Hypothetical 318 Commando Build

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superstock64polara

superstock64polara

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Has anyone actually built & run a 318 just like a 273 HiPo motor?
That is, a 318 short motor with a nice flat-top piston that will produce around 10:1 static compression with 273/318 '920' closed chamber head, and the following 273 Commando parts:
* Cast iron single plane 4BBL intake manifold
* Carter AFB 500cfm carb
* OEM adjustable rockers
* Isky E-4 solid camshaft or OEM original profile
* Prestolite duel point distributor
* Cast iron OEM headers

I have a 67 Barracuda Formula S 273 4 speed car with 3.23 sure grip rear, and am happy enough with the 273 Commando mill, it would be nice however to have a motor with a little more torque.

Love the idea of a 318 built as a 273 HiPo, just wondering if anyone has done this and what they think.

20210426_193652.jpg
 
One thing may or may not be a problem
Depends on your preference the 318 will definitely be stronger though out the lower rpm’s but gonna peak a lot lower than the 273, say the 273 makes peak hp at 5000 rpm the 318 might peak 500-800 rpm lower.
 
5-8 hundred? A little wishful ya think? IDK about that. None the less, It doesn’t really matter. I myself would look at a different camshaft because of the increased size of the engine.

I like the idea behind it.

Nice looking engines a got there George.
 
That is my friend Brian's '69 318 build for his '72 Duster.

'69 318 factory bore short block
Stock 9.2:1 pistons with full float rods.

Mr. Gasket. 028 ths thin head gaskets.

302 original spec heads. Remans
Stock Valves, 340 Valve Springs
Port matched to LD4B intake.

340 Cam
Mopar factory hydraulic valve train
Stock crank, stock spec oil pump
Double Roller Cam Chain
Timed Straight Up, (no advance)

1406 Edelbrock Carb
Factory Spec Mopar Electronic Dist.

TTI 2.5" X-Pipe Exhaust
On stock 318 A Body manifolds
904 trans
3.23 Sure-grip rear Gears
8 3/4 rear end

Power Steering, Manual Brakes

Easy 300 hp, always wanted to dyno it.
Plenty of power and performance
Drive with both hands.

Enjoy . . .

☆☆☆☆☆

72 Duster 318.jpg
 
Yeah. Chrysler did a 318 Commando. Don't know if they called it that, but that's what it was. In Mexico.
 
Nice combo, this would be a perfect cruiser type mill in an A Body.




George Jets said:
That is my friend Brian's '69 318 build for his '72 Duster.

'69 318 factory bore short block
Stock 9.2:1 pistons with full float rods.

Mr. Gasket. 028 ths thin head gaskets.

302 original spec heads. Remans
Stock Valves, 340 Valve Springs
Port matched to LD4B intake.

340 Cam
Mopar factory hydraulic valve train
Stock crank, stock spec oil pump
Double Roller Cam Chain
Timed Straight Up, (no advance)

1406 Edelbrock Carb
Factory Spec Mopar Electronic Dist.

TTI 2.5" X-Pipe Exhaust
On stock 318 A Body manifolds
904 trans
3.23 Sure-grip rear Gears
8 3/4 rear end

Power Steering, Manual Brakes

Easy 300 hp, always wanted to dyno it.
Plenty of power and performance
Drive with both hands.

Enjoy . . .

☆☆☆☆☆

View attachment 1715833307
Click to expand...
 
Have a '90 318 roller engine in my '76 D100 truck.
Close to the same layout as Brian's.

9.2:1 factory pistons, w full float rods
Stock Roller Cam
Factory 302 heads
Thin .028 ths head gaskets

1406 Edelbrock on the mid rise stock TBI 318 intake manifold

Stock truck exhaust manifolds on 2" Dual H-Pipe exhaust

727 trans, 3.55 rear gears
PS, PB

Pulls the truck around real nice, fun to have the secondaries on the 4 bbl to play with too.

20200608_201627.jpg



Resized_20200712_194110_8421.jpeg



20201013_192958.jpg

Happy with that setup, works nice.

☆☆☆☆☆
 
George Jets said:
Have a '90 318 roller engine in my '76 D100 truck.
Close to the same layout as Brian's.

9.2:1 factory pistons, w full float rods
Stock Roller Cam
Factory 302 heads
Thin .028 ths head gaskets

1406 Edelbrock on the mid rise stock TBI 318 intake manifold

Stock truck exhaust manifolds on 2" Dual H-Pipe exhaust

727 trans, 3.55 rear gears
PS, PB

Pulls the truck around real nice, fun to have the secondaries on the 4 bbl to play with too.

View attachment 1715833328


View attachment 1715833329


View attachment 1715833330
Happy with that setup, works nice.

☆☆☆☆☆
Click to expand...
That's a super cool truck.
 
Nice street mill, cool truck!



George Jets said:
Have a '90 318 roller engine in my '76 D100 truck.
Close to the same layout as Brian's.

