318 cam upgrade

[Kaptain K]

I'm pulling the bone stock 318 out of my 68' Dart with a 904 to replace a lot of leaking seals and gaskets. I'm thinking about installing a new cam while I have everything apart. What would be a good cam upgrade for a mild cruiser? Only upgrades are Edelbrock performer dual plane intake and AVS 650 carb.

 

[toolmanmike]

@318willrun , @RustyRatRod You guys have any favorites?

There are dozens of 318 cam threads here. Just pop "318 cam" in the search box. There may be a thread or two at the start of the small block forums as well. Here's 17 pages to study. Cams for 318's

 

[318willrun]

@318willrun , @RustyRatRod You guys have any favorites?

There are dozens of 318 cam threads here. Just pop "318 cam" in the search box. There may be a thread or two at the start of the small block forums as well. Here's 17 pages to study. Cams for 318's

Many cams would give about the same results. So I'll say keep the duration around 212 @ 050 and the lift around .440-.450. And I always say... and I mean ALWAYS say, the heads/valve sealing is more important than "throwing a cam in there" in making a difference.

 

[Kaptain K]

Many cams would give about the same results. So I'll say keep the duration around 212 @ 050 and the lift around .440-.450. And I always say... and I mean ALWAYS say, the heads/valve sealing is more important than "throwing a cam in there" in making a difference.

Thank you

 

[Plymouth 65]

In this case, smaller is better. 65

 

[junkyardhero]

you didn't say what else the combo is... so i'll assume a stock converter, manifolds and a rear gear that is sub 3.55

here's my suggestions:

melling 23103 it's kind of a riff on a stock 360 2bbl cam but with a tick more duration and tighter LSA. it's great with stock components and you won't need to upgrade your valve springs.

the melling SPD-3 is also a good choice, it has similar specs to a mopar performance "318 RV grind" that was sold back in the day, but that cam can be difficult to source (the MP cams are nearly nonexistent and you'll pay dearly for one).

melling SPD-11 is like a "baby 340" cam, these are typically sold as "stage 1" cams and do really well in 318's. you *should* upgrade your valve springs to run this one.

howards street force 1 (710011-12) would be another great choice.

other options are calling up Ken at Oregon cams and talking with him. he's got an entire catalog of cam grinds and will direct you toward the most suitable for your application.

if you're looking for something cheaper and off the shelf an engine tech replacement 360 2bbl cam or 360 4bbl cam can be had on ebay. with the 340 cam you'll want to advance it about 4* and you'll need to upgrade your springs.

[ETA: i had the 1st melling number wrong it's 23103]

 

[Professor Fate]

you didn't say what else the combo is... so i'll assume a stock converter, manifolds and a rear gear that is sub 3.55

here's my suggestions:

melling 2301 it's kind of a riff on a stock 360 2bbl cam but with a tick more duration and tighter LSA. it's great with stock components and you won't need to upgrade your valve springs.

the melling SPD-3 is also a good choice, it has similar specs to a mopar performance "318 RV grind" that was sold back in the day, but that cam can be difficult to source (the MP cams are nearly nonexistent and you'll pay dearly for one).

melling SPD-11 is like a "baby 340" cam, these are typically sold as "stage 1" cams and do really well in 318's. you *should* upgrade your valve springs to run this one.

howards street force 1 (710011-12) would be another great choice.

other options are calling up Ken at Oregon cams and talking with him. he's got an entire catalog of cam grinds and will direct you toward the most suitable for your application.

if you're looking for something cheaper and off the shelf an engine tech replacement 360 2bbl cam or 360 4bbl cam can be had on ebay. with the 340 cam you'll want to advance it about 4* and you'll need to upgrade your springs.

And here I was going to recommend he grab a 360 2bbl. cam- even a used one with the matching lifters (a REAL cheap proposition), but I didn't want to deal with the flaming I'd inevitably get!

 

[junkyardhero]

And here I was going to recommend he grab a 360 2bbl. cam- even a used one with the matching lifters (a REAL cheap proposition), but I didn't want to deal with the flaming I'd inevitably get!

i mean... if i could find a lo-miles good condition used one with matching lifters i wouldn't hesitate to run it.

though you can usually find them new in the 100~130 range kicking around so unless the used one was damn near free, the juice ain't really worth the squeeze there.

and yes, i will gladly don the flame proof suit and stan for small cams in stock compression 318's & 360's with mild upgrades.

think of the cam you want to run... got it in your head? good. now go at least one size smaller, preferably two.

