318 low-rpm performance ........... for the NEWBE

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Has anyone here built one of these so called 318 power makers with dyno slips? Ill never understand the infatuation, I mean if someone with a 318 doesn't ante up the $$$ for a 340 or 360 how are they going to dump the money into a 318? and it isn't cheap I'm dropping a set of j heads off tomorrow it may be 5 600 bucks till the machine shop is done with them. I know you experts will say "Speedmasters" but you still have to have the cash. Alot of bench racin...
B3422w5 has.

I could say the same about big blocks, you could build a 600-700+ hp big block for the effort that people put in building a 400-500 hp small block probably for similar money. Why waste your time and money?


Why do you care what people build, if 318 aren't for you fine, you think there a waste of time and money fine, why does it bother you so if someone wants to build one which usually means adding a cam and 4bbl to a running engine 99% of the time. You keep on bringing back 318 threads from the dead and naysay on every 318 thread.
 
my 1st car 68 dart 270 had the taxi package hd suspension 318 stock rebuild 9.2 to 1 it had headers 2.5 exhaust 727 8 3/4 3.23 sg 489 housing still had the 2 barrel carb aka (flower pot carb) it pulled pretty good to 5000 as purchased . I put on an offy dual port 360 and a 625 afb carb had g-60-14s on the rear i had that 5400 rpm in drive 100 times on the hiway at least. Later 2.02 j heads street hemi cam torker door stop 650 dp and nitrous. pulled very hard to 6500 rpm. 6000 rpm in drive atleast 30 times a white knuckle ride with 4 wheel drums.
318 motors can sing
Fav memory a guy a grew up with selling hotrods had a beautiful 66 or 67 vette maroon ragtop 327 4 spd sidepipes
sounded good he wanted 15k for it i beat that pos pretty easy no spray loud doesnt equal fast he learned that lesson
 
i'm just curious... is gas so bad in Canada that you can't get anything better than 87 octane? pretty much every pump in my state has 93... (you just mention 87 a bit so i'm curious why..)
We have up to 91 available.

But, why buy a higher-octane gas than your engine needs? there is no advantage.
 
We have up to 91 available.

But, why buy a higher-octane gas than your engine needs? there is no advantage.
ah ok.. i read it more as you were building a motor to live on 87 :) no problem..
 
Elizabeth Zharoff.jpg
 
Couldn't you have a performance cam with stock IVC to keep stock V/P or even closes sooner for better V/P and go somewhat wilder on the other dimension and have best of both world?
I addressed that in the article. The factory cam is just too small.
240/248/112 with an Ica of 48*(4* advanced already)
IIRC that cam is about 196*or 192,(I forget which), at .050
Performance starts around 220/224*@ .050, or around 60*ICA
Every 6 or 7 degrees is about a cam-size, so the 192 is about 4 sizes down, which is why, in the article, I use the 340 cam as an example, cuz it is on the upper limit for a 318 to still be able to make pressure with, but it takes a lot of Scr to get there.
 
I addressed that in the article. The factory cam is just too small.
240/248/112 with an Ica of 48*(4* advanced already)
IIRC that cam is about 196*or 192,(I forget which), at .050
Performance starts around 220/224*@ .050, or around 60*ICA
Every 6 or 7 degrees is about a cam-size, so the 192 is about 4 sizes down, which is why, in the article, I use the 340 cam as an example, cuz it is on the upper limit for a 318 to still be able to make pressure with, but it takes a lot of Scr to get there.
i will disagree my 340 with the 218@50 454 lift 110 106 is a great street cam some lope
would be a even bigger in the 318
 
i will disagree my 340 with the 218@50 454 lift 110 106 is a great street cam some lope
would be a even bigger in the 318

What are the rest of those cam specs, please?
 
What are the rest of those cam specs, please?
its the comp cam 268h
268 454 lift 218@50 218@50 454 lift 110lsa 106 has 4 degree advance already
great low end torque pulls to 6000
9.99 to 1 actual comp 169 cranking compression 8.2 dcr think it was 138v/p 3.91 sg 727 tf-2
 
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I believe the guys who think 318s are great would fall head over heels in love with the 340...they would be born again really...:)

all the bench racing trying to figure out 318s is amusing.
 
