318 appreciation thread

[Woodys_Cuda]

I think most of Mopar fans have had a 318 in a car at some point, I've had a few. While not a performance engine (unless built up) they are legendary for their durability and have been around for years. Your thoughts?

It's a great engine but is it worth building it up? I appreciated mine but pulled it for more performance (340) when I had the money.

I've added a poll.

 

[Icetech]

you will get guys saying throw it away and all that.. it depends on your goals... i say build it since you have it.. someone is also going to post how you can buy 360s for $50 all day long... good luck... nothing wrong with 318s at all.

 

[Icetech]

Or do like me... i bought heads and all that and threw them on the 318 (which will go on the 360) while i hunted for a 360 block so i can still use the car and spread the cost out a bit...

 

[RustyRatRod]

I think most of Mopar fans have had a 318 in a car at some point, I've had a few. While not a performance engine (unless built up) they are legendary for their durability and have been around for years. Your thoughts?

It's a great engine but is it worth building it up? I appreciated mine but pulled it for more performance (340) when I had the money.

I've added a poll.

They were performance engines in other countries. Mexico and South America come to mind, where they were built similar to the American 340.

 

[273]

It all depends on your goals and compromises.

1st are you willing to run any gear and stall needed ?

Cause if not whatever gear and stall you are willing to run will dictate where you need the powerband (rpms) be. Which will limit the power you can make cause a 318 gonna need more rpm than a similar 340/360 or make less power at similar rpms.

I just think of a 318 as our 327 just never came factory as a performance version, if a 289/302 can be built so can a 318. Is it worth it that's a question for the owner, there's big block people that wouldn't touch any small blocks, it just depends.

I'm pretty sure block strength would give out before power potential.

 

[Woodys_Cuda]

I was happy with the 318 in my 73 Challenger Rallye until a Grand National spanked me. It wasn't much of a "Challenger" that day. Easiest route for me was to find a used 340 to get some respect again. lol.

 

[Icetech]

I was happy with the 318 in my 73 Challenger Rallye until a Grand National spanked me. It wasn't much of a "Challenger" that day. Easiest route for me was to find a used 340 to get some respect again. lol.

problem with that is now a running 340 is 5-7k

 

[Woodys_Cuda]

Yeah that was 1978 and they were plentiful. Got mine at the scrap yard cheap.

 

[toolmanmike]

I sold my 273 car after 15 years. Now I have 2 318's, one Poly and one LA. Couldn't be happier. Oh, and I just got a spider and dog bones for my roller cam 318 block I have. Now to decide, build a .030 flat top motor or a stroker. Nothing to put it in, just build it, dyno it, and sell it to someone in need. I have a spare steel 273 crank and some Speedmaster heads, a LD4B and a 650 AVS-2. That all might work together.

 

[273]

To me main reasons to build a 318, 1st you have a car with a 318 and just want to add some basics to it, 4bbl cam exhaust, 2nd it's the engine you got and are ok with the results your gonna get once built. 3rd you want a hotter setup for any given hp, eg. 350 hp 360 is a fairly tame low rpm engine, some might want a racier 350 hp or whatever hp.

 

[AJ/FormS]

For the street, which is a two-gear application, if I already had the 318, and if I didn't have something else;
I sure wouldn't waste time and money looking for something else.

Instead, I would just regear it, and stall it up some.

This goes double if it is a high-compression unit.

It's hard to beat a 4-speed/LU, auto and/or a higher than stock stall.

 

[273]

For the street, which is a two-gear application, if I already had the 318, and if I didn't have something else;
I sure wouldn't waste time and money looking for something else.

Instead, I would just regear it, and stall it up some.

This goes double if it is a high-compression unit.

It's hard to beat a 5-speedauto and a 2800stall.

Problem is gears, stall and cr are the things that most are least willing or the last thing they want to do

 

[318willrun]

I think most of Mopar fans have had a 318 in a car at some point, I've had a few. While not a performance engine (unless built up) they are legendary for their durability and have been around for years. Your thoughts?

It's a great engine but is it worth building it up? I appreciated mine but pulled it for more performance (340) when I had the money.

I've added a poll.

what "performance" or "built up" engine do you want? You want to chirp your tires leaving DQ, or smoke a Hellcat all the way to 200 mph.

 

[318willrun]

Stock long block 318 with mild cam and dual quads I had with 2.76 gears, stock torque converter, stock exhaust manifolds, listen to the scratch going into 2nd gear... LOL

 

[Woodys_Cuda]

Problem is gears, stall and cr are the things that most are least willing or the last thing they want to do

True! My Challenger already had the slapstick and 8 3/4 rear end with the 318 and a stock 904. When I installed the used "69 340 I scooped the 727 transmission and converter as well. I shortened the driveshaft and changed the rear gears from 2.76 to 3.91's. The 70's were a great time to find performance parts.