Decision Point: Hop Up 318 In Car Now or Build 340

[mcgheejt]

Don't waste your time and $$$ on the lo-po 318.

Build it once, build it right.  340...if you have such a block.

I agree, I wanted a cruiser but something people would not walk from saying, "Oh, a 318" even if it could beat their 350. 

[Road_Runner]

Thanks all, I'll respond in order:

Yeah, I picked up a 1973 supposedly std bore block a while back.  Guy showed me the crank in it saying the 'rounded' shape of the weights indicated it was a forged crank. 

I might take a look at the heads, but I always liked the way my 383 revved, and ran against some STOUT 340s back in the day so I think a properly built 340 would be more than enough considering my plans for the car.

Not counting gaskets, I've got everything to put on the 4 bbl except the carb: So the only issue there is the right carb for a 318 is going to be too small to reuse on a stout 340.  I would also have to go through the heads if I put those on.  That's the only $$$ I see losing building the 318 for now and the 340 in a year or two which is most likely. I've got a used Edelbrock performer if I stay with the std heads or an LD340 if I add the 302s or some other 340/360 heads.  I've been trying to decide between 3.23 & 3.55 rear gears and which type of sure-grip / posi to use.  Any suggestions?

A different converter would be nice and definitely in the plans if I have to drop the transmission again or pull the motor.  Something in the 2400 - 2600 stall range based on recommendations here.

And yeah, "Its got a 340" sounds a lot better than "Its got a 318" no matter how you back it up!

Thanks again, Jim

[ChallengerGary]

I agree, I wanted a cruiser but something people would not walk from saying, "Oh, a 318" even if it could beat their 350.

"Back in the Day"  there was nothing better than ending a street brawl with "Oh, it's just a 318" after spanking "Tony" in his 5.0 Mustang or "Vinny" in his IROC Z   

[shadango]

I have what I think is a 76 318 block.....eddie performer nmanifold, eddie 1406 carb (was a 1407 when I got it), j heads, headers, some purple cam in it.....I was told the engine was rebuilt stock at some point but then got some contradictory info from someone else who said the engine is an unknown....I have checked compression and listed it here, and according to folks who read it then I have a standard compression engine.

I put a 2400 stall behind it with the 727.

The car runs 2.76 gears. So its not a tire -scorcher off the line.

"No, its not a hemi or a big block or a 340......".....and yeah sometimes I can see the "disappointment" in the eyes of the giddy car show attendee who asks "What engine is it?!!?".  Cant say I care all that much.

When this engine revs up it screams....have had it to about 6500 rpm and it still pulls hard....afraid to break something any higher.....I am convinced that with 3.55s it will really come alive.....but even as-is, I have put a few "tough guys" in wanna-be racers to shame......

If you really just want a nice looking cruiser that has some pep, I say go with the 318.

If you want the bragging rights to say "It has a 340" or "it has a big block", go for it.

Someone painted my 318 orange before I got it, so half the people who look at it think its a 340 anyways.,...LOL

Just think about what you intend to do with the car and then decide.

On one hand I wouldnt mind being able to say I have a hemi in mine versus a 318....but my car is fun to drive , is reliable and and gets no worse mileage than my dakota or durango, both with small blocks.

If I were in your shoes, I would tweak up the 318 to play with it a while since you have the parts (right?)...and then on the side work on the 340 if you have it already or something else.

[shadango]

I agree, I wanted a cruiser but something people would not walk from saying, "Oh, a 318" even if it could beat their 350.

But isnt the fact that your "little 318" could beat their car worth more than haviing a larger engine that could?   

[the_engineers]

If you're worried about admitting to having "just a 318", tell 'em "It's a small block" and then just smile when they ask what size.  So many stroker kits out there these days that it'll be a 408 by the time the rumors get back to you.

[Road_Runner]

You're right in so many ways. I was no way trying to say I agreed with the "only a 318" attitude, but maybe I was willing to give into it a little too easy.  I had EXACTLY the same attitude when I was spanking 440, 454s, etc. with 'only a 383'.  That thing ran way faster than it had any right to.  That's one reason I've struggled with whether I was going to swap in a big hemi or stay with the original engine maybe stroking it to a 438, modern heads, cam, TTI headers, whatever it takes to hold its own against bigger 'faster' cars.  Heck, being one of the few Mopars taking on swarms of Mustangs, Camaros, Chevelles, whatever was something I actually enjoyed trust me. 

One of the things I've considered was 'hiding' the 340 under the blue paint including the aluminum intake along with a plain black original air cleaner, no 340 stickers, etc.  So having a wolf in sheep's clothing works for me. 

I really don't mind staying with the 318 if it will make a decent engine in the long run.  I'm just bad about spending money 2 or 3 times while I change my plans along the way & that's what I'm trying to avoid here.

Later, Jim

[cudazappa]

I was in the same shoes this spring/summer.

My challenger is still a 318 2bbl.
I bought modified 302 heads, LD4B Intake, 670 Avenger carb.  And 340 manifolds.

Then I got a 360 in trade for some stuff I had laying around the house.
Sold the heads and intake.  Saved myself lots of work.  Now I have a 360 that needs a full rebuild, LD340 Intake.  Just a few more pieces to buy and I can start digging into it.

But unlike the 'teen, when I pop this motor in, I don't have to worry about the shape of the freeze plugs, or anything else I could've broken in the mild 'teen that I didn't replace or take off/inspect.  I'll know the shape of the 360, and seeing as how its out, I'm drilling the crank for the future 4 speed swap.  A lot easier to do it not in the car.  On top of that, I still have a running driving e-body in case it takes me a little longer to finish the engine.  Of course, I don't pop the hood unless I have to right now...

So is it embarrassing have a 318 2bbl?  Kinda, but I still can burn both 275/40ZR17s out of the gates with my 3.23 sure-grip.  Of course, the 360 will be even more fun... 

[Road_Runner]

I was in the same shoes this spring/summer.

My challenger is still a 318 2bbl.
I bought modified 302 heads, LD4B Intake, 670 Avenger carb.  And 340 manifolds.

Then I got a 360 in trade for some stuff I had laying around the house.
Sold the heads and intake.  Saved myself lots of work.  Now I have a 360 that needs a full rebuild, LD340 Intake.  Just a few more pieces to buy and I can start digging into it.

But unlike the 'teen, when I pop this motor in, I don't have to worry about the shape of the freeze plugs, or anything else I could've broken in the mild 'teen that I didn't replace or take off/inspect.  I'll know the shape of the 360, and seeing as how its out, I'm drilling the crank for the future 4 speed swap.  A lot easier to do it not in the car.  On top of that, I still have a running driving e-body in case it takes me a little longer to finish the engine.  Of course, I don't pop the hood unless I have to right now...

So is it embarrassing have a 318 2bbl?  Kinda, but I still can burn both 275/40ZR17s out of the gates with my 3.23 sure-grip.  Of course, the 360 will be even more fun... 

Yeah, we do seem to be running similar paths.  That's a great idea about the crank, making sure its compatible with a manual trans. Although one of the decisions I supposedly already made was to stay with the slapstick which is my favorite version of a Mopar auto trans, I already had most of the parts to convert it to a 4 speed before I ever bought the car.  The idea of rowing a pistol grip 4 speed in it keeps me thinking....

Later, Jim