My orgiginal plan was to run a 2.3 turbo ford set up. But this mid 70's dodge 318 kinda fell in my lap. It got the old MT valve covers... edecrock intake... ETC Its ready to run with a 727 TQ flight behind it. Good idea or bad idea? I have gone out of my way to so the correct stance, column, ETC. Just dont want to be the - O that guy ruined the car with that engine.
Whether or not it's a good idea depends to a large extent on what kind of car you plan to put it in and how it's currently set up.
Opinions are like A-holes, everyone has one. Here is my opinion. It always bugs me when I go to a car show and see a model A with a GM engine. I just walk right past it. Its overdone. WAY OVERDONE. With that said, at a quick glance a 318 resembles a SBC. The distributor is in the back. The exhaust ports have the center cylinders exiting next to each other on each head. However in a dodge car of any type, this combination would be super sweet. In a Ford application go with the turbo 2.3. That is a combination that you dont see often, and has the potential to be really cool. With all that said, and with my pet peeve said, I have always wanted to get a Chevrolet car of any type and throw a 318/360 in there, just to see how many people notice its not a SBC. LOL Or imagine a 69 Camaro with a 302. Not a GM 302, but a Ford 302. hehehe Yes I am slightly evil. >~
0154cobra, looks like they beat you to it http://www.hotrodhomepage.com/hrhp/2005/12/24/ford-powered-camaro/ and for some reason i also remember a yellow and black one w/ a 302 in it... people were pissed. It rocked!
Well said Cobra. I always wonder why when a guys got a Mopar, they want to put a Chevy in it. 318s 360s are great engines and cheap to be had. Damn it, use them!!
In 1967, soon after the camaro hit the showrooms, a local drag racer bought a super stripped model and installed a Ford Flathead... Jaws were hitting the dirt everytime he showed up. .
318 's are actually better engines than 360's in my opinion...forges internals and internally balanced.....heads on a small Chrysler are the weak point...bad flow....but with some research and sweat you can put together a 318/360 combo and have a really hot popping small block...I have found to that when using a Chrysler engine...there is a lot to be gained from port matching the intake to the head and even the exhaust manifolds to heads..and if your real energetic smooth both the intake runner and exhaust and do a little cleaning in the exhaust manifolds...you won't regret it...besides that do you want your rod to have the v8 rumble or sound like a hi strung pissed of fly stuck to some fly trap...but this just my opinion...goos luck with your build sir
I too have grown tired of seeing a SBC in everything. People have every right to claim it is traditional and proper...but I personally enjoy seeing different. I like the 318, and I would run it. They are stout little *******s and when properly built can surprise ya. Even in mild form, they perform well. The 2.3 would be neat. They are no slouch by any stretch...but for a neat factor I think the 318 would win...hands down with some aluminum speed goodies and a mild lumpy cam.
318s are good motors, in a roadster it should be a blast to drive. You can always run it for a couple seasons and put the turbo 2.3 in later....
Taxi cab reliable and they can get out and run with the big dogs on the highway. And just as period correct and maybe more than a 2.3 turbo. I'd say that how you dressed it out after you had it in the car may be more of an issue than what it is.
I had a 318 in my old truck (55 f100) ..but with the 904 trans...I had steep gears but got over 20 mpg easily on the highway. Great engines!
I would much rather have a little Mopar than just another BORING, CHEAP*** Chebbie Mouse engine. There used to be two T-buckets around here with 340's in them, and were both "overpowered" aka squirrelly- 318 would be just right
Ive got an old draw through 79 pace car turbo set up for that 2.3. My original plan was to do a conversion to set a 48IDF on the holley 2bbl and run that draw though. I have never seen another draw through system that is in use, let alone in a roadster. Thank you everyone for all your inpute. Call me quirky, but I like to try and do thing out of the ordinay, so when you see it you say...HMMMM. I will prolly have a 318 for sale soon. LOL..
Thats funny, this 318 came out of a 51 F100. Im doing a IFS and BB ford swap for a customer. He just let me have the 318. I thought it was interesting and went on my way, was that a popular swap at some point?
I had a '67 318/727 in this '34 ford, I drove the wheels off it, it ran real hard and ALWAYS got me home. It's still in the truck being driven around Japan somewhere... Photo by hot rod jen
what is so bad about running a non ford in a ford, or ford in a non ford etc... a good engine is a good engine run the 318, durable little work horse wouldn't mind seeing it in anything.
It's very popular with the Destruction Derby guys. A 318 with either a 904 or 727 torqflite trans will run out of water and keep running 'til it literally siezes up. (takes 3 to 4 times as long as a typical Ford or GM engine to quit running) Sure look funny in those big Buick and Olds station wagons! My neighbor has built 25+ derby cars, all with used Pick-n-Pull 318s.
Friends had mopar muscle cars, one a 340'cuda. His sister had a 68 coronet 318 performed real well. Brother in law lined it up against the cuda, 318 blew it's doors off, 2times. 383 roadrunner beat it but it had gears &tires too. I had a super ugly pickup with the dash shifter, that had a rocket 318 also, tire fry.
318s are pretty cool for me. Bought a van from a church years ago. I had no plan of doing anything to this van other than just using it up. For some odd reason one side of the motor would not oil. Other side was great. So I just plumbed in a oil line to the top of the motor, sortal like a dry sump and drove it a good while. Sold it and the guy still drives it. They're good motors. I don't really care if it is a small block chevy, ford or dodge as long as it runs and gets you there.
I'm a Mopar guy, so I'd be happy with a 318 in a car, that's what is in my 40. A 27 Ford roadster is going to be a squeeze. Is it already set up for a 4 banger? In that case, I'd hold out for the 2.3. If it's all drawings in your head and don't mind a bit of work to be different, go for it. Remember that the starter is on the left, oil filter on the right, mounts are pretty easy and the 727 behind it requires a kickdown properly attached and adjusted or a full manual VB.
If you do it I will too. I got a low mile 318 here that I'd like to use. I like what I'm reading so far. You already got the dress-up goodies, so your ahead of me in that game.
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