318 4 barrel question.

[dartjack]

I don't mean to be a smart butt, but it seems that we tend to start on the wrong end of the car sometimes. What gear is in your rear? If you have ac it will probably be a 2.71. One of the best ways to get the stoplight takeoff is to drop in more gear. If you have the 904 and don't have the low gear set that would help also. I work at a Marine Hobby Shop and it amazes me at how much money they will throw at the engine and never thihk to regear. The Chebby boys are the worst. $5k and up on a 7k rpm engine. Out back they have 2.8 to 3.1 gears and a 700r4 od trans. Somewhere about 150 mph the engine starts to enter its power band. See where I'm going here? A swap to 3.23 or 3.55(plus low tranny gear set) would get the ole "A" movin good. The four barrel will kick in about half a block down the street. If you choose the 4bbl route be sure to get a manifold that matches the heads. Have you checked the cop car oil pressure and compression? That would be an easy way to get the power and torque you are looking for. Just be sure the torque converter is balanced to the engine.

 

[dodge freak]

Hes right, gearing is where its at. Helps at all speeds, just not so great for gas mileage. I got 3.91's and sometimes wish I went with 4.10's.

3.55's are good too, 3.21 are a min. anything under a 3.21 and you are just lugging the motor.

You say 3.91's limit your top speed. Yeah it does but @6000 my baby is going 115 mph, if you are a speed freak, 3.55 will get you around 130 with a 27" tall tire. 3.21's will get you about 145--if your motor is making enough power to rev that high. The less gear-lower #-the more power the motor needs to make to pull it.

 

[dvorak]

well I am glad you mentioned that. I never put much thought into the rearend gears. I will have to crawl underneath and see what is in it, I am sure it is the original rear with original gears.

 

[usdart]

318 Carb.. Edelbrock 600 or 500cfm. I am going for the 500 cfm on my stock 318.

Just an opinion..lets here some more???????

 

[Rob64GT]

If you can find an LD4 Edelbrock manifold get one, its a great manifold for a 318. (a lot like a LD340 ) It has the correct port size for a 318 and has a holley flange. I have never really liked the carb flange on a performer. I used one on my 64 Dart with a Edelbrock 500 cfm carb.

 

[Johnny Dart]

Here is a 318 I had in my Dart before I pulled it.The motor was stock with a Ede Performer and Ede 600.I added some 340 manifolds with dual exhaust.This set-up would boogie very well.

I think the 600 cfm Ede is a better choice than a 500.

Just add a Ede Performer and Ede 600,and it will seem like a totally different car.

 

[mullinax95]

I have 273 that has a Mopar .474/.474 cam Edde Performer intake and Edde 500 cfm carb. I really need a bigger carb. If it was me with the 318 I would definitely go with the 600 cfm. A Performer intake and 600 would do wonders for you.

 

[dvorak]

Ok guys I finally got this done. New aftermarket intake, new holley carb, and also put a cam in it. Now it falls on it's face when I get on it from the stop. If I punch it on the run it will go fine. I have had it to a mechanic and he adjusted it and it was better, but still not what I was looking for. I have turned the distributor to adjust timing and am starting to get fed up and wish I would have left it alone. I do not have the specs on the cam right now, I will try to remember to get them tomorrow but I am hoping one of you will be able to point me in a direction to get this car running like I had hoped. It is a points distributor with a vacuum advance if that matters?

Thanks in advance,
Roger

 

[rumblefish360]

It'll take some fussing around and thinking to figure it out. Cam size is important. Not knowing the size you choose is a pain on helping in sorting it all out. But not an end all.

If it falls on it's face from a standing start, it could be a nymber of things. I'd start with a second look at the timing then the carbs pumpshot. Gear ratio could also have a big play in it all along with the stall converter.

 

[sublimeswinger]

What carb and intake did you put on?

 

[yellowdartdave]

Don't forget the rear sway bar from the Dippy.
It takes alot of the 'plow' out of the A Body.

 

[needsaresto]

I don't mean to be a smart butt, but it seems that we tend to start on the wrong end of the car sometimes. What gear is in your rear? If you have ac it will probably be a 2.71. One of the best ways to get the stoplight takeoff is to drop in more gear. If you have the 904 and don't have the low gear set that would help also. I work at a Marine Hobby Shop and it amazes me at how much money they will throw at the engine and never thihk to regear. The Chebby boys are the worst. $5k and up on a 7k rpm engine. Out back they have 2.8 to 3.1 gears and a 700r4 od trans. Somewhere about 150 mph the engine starts to enter its power band. See where I'm going here? A swap to 3.23 or 3.55(plus low tranny gear set) would get the ole "A" movin good. The four barrel will kick in about half a block down the street. If you choose the 4bbl route be sure to get a manifold that matches the heads. Have you checked the cop car oil pressure and compression? That would be an easy way to get the power and torque you are looking for. Just be sure the torque converter is balanced to the engine.

Haha,could'nt agree more. My Caravelle cop car suffers from the same thing with low compression as an added bonus with the 2:94 sure grip. I have a nice set of 3:55 gears to put in the 8 1/4. Should make a big difference,especially in a 3800+ lb car...

 

[dvorak]

I found some of the paperwork on the parts I used. I had a 600 cfm Holley carb on it with a 6.5 Power Valve. It sits on top of a Steath Intake Manifold, 4150 Carb flange good from Idle to 6800rpm. Now here is what I found on teh cam, I know ther is more info some where, just can not find it right now. It is a Voodoo Camshaft with :
Lift: .454"/.454"
Duration: 250/256
RPM range: Idle-5000

I will do some more looking for the rest of the specs on the cam. I had a guy that used to run Monster trucks put this together for me so he should know his power. He is used to fords though.

Thanks
Roger

 

[rumblefish360]

Hey Roger, the cam is preety small but should provide good power with the set up. Look to tuning that carb as best you can.

 

[sublimeswinger]

Was the carb new?
Did you put the 360 heads on?