need help building up a 318

[greaserkid]

I recently bought a '75 scamp, that had a 318 in it, built up quite a bit, all according to this article in carcraft about how to get a 400hp 318, and it's all done except porting the heads

here's a parts list (he saved order forms from summit):

sbm ignition package
sbm v/c package
comp fuel filter
mstr. kit w/ pistons
true roller timing
high volume oil pan
headman headers
edelbrock rpm intake
carter afb comp series 4-barrel carb
comp cams xtreme energy 268

now, i wanna race this thing, and run high 11's/low 12's at that (in street tires, not stock but not the huge ones that you gotta cut to fit in), which 400hp just won't do.

so i'm looking to add atleast 50 horsepower, but 100 would be ideal. How would i go about doing this? I'm kinda running out of stuff to do, i plan on adding a windage tray for another 10, and either a 3.58" or 4" stroker crank that should yield about 50 (i'm guessing?), but other than that i'm out of ideas

oh, and if you could tell me what all would be involved in stroking it out, as well as which would be the better option, that'd be great, too. I'm really new to all this, and my dad's a chevy guy so he's not much help on stuff like this

 

[moper]

Hi Greaser. SOunds like he got some of the stuff right. To be honest, if you want to stay with the 318 you have, I'd put a 175 plate NOS system on it. Dont bother with the 3.58 crank, and really, I wouldnt sweat the windage tray either. The tray was designed for 3.31(your 318 ) stroke engines, and is marginal at best even for that. At least you can drive the car while your building the "real" engine. I'd build a 360. They arent too hard to locate for under $200 for a running core. Year doesnt matter. Have it rebuilt properly with soem decent hypereutectic pistons. Have the heads done, maybe with a little bowl clean up, and a cam something like the XS274S solid cam. Keep compresssion in the true 10:1 range, and you'll be running faster than 11.90s with the right support parts...

 

[greaserkid]

eh i don't wanna run NOS, that's a whole different class that i doubt i'd have a chance in

so i can't pull 450-500 horse out of a 318?

I'd think with the stroke, and some good heads (w2 or edelbrock) with some work done on em, it shouldn't be that big of a deal

318 would make for a great sleeper, too

I see all kindsa articles about 5-600 horse 340's & 360's, but, i make $6.25 an hour. Just buying a new (used) rear end is gonna take me close to 2 months

 

[rumblefish360]

so i can't pull 450-500 horse out of a 318?

You can, but...

I'd think with the stroke, and some good heads (w2 or edelbrock) with some work done on em, it shouldn't be that big of a deal

Great idea but.....

You said yopur earning 6.25 an hour. Min. wage right. or just above.
IMO, you should race the car the way it is because you'll be bracket racing. The bracket racing is a good way to cut teeth and possibly earn money by being consistant in the car. Look into the rules for the pay outs.
Going faster would allways be great, but not practical.
Your next step after you start racing is ethier port the heads or max out the chassis.
Do a bigger motor on the side. Make a plan and stick to it or it'll cost more money.

Now go get'em.

 

[greaserkid]

well see, where i live, every weekend they cut out all the bracket crap & go time only. If you can drive it through the gates, you can race.

of course they have a seperate class for NOS & stuff like that, and no one has slicks, but that's kinda more what i wanted to do, just go out & have fun, instead of worrying about all the silly rules & installing a roll cage & all that crap, sure they have bigger payouts with bracket racing, but right now i just wanna go out, get some expirience & have fun

I got years & years ahead of me to build a serious racecar, but for right now i just wanna get some practice in & kill some hondas, camaros & mustangs while i'm at it

and yeah i'll admit i'm gonna be stupid & do some illegal street racing, which is really where the 'sleeper' aspect comes in. If i pop the hood & say "yeah, it's a mopar 408 stroker" people are gonna know that it's a mean friggin motor. But, if i pop the hood & say "yeah, it's just a little 318" and they see iron heads (w2's, but they won't know that), well, they won't think much of it

anyhoo, back on track, with the stroke and some ported w2's, i should be able to be in the 450-500 horse range, right?

also, what kinda intake/carburator setup would you run with this? I have a feeling my carter & little edelbrock intake won't cut it after it's all ported & stroked

aaand a new camshaft is probably in order, too

 

