318 2bbl manifold swap with OE cam - worth it?

Here's my opinion. If it matters, since I have done this LOTS and LOTS and LOTS.

A stock 318 IS woken up nice with a cam and manifold change.
If you change the cam, usually, from my experience, in a higher mileage motor, there is a "gum line" on the valve stems, when you run higher lift, it pushes the "gum line" into the seal, wearing the seal, giving you an oil burning idle smoker. (and no 318 will turn 6K with the stock valve springs, been there, spun them, and nope, never, not to mention the heads are only good for 5K anyway)
OK, maybe it will turn 6K, but will sound like a flooding out sprint car.....

The best stockish small port 318 manifolds are, the dual port, SP2P, or the street dominator. The dual planes get worse MPG than the small port single planes, and have less midrange. (And thats what you are trying to get with a stockish 318)

Wieand action plus manifolds run real lean on the middle cylinder.

Headers don't do much, 360 manifolds actually give it more low-mid tho.

Mild cams need to be degree'd, ANY cam needs to be degree'd. Why give away HP's?

And I wouldn't run a holley on anything that isn't going in a straight line for a living. (Had a O2 sniffer in too many rigs) Metering rod carbs rule the street.

BUt if it was me, and I was going to build the motor eventually, I would get the manifold I want to run once I build it, throw it on, put a 600cfm EB on it, and enjoy. Don't even bother tuning it, unless your good with them, or know someone who is.


IMO