Customs 318 performace build

I am rebuilding my dodge 318 v8 for drag racing as well as a daily driver. What all can I do to my engine to get the most out of my little 318?

 

Is it an early (poly) 318 or a later (LA) 318? That'll make a huge difference as to advice given.

 

Get the Chrysler Performance Manuals from the 80's.
They have it all laid out in various steps

 

mopar purple stripe cam can not be beat. Get a MOPAR Hot ignition box add light weight springs in the distributor. Check clearance on the reluctor. set on the wide side of specs. a 4 barrell intake with a 600 carb. I would not go larger. Good plug wires and distributor cap. The 318 will suprised you how quick it can go. Now for a little bit more money find a set of 89 up 360 swrill heads. the 360 has larger valves. Have a 3 angle valve job done. The last part cost some more money but well worth it. I got a 360 crank had the mains turned to 318 size. I used dish pistons and had the tops turned down flatt have a 8 to 10 thousands deck clearance. This way you get 350 cubic inches with a 30 over bore. I also installed the pistons back wards because of pin off set it had a longer dwell at top dead center.

 

What is the budget??
One of the best builds I have seen for quite awhile will follow the work done recently by Engine Builder Magazine.
http://www.enginebuildermag.com/2014/09/breaking-rules-392-magnum-engine-build/

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It was taken out of my 87 dodge ram so I'm guessing poly?

 

I have no budget but some simple quick upgrades to get more horsepower is the path I mostly want to follow, however I am also willing to take the more expensive path.

 

That would make it an LA 318, poly engines were used up to the mid 1960's.

 

Good advise given above. I'll second the Mopar Performance Manual advice, Chrysler engineers were a great source of engine building information.....they designed, build and raced em.

I've been a small block Mopar guy since 1970, that's when I bought the 70 340 4 speed Duster that's over in the shop. Back then we had zero respect for 318's as performance engines, but as a tow truck engine....they'd run forever. My advise is spend a little time looking for a hens tooth engine, a 1968 to 1971 340. Reason for those years is they were 10.5 compression engines and even though the factory rated em at 275 hp, they usually made more like 325 to 340 hp at the flywheel. NHRA rated them at 325, we raced 396 Chevys heads up in stock cl***es and normally won.

Like I said, they're hard to find these days, but you never know (I sold a complete running 70 spec steel, crank engine to a bud last month for $500.00). A stock rebuild will get you more than you'll likely ever see from a mid range performance build of a 318.

Good Luck, Ron

 

change heads to 340-360 and a purple cam with headers, alum. intake and a 650 carb. Used this in my duster with shift kit and 3.91 gears went 13.17 in quarter.

 

Thank you for all your help guys really appreciate it!!!

 

http://www.enginebuildermag.com/2014/09/breaking-rules-392-magnum-engine-build/

Just checked out the attached link. DAMN, if this has been duplicated (sometimes magazine engines seem to have a little unobtainium in em), this is one interesting build. I haven't been involved in many years, good to see how things have progressed.

I'm on the verge of starting work on the Duster (1970, 4 speed, 3.55 gear car) it has a fresh engine from 1988 with about 2,000 miles on it. I did a pretty complete freshen up job back then, paid 2500 for a great lacquer paint job and it's mostly been a garage queen since then. Last drove in 2006. The build above makes me want to rethink my original engine....may be time to bring it into the 2016's.
rr

 

Here's an interesting build that gets 400HP out of a 318 with mostly stock parts.

http://www.hotrod.com/how-to/engine/mopp-0409-318-engine-build/

There are other more recent builds that you may be able to find on the net. Mopar Action did a budget 360 build with some good information.