9.2:1 factory pistons, w full float rods
Stock Roller Cam
Factory 302 heads
Thin .028 ths head gaskets

1406 Edelbrock on the mid rise stock TBI 318 intake manifold

Stock truck exhaust manifolds on 2" Dual H-Pipe exhaust

727 trans, 3.55 rear gears
PS, PB

Pulls the truck around real nice, fun to have the secondaries on the 4 bbl to play with too.

View attachment 1715833328


View attachment 1715833329


View attachment 1715833330
Happy with that setup, works nice.

☆☆☆☆☆
Click to expand...
 
Mine is fairly close to the question asked, but the 318 doesn't have a dual-point distributor, high compression pistons, or a solid camshaft (but it does have double roller chain).

I have a circa 1979-1980 318 in my 1965 Formula S which uses the factory chrome air cleaner, factory Carter AFB 3854S carburetor, factory finned valve covers, a factory intake manifold (1966 273 manifold to match the 318 intake bolt size/angle), factory Torquelflite and a 2 1/2" TTI exhaust with stock 273 exhaust manifolds. The 318 received a stock rebuild so uses the stock 318 long block and hydraulic camshaft.

From a stop, the transplanted "open" 489 case 8 3/4" rear-end will spin a tire or two if I step on the accelerator a little too hard. I believe the ring and pinion ratio is 2.76.

273 engine installed sept 2021.png


IMG_0133.jpg


IMG_0207.jpg
 
Last edited:
If it was me I’d bore it out 0.060” and use the 327 as the blueprint.
 
No motor I'll ever own that I won't pull and port the heads.
Best bang for the buck 'after headers' if you want and extra 25-40 hp power and don't want to change any parts.
 
Last edited:
273 said:
If it was me I’d bore it out 0.060” and use the 327 as the blueprint.
Click to expand...
I like this route but hesitant on a Chevy copy.
:lol:
I know it’s moving away from the 273 copy into a larger engine, but it is still a viable route.
 
318! 318! 318 !!! You can really make 'um run.All depends on how much money you want to spend.A little goes a long way.

IMG_2801.jpg
 
Great information dibbons, this is what I've been thinking about. Seems like you're pleased with the end result?


dibbons said:
Mine is fairly close to the question asked, but the 318 doesn't have a dual-point distributor, high compression pistons, or a solid camshaft (but it does have double roller chain).

I have a circa 1979-1980 318 in my 1965 Formula S which uses the factory chrome air cleaner, factory Carter AFB 3854S carburetor, factory finned valve covers, a factory intake manifold (1966 273 manifold to match the 318 intake bolt size/angle), factory Torquelflite and a 2 1/2" TTI exhaust with stock 273 exhaust manifolds. The 318 received a stock rebuild so uses the stock 318 long block and hydraulic camshaft.

From a stop, the transplanted "open" 489 case 8 3/4" rear-end will spin a tire or two if I step on the accelerator a little too hard. I believe the ring and pinion ratio is 2.76.

View attachment 1715833343

View attachment 1715833344

View attachment 1715833345
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
I don't plan on any changes, and I did not plan the "build" this way, just used what was on hand (mostly from previous owners).
 
dibbons said:
just used what was on hand
Click to expand...
superstock64polara, I am with dibbons. The 318 was a 48K take out from a 70 Coronet (free)that was getting a Big Block.
Bottom end is stone stock. Edelbrock 600 along with the performer intake with the 318 size ports.
I went with a Comp Cams 268H-10 cam and matching valve springs.Mancini timing chain tensioner.Heads were cleaned up and gone thru.Cheapie Jegs headers.
Little things really wake up a Teen.
 
Hey Darter6, you've really peaked my interest now.
I have a good running stock 1972 318. The 273 HiPo in my Barracuda now has a Performer intake, Holley 600 v/s, Pertronix 3 in the duel point distributor, and a Comp XE262H cam & lifters. I also have a set of Flowtech 1-5/8" long-tube headers that I haven't installed yet. Thinking more and more about using the 318 short motor with all the 273 Commando hop up bits. You're happy with the way your 318 runs?

Darter6 said:
superstock64polara, I am with dibbons. The 318 was a 48K take out from a 70 Coronet (free)that was getting a Big Block.
Bottom end is stone stock. Edelbrock 600 along with the performer intake with the 318 size ports.
I went with a Comp Cams 268H-10 cam and matching valve springs.Mancini timing chain tensioner.Heads were cleaned up and gone thru.Cheapie Jegs headers.
Little things really wake up a Teen.
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
There is someone that is doing a high compression 318 here. I told him he's one of the first to work an aftermarket piston high compression 318 build on here and am anxiously waiting on the results.

Cam for a 318
 
superstock64polara said:
You're happy with the way your 318 runs?
Click to expand...
I think it runs great,for what it is.Low budget in a beater that most would use only as a parts car.
A B&M shift kit in the 904 and a set of 4.10's make for some real fun.And JUST for fun.It's what you do with left over parts.
I built the car in 2019 for the Tucson zip tie drags. Health sidelined me 2019,then covid 2020, then a new granddaughter, 2021
Maybe 2022 if they have it again.
IMG_2966.jpg
IMG_0003.JPG
 
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