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I addressed that in the article. The factory cam is just too small.
240/248/112 with an Ica of 48*(4* advanced already)
IIRC that cam is about 196*or 192,(I forget which), at .050
Performance starts around 220/224*@ .050, or around 60*ICA
Every 6 or 7 degrees is about a cam-size, so the 192 is about 4 sizes down, which is why, in the article, I use the 340 cam as an example, cuz it is on the upper limit for a 318 to still be able to make pressure with, but it takes a lot of Scr to get there.
Sure but if you narrowed the lsa shouldn't you be able to widen the duration ?

Most probably be happy with 210 give or take a few degrees, + more .200 duration, add .050-.100" lift, even if took higher ratio. Don't need a lot of cam to add 50+ hp to a 318 there got to be some wheeling and dealing room.
 
I believe the guys who think 318s are great would fall head over heels in love with the 340...they would be born again really...:)

all the bench racing trying to figure out 318s is amusing.
Just curious... the only difference between a 318 and 340 (one that is built and not stock) is .130 bigger bore.. obviously better.. but head over heals? if you are talking stock engines then yes.. the one made for performance would be better..
 
I believe the guys who think 318s are great would fall head over heels in love with the 340...they would be born again really...:)

all the bench racing trying to figure out 318s is amusing.

340's don't exactly fall off trees. At least not where I live.

Just a question- do you feel the same about a 360 with respect to the 340?
 
BTW.. i'm not a 318 die hard...this is the first small block i have ever owned and i expect it to not live long :) this is just fun to talk bout
 
340's don't exactly fall off trees. At least not where I live.

Just a question- do you feel the same about a 360 with respect to the 340?
Never had a 360 but I would build one yes. I have a spare set of J heads I need a bottom end for. I honestly like the heads. The larger ports and valves. I cant see grinding and working 318 heads to try and make them flow. Aftermarket heads are nice but still a sub 4 inch bore in a 318 . Etc. For the record I don't dislike 318s I just wouldn't recreate the wheel trying to make one perform. Although I can see the challenge there. But to me it would be throwing good money after bad. I came up the usual way had a 318 first learned about 340 then found one or two LOL! I actually am fond of the 273 also. I can respect what Chrysler did with the Commando 273 in the 60s and really I consider that the initial basis for the 340... the engineers started on the 340 idea from the 273 performance engine not the 318. But that little 273 in a 64-66 Dart or Barracuda alot of fun.
 
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If you build a 318 340 snd 360 with stock bore and 3.31" vs 3.58" vs 4.00" cranks, would be 318 vs 333 vs 340, 344 vs 360 vs 367, 384 vs 402 vs 410, are we really talking big differences between bore cid potential? Especially comparing 318 vs 360 blocks with same crank there's very little difference between the two.

Surprised with all the 408 strokers that a turned down 360 crank for a 344-360, 318 strokers aren't popular. Guess might as well go 4".
 
If you build a 318 340 snd 360 with stock bore and 3.31" vs 3.58" vs 4.00" cranks, would be 318 vs 333 vs 340, 344 vs 360 vs 367, 384 vs 402 vs 410, are we really talking big differences between bore cid potential? Especially comparing 318 vs 360 blocks with same crank there's very little difference between the two.

Surprised with all the 408 strokers that a turned down 360 crank for a 344-360, 318 strokers aren't popular. Guess might as well go 4".

My plan is to go with a 4" in my 318 (unless a 360 LA block falls into my lap) I can't see buying a different block to gain 18cubes..
 
i will disagree my 340 with the 218@50 454 lift 110 106 is a great street cam some lope
would be a even bigger in the 318
I had a Crane 272/284-216/228-454/480-112 in a 318 twice.
I agree with AJ. 220 or better. Under 220, I’d call it enhanced performance.
If you build a 318 340 snd 360 with stock bore and 3.31" vs 3.58" vs 4.00" cranks, would be 318 vs 333 vs 340, 344 vs 360 vs 367, 384 vs 402 vs 410, are we really talking big differences between bore cid potential? Especially comparing 318 vs 360 blocks with same crank there's very little difference between the two.