 

[Professor Fate]

unless the used one was damn near free, the juice ain't really worth the squeeze there.

That's the beauty of it- "damn near free" has always been a good thing in my book, and with the original lifters (provided they were kept in order) you've pretty much eliminated break-in issues. Throw a fresh timing set on it, advance it a couple degrees, and use the money you just saved to buy some GOOD beer for a change.
Too many people underestimate those "little" cams.

 

[273]

I'd go with something around 206-212 intake duration, 108-112 lsa, lift depends what's available but basically the highest you reasonably can get.

 

[RustyRatRod]

For something like that, I'd put the Comp 901 valve springs in and run this. Cam card probably says advance it 4 degrees, I'd go maybe 6. That would put the ICL at 108.

Summit Racing SUM-6901 Summit Racing™ Classic Camshafts | Summit Racing

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[Illahe]

Many cams would give about the same results. So I'll say keep the duration around 212 @ 050 and the lift around .440-.450. And I always say... and I mean ALWAYS say, the heads/valve sealing is more important than "throwing a cam in there" in making a difference.

This^^^^

Call Delta Cams in Wa. He has a nice hydraulic cam for the stock compression 318 on a 112 lsa. I believe it's 212/218 425/440. And he has plenty of OEM cores and offers "faced" Melling lifters for a little over $200 total.

 

[AJ/FormS]

The stocker runs pretty good when advanced.
IIRC they are 240/248/112 , and they fall in at around 2* advanced.
One time, back in the 70s, while installing a good used 340 timing set, I advanced mine a full tooth on the top sprocket, no problem. I think that maths to ~8 degrees, plus the 2 equals 10 advanced. I never degreed it. This was back in the 70s and I was a kid; I hadn't ever even heard of degreeing a cam.
But, after the engine was up and running it made pretty good pressure; I was pleased. Had a nice rap in the pipe too.
I think I did the same to my winter-motor; but it was a 73 low-compression model.

 

[StreetSleeper]

I'm pulling the bone stock 318 out of my 68' Dart with a 904 to replace a lot of leaking seals and gaskets. I'm thinking about installing a new cam while I have everything apart. What would be a good cam upgrade for a mild cruiser? Only upgrades are Edelbrock performer dual plane intake and AVS 650 carb.

Crane cams 693901
Or the rockauto melling cams
They have a 204 @50” lift for the intake and a 216 @ .050” for the exhaust
Very good up grade for a stock engine. Anything more is performance, and you said stock 318 cruiser.

I'm pulling the bone stock 318 out of my 68' Dart with a 904 to replace a lot of leaking seals and gaskets. I'm thinking about installing a new cam while I have everything apart. What would be a good cam upgrade for a mild cruiser? Only upgrades are Edelbrock performer dual plane intake and AVS 650 carb.

 

[Illahe]

For something like that, I'd put the Comp 901 valve springs in and run this. Cam card probably says advance it 4 degrees, I'd go maybe 6. That would put the ICL at 108.

http://[URL]https://www.summitracin...qL0HKhAefzcE5SKO2Rb-bq0k8AfeiSC2TbNwo8XtCYXTa

[/URL]

Oregon cams 1410 is the same # @.050 with 262/270 seat timing.

 

[RustyRatRod]

Oregon cams 1410 is the same # @.050 with 262/270 seat timing.

That would also work well. I think Summit has Oregon's price beat now though. BUT, he'd still have the advantage of using a factory Chrysler core, so there's that.

 

[Illahe]

I'm pulling the bone stock 318 out of my 68' Dart with a 904 to replace a lot of leaking seals and gaskets. I'm thinking about installing a new cam while I have everything apart. What would be a good cam upgrade for a mild cruiser? Only upgrades are Edelbrock performer dual plane intake and AVS 650 carb.

$106

204/214 Simple RV Cam.

More Information for ENGINETECH ES1089R

Or a Melling SPD 25 $125 203/203 .410/.410 Same cam in Enginetech is $109: Link below
More Information for ENGINETECH ES665