74 318 low budget build for rat rod..any good recipes?

[ratrod318]

Hi..my name is Brett..I built a 46 rat rod..it's a 46 mecury frame stretched 17" in the front..suicide spring perch...hand made cross member to accommodate the torque flight 727 trans...boxed frame..pie cut and fish plated rear end 9" for air bag set up...48' ford cab..46' international grill..50' some odd chevy bed..69 jag reversed rack and pinion..dodge aspen discs..gm calipers ..1974 dodge 318..and 8 1/4 dodge truck rear end with hand made 4 link parallel bars. I build this in my spare time over three years..i have about 4 k into the complete project..now the motor came from an old friend of mine who was a nam vet..when he passed awayi got his 85 d-150 for 200 bucks..i took the engine trans drive shaft and rear out and then scrapped the truck for 250 bucks..so what i am looking for is an economy engine build..plane heads..cam lifters..4 bbl..headers..i have good oil pressure 45 lbs at idle..i am going to do a compression test soon..i was turned on to this site by swinger340 who live right down the road from me..he has given me some information and seems a wealth of knowledge..it seems to me this whole dodge engine building is all about the right recipe..combination of parts..particular head planing numbers..particular washers to lift the rockers after head planing..this seems like real engine building..so im trying to stay around 500 bucks or so in parts.minus a 4 bbl manifold i found and a 650 4 bbl i already have...there is a local machine shop that will plane the heads for 100 bucks..so considering im gonna run this everyday..and want some thump to it..without getting into the trans..500 bucks is my limit..i also already have a new electronic hei ignition system..so i need some real numbers for planing..what my compression should be as it sits so i dont have to get into rings..some good cam combos..gasket set prices and all the details i can get..i have built others motors..but..all bolt on crap..nothing like cutting heads ..and i might attempt a porting and polishing job..thanks for the help..

 

[ratrod318]

 

[ratrod318]

hmm..cant get my pics from photobucket to upload..any reason?

 

[Bulldozer]

welcome , we love chrysler powered rat rods !

 

[ratrod318]

 

[ratrod318]

 

[ratrod318]

 

[Bulldozer]

nice

 

[ratrod318]

 

[ratrod318]

ok ..i think i got the pics up..

 

[ratrod318]

oh and the motor is a 1974 318..

 

[273]

If want mostly stock engine but sound racy buy smallest Thumper or whiplash cam

 

[rumblefish360]

Brett, welcome aboard, paragraphs my friend, paragraphs!

What are you looking for in the build?
Tell us the weight, gearing, tire size. trans type and is sound you want.

Good Rat Rod stuff is looking like it was also done with less. As in money.
Try a factory 4bbl. intake with a small primary TQ carb with a basic air cleaner. I like the Whiplash cam idea myself.

 

[Kegan B]

Welcome, my rat rod has a 69ish 318, .30 over TRW Pistons, X heads, 509 Purple Shaft cam, TM5 intake, 650 Holley, with 3.23 gears. It's a nice little street motor. We yanked the trailing arms off the rear with it cause they were only tacked on.

 

[moper]

I think in terms of budget stuff - I'd just clean it up, regasket, stick a timing set, mild cam, and springs to match in it, and run it that way. You need torque for that rod... No sense in going through the whole thing - milling, porting and stuff. It doesnt really fit the build nor is it needed at this point.

 

[ratrod318]

quick question..my buddy has a 98 jeep with a 360..i can get a good deal on..will it bolt up to my torqueflight 727?..are the motor mounts roughly in the same location?..can i use my motor mounts from my 74 318?..i assume i have to go with a hei distributor..if so what is a budget distributor?..and ..i guess i would go with a cab set up..because i dont think im cleaver enough to keep the fuel injection..any info would be appreciated.

 

[rumblefish360]

quick question..my buddy has a 98 jeep with a 360..i can get a good deal on..

JEEP engines may not be Chrysler engines. They may in fact be a JEEP engine. IF the starter is on the passenger side, this will create an issue.

will it bolt up to my torqueflight 727?..

are the motor mounts roughly in the same location?..

Yes

can i use my motor mounts from my 74 318?.

. Yes, you will need a small amount of washers or a thick nut to take up the extra space on the driver side mount.

i assume i have to go with a hei distributor..if so what is a budget distributor

?..IMO, a great budget distributor is a MoPar Performance unit triggered by a MSD/Mallory/Summit racing box.

and ..i guess i would go with a cab set up..because i dont think im cleaver enough to keep the fuel injection..any info would be appreciated.

If you take your time, it is actually easy. The hardest part is getting a fuel pump mounted and plumbed to feed the F.I.
Then, the mounting of the computer is just 4 bolts/screw where ever you want it.

 

[swinger340]

I see a complete 360 in Sabattus ME on Craigslist for $500. A 360 is externally balanced so you would need a externally balanced B&M flex plate or you will vibrate. Just another option if you decide against building up the 318. I think with a little more compression, cam, and a 4BBL you will be more than happy with the 318. That thing only weighs what? Like 1800 lbs.

 

[moper]

A 98 Jeep 5.9L is a Magnum 360... All you need is the flexplate with it, and the mount thing Rumble notes which will be the same as any LA 360. Any mopar distributor will drop in, and you will need to change the timing cover and use the cam extension to drive a fuel pump unless you go with an electric fuel pump. You'll laos need the 360 pass car oil pan as the Jeep may not fit the car chassis. Or - it might...lol.

 

[pishta]

stay with your 318, forget head work, Use your $500 for a low compression performance cam (they make them) and some cheap headers for that rod! It NEEDS them! Block huggers or shorties. those logs look..like logs. ;-) Youll be scary fast under 2500 lbs.

 

[ratrod318]

I see a complete 360 in Sabattus ME on Craigslist for $500. A 360 is externally balanced so you would need a externally balanced B&M flex plate or you will vibrate. Just another option if you decide against building up the 318. I think with a little more compression, cam, and a 4BBL you will be more than happy with the 318. That thing only weighs what? Like 1800 lbs.

Did your Dad put an add in uncle henery's adversting your guy's mopar stash..honestly I would just rater buy one of your pree-70 318 if the price is right

 

[ratrod318]

I see a complete 360 in Sabattus ME on Craigslist for $500. A 360 is externally balanced so you would need a externally balanced B&M flex plate or you will vibrate. Just another option if you decide against building up the 318. I think with a little more compression, cam, and a 4BBL you will be more than happy with the 318. That thing only weighs what? Like 1800 lbs.

do you have a link for the flex plate?..I can get the 360 for FREE..friend of mine...gonna check and make sure starter is on the drivers side..im still looking for posi gears if your Dad is parting out his cars