Surprised with all the 408 strokers that a turned down 360 crank for a 344-360, 318 strokers aren't popular. Guess might as well go 4".
Bigger bore directly impacts HP possibility but it’s not huge or a big factor until you really start twisting up the engine.
My plan is to go with a 4" in my 318 (unless a 360 LA block falls into my lap) I can't see buying a different block to gain 18cubes..
That’s the whole thing AJ missed. If you already have a 318 & not a lot of money (or you just want the challenge of making power with less cubes,) then spending an extra *** dollars doesn’t make a lot of sense. According to AJ, it’s a waste of time and money because it’s too small and not worth the effort.

The ringer quickly points to a bigger engine which makes sense unless you don’t have the funds in which we all know AJ is swimming in money since he has no care or concern about anyone wants, wishes or limitations and becomes a hypocrite because he should have went straight to a stroker and poked big block.

Another obvious stab in the back post to the forum members, their wallet thickness and Ma MoPar.

I and constantly floor but the callus brow beating disparaging posts against the members wanting to build there 318. Constantly being spoken down too and there arms twisted into spending more money on a 340/360. Even more so the 340 block that runs from $700-$1,000 in a unknown condition which could be complete garbage & money thrown out the door.

I won’t go against the bigger is better but if you don’t have the funds and just similar to build that 318 you already have….
Freakin go for it!!!!

AJ the 318 hater strikes again only in a GRAND FASHION!














On freaking believable!!!!!!
 
It isn't hate it just doesn't make sense to cite funds as a reason to not pick up a 340-360 but then dump a bunch of money into a 318. And some of us know in the end these guys would jump on a 340-360 when the right time and enough money permits. If anything its the 318 guys who are the haters haters of the truth. Why dump x amount into a 318 for 300 horse when the same money and labor nets 400 out of a 360. I don't recall Mopar performance offering a Magnum 5.2 crate engine. The thing is yes I understand in Australia a 318 is what's available but lets not BS each other here in the states. No one here has a tried and true recipe for a 318 that is an affordable "340 conversion" But you all still try and discuss it ad nauseum. UTG MI 318 would be a costly beast in machine work alone and why isn't it done yet with accompanying dyno slips? Not hate valid questions no one today knows anything more than 30-40 years ago and lastly I say this if the Chrysler engineers could have gotten the performance out of the 318 they wouldn't have designed the 340. There simply is no performance conversion kit on the cheap for a 318... you guys cant rewrite the facts and call people haters because you don't like that. You guys are so cheap that you know what ? I watched 318 wr video on "degreeing a cam on the cheap..." Im like "come on dude buy a degree wheel dont come up with some BS and call it degreeing a cam. No offense to 318 WR but hokey hillbilly BS isnt the right way. Go to summit and buy the degree kit they arent that expensive and if you are constantly working on engines you need it. Yeah I know Im the hater. :)
 
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Logically, dollar for dollar vs labor, a 5.9 is the way to go.

Even with the stock cam and relative LC, it should stand with a stock or mild built 340, given the same build on the rest of the car.
 
...but there's still no answer on what "next step up" cam for my 4 barrel, dual exhaust running, driving, don't wanna put it i the corner 318 with 2.94 or 3.23 gears is like compared to some of the other , similar options.
 
Logically, dollar for dollar vs labor, a 5.9 is the way to go.

Even with the stock cam and relative LC, it should stand with a stock or mild built 340, given the same build on the rest of the car.
Well I got off track but I agree, the logic minded 318 guy will eventually realize that performance with a 318 isn't impossible its just more logical the the 360 .

I agree that, a 318 will sound good with a cam but those down in the hole pistons and sub 4 inch bore leave much to be desired. Now someone will say and I've heard many times the bore don't mean nothing but Ill say it means this you cant use large valves and a high lift cam. Second the heads the castings are smaller in stock heads and you cant port a 318 casting to 340-360 size ports you'd grind through. You still need a decent crank and rotating assembly to go to 6 K and above. My 318 was great on the street but it was a mid range up to 5- 5500 street car I'm not going to say it was a performance engine even though I had a cam headers and 4 barrel on an otherwise stock LA 318. My 340 is a different monster even at idle. You just know it runs and you feel the torque just rapping the throttle.
 
Why?

Because!

Some of us like making junk go fast.

This is what some of us have.

The argument is old and worn out.

Racing your mouth sitting on a bar stool is just not really all that much fun.

And you look stupid.
 
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