Steve Dulcich on building a budget 318

That is all well and fine if your major goal is just "burning" tires. My goal was to have a fast car that could handle and get good mpg as a daily driver. I prefer not to burn tires. I did have the luxury of a 4 speed. Burning tires was merely an adjustment in rpm at clutch release. So starting with a 64 Barracuda and a 273, and also being financially challenged, I pulled the 273 and had a set of forged 10.5:1 pistons fitted along with 284* duration solid cam. From there it became my test mule for the next 10 years and 150,000 miles to try all kinds of combinations, culminating with "71" 340 intake and TQ, "72" 340 heads milled to NHRA min spec, a used 340 cam and lifters on the same original short block. I've had 340's, 360's, 318's and 383's. The 273 is still in the Barracuda with a ready to go 340 on the engine stand... Not everybody wants a 360 or stroker. Not everybody is a drag racer. Most any small block can perform well with decent heads and the right combination. A 360 is the only small block I do not, and will not, have saved in the basement.

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Not everybody wants, needs, or can use "maximum horsepower".