[moper]

careful greaser, you're sliding into that dream land part..Remeber the budget? (0$?) A few tech things..first, and most important...98% of people (including mopar guys) cant tell a 273 from a 426 stroker visually. Most, if seeing no aluminum heads, think nothing is there. What that means to a cash strapped person (like me) is, you build the biggest you can, and call it whatever you feel like. To be blunt, stroking the 318 is a waste of time and $$. the 318 has already been done, and from the sound of it, not done to performance standards..You dont want to use that block. You dont want a 4" crank in a block that has been bored more than .040"..They can loose serious power due to thin walls, not to mention durability and overheating. So, go find a 360 block, std bore, any year will do. Then, by the stroker kit, and have the block machined properly for it. In the meantime, a super Power Shot will put you solidly into the mid 12s on street radials, and costs $500 including the misc. stuff for safe install. (that should be cheaper than the rear axle..lol.

 

[dgc333]

Greaserkid, what does the car run now in the quarter?

The list of parts you mention would suggest the engine still has 318 heads and the Summit "master kit" pistons would still have you well below 9:1 on compression unless the block had been decked a lot. If that is the case then you still have a ways to go to get to 300 HP and the $1000+ for a set of heads won't gain you much. A stroker kit is going to set you back $1000+ to and if the block was not machined in the first place to take advantage of the kit you still won't be to your goal. As the others have stated you are much better off starting with a 360 because it sounds like you will have to start all over with the 318 to get it to the 400+ horsepower range anyway.

 

[Mark Nixon]

A 318 can and will build the horsepower you need/want and you can do it on pretty basic parts.
It takes less airflow (Read: Headwork) to spin a smaller engine higher RPMs and a 318 will handle RPMs with good rod bolts installed.
The MOST critical part is gearing and matching the cam and convertor (automatic) to the gearing.

You DON'T need a stroker to achieve your goals.

Mark.

 

[greaserkid]

moper, are you talking about NOS?

also, nixon, i'd like to hear more

my plan here was sort of to build a sleeper, when i'm done it's gonna have steel wheels with baby moon hubcaps, primed black, and be relatively quiet, with no fancy chrome valve covers or any of that

the real trick here is BEING impressive without looking the part

i planned to buy another 318 & start over anyways, and just run the engine in it as-is till the other one's done

call me crazy, but i have a vision ;)

 

[krabysniper]

You could save time and hassle by just buying my 73 Dart, 360 (looks as stock as could be and would/does pass as a 318 due to the StreetMaster intake that says 318 on it, the only non-factory looking parts on it are the headers and the 15" open element air cleaner, all the rest IS or LOOKS 100% stock :evil: ) I am only guessing at my horsepower due to the fact I didnt make it to the track with it this year but I figure it to be in the 325-350 range and thats on 87 octane pump gas. I made mods to the trans that really brought this thing to life and allowed me to run a 3.23 rear gear so I could run down the interstate and still get reasonable fuel milage, but when I want to hammer on it I pull it down to second or low and it's as if I magicly shifted to 3.55 rear gears (due to the trans mod). All through full exhaust so the noise natzi's don't ticket me an I can still roll in at 3 am an not get shot by my neighbors or wife. The 8 3/4 sure grip assures both 8 inch wide wheels attempt to get traction (they dont when I beat on it, but thats just the way it is with the horsepower and lack of slicks in a LIGHT car). Anyway, you prolly wouldn't be interested since I would want 7 grand to part with it (bare min.) but my real point is these guys are correct in saying that you should go with the 360. It boils down to one thing and one thing only, THERE IS NO REPLACEMENT FOR DISPLACEMENT, no matter HOW MUCH cash you got. Good Luck with your dream.

And just for your reading pleasure I have included a link or 2 about strokers.

http://www.moparstyle.com/technical/stroked360.htm

http://www.hughesengines.com/crank_kits/408crankkit.asp

http://www.flatlanderracing.com/strokerchrys.html

 

[moper]

Yes, I'm saying NOS on the 318 you have now. It will get thte job done for you, and be in budget. BUT..there are limits, and as I keep mentioning, you need to do more than buy it slap it on and go. call NOS, or read the books on the subject. Mark is correct on the 318 having the potential. however, it takes $$ and knowhow to get it out of them. the 360 will do a better job for less $$