318 or 360?

[Swedee]

A guy nearby has a 360 with a 727 and a 318 with a 904 for sale, both at a decent price.

As I have the original stock 318, I don't want to beat up that very engine but I want some more HP's under the hood than the stock 318 has to offer.

In your opinion, which one should I get? Which one can get the most muscle out of for the smallest buck?


Check out my Challenger blog at http://blog.familjenjonsson.org/my72challenger/

[brasil]

....  360 / 727  Combo

if I were you.....

Greetings Juergen

[burdar]

360 for sure.  You can even reuse all of the 318's brackets and pulleys.  If you use the 904 instead of the 727, you won't even have to change the driveshaft.

[Swedee]

And the 360 will fit (pretty much) right in as well? How about the fact that the 360 is externally balanced, will that gimme trouble?


Check out my Challenger blog at http://blog.familjenjonsson.org/my72challenger/

[burdar]

The 360 uses one different engine mount.  You can still use the 318 mount in some cases by just putting some washers between the mount and the block.  You'll need to use the 360 balancer and a weighted convertor.  If you want to run a neutral convertor, you need to buy a B&M weighted flex plate.

[Swedee]

As far as I understand, the 360's from 1990. Anything in particular to consider as I'm planning on dropping it in a -72 Challenger?


Check out my Challenger blog at http://blog.familjenjonsson.org/my72challenger/

[Chryco Psycho]

If it is a 90 it will have the 308 heads , best factory casting available , more compression & a cam swap are needed

[Swedee]

Sounds good! I'm still a little worried about the "external balancing" but as long as it won't cost me sh*tloads to work in the Chally, it's all good


Check out my Challenger blog at http://blog.familjenjonsson.org/my72challenger/

[Swedee]

Fellas, once again i need some help!
Sadly, the 360 was sold before I pulled the trigger
Now, two different 318's nearby are for sale. One late 80's engine with roller cam and one 70's one.
Any ideas on which I should go for?
Thanks!


Check out my Challenger blog at http://blog.familjenjonsson.org/my72challenger/

[Chryco Psycho]

Roller cam one
 or be patient & look for another late 80s 360

[cudabob496]

ya, hold out for more displacement

[dfrazz]

Roller cam one
 or be patient & look for another late 80s 360

   Assuming you are only going to try to do this once, why settle for something you really don't want.  A 360 gives you so many more options for larger c.i., HP, and TQ and are readily available.

[Swedee]

Thanks for the input guys!
As I'm not aiming at building a monster, I figure the 318 will be a good enough starting point for me.
This is the setup I have in mind (apart from the Patriot Headers and Magnaflow double exhaust that I already have):
Hughes Engines Whiplash roller cam.
Edelbrock Performer intake.
Edelbrock 600 Carb.

I think this setup will wake the car up enough for me
Any ideas?



Check out my Challenger blog at http://blog.familjenjonsson.org/my72challenger/

[cudabob496]

there are many articles on the web on how to build a powerful 318

[shadango]

When I bought my car, it had a 318 in it....wasnt running (no wiring, tranny etc)...a pig in a poke.

Turns out it has a purple cam, double roller timing chain, edelbrock manifold....I added headers...running a 650 edelbrock....727 tranny and 3.55 tru trac.

Its a fun car......

But I wont lie to you --- I long for more displacement.......mo' pahr.

The 318 screams and pulls hard at top end, low end is not horrible but no long smoky burnouts for me.     Just not enough low end combined with my rear disks and the tru trac.

My plan is to "one day" go to a 408 stroker.

My opinion for you -- if you are swapping engines now anyways, go for at least the 360 and be sure the cam you use has low end.  It is a small change to make now that will net you more power overall. 

And not that this matters a lot to me, but saying "its a 318" as car shows doesnt garner the same reaction as "its a 360" or "its a hemi"...LOL