needed it.
Car oil pan, oil pump and pick up new.
Search classifieds relentlessly for the rest.
The worst part is dual fold with the inflation and the “MoPar Gold” attitude people have on their used parts. Whether they’re good or not.
Any cheap 4bbl intake. OEM is actually good for mild applications.
If you can find a good TQ or rebuild one yourself, make it a large primary unit. Small primary for an318. Or a Carter/Edelbrock/Holley, whatever you favor, just at 750cfm.
Can’t find used headers in good shape, check out Summit racings header with 3/8 flanges. Yes, it’s the crappy 3 tubes under the steering linkage design but there inexpensive and they have always fit super good for me. Now you can ether add a Summit racing exhaust kit or just get two mufflers from AutoZone or where ever and 2 hangers and get 2 lengths of 2-1/2 exhaust pipe. End it at the axle and call it a good (and cheap!) day.
