RamRunner
Well-Known Member
I vote for 5.9 magnum, I magnum swapped my car years ago. If your interested I have videos you could review to see what the swap can be, mine went from very mild to somewhat trick with the aftermarket efi.
318 would like to go all in
- Thread starter JustCurious
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RamRunner
Well-Known Member
Man o man, those whiplash cams from hughes sound nasty, don't they.
JustCurious
Well-Known Member
Im pretty set on the 360 magnum and stroking it... but I have one question I have to ask... y’all must’ve known this was coming! Lol
If I were to have a 440 sitting in front of me for the same price what are yalls opinion on that? I’ve read i would have to change some things front end wise or maybe it was rear because of the extra weight?
Also ramrunner I would love to hear and see some I’ll have to look and see if I can find them through your profile or something!
If I were to have a 440 sitting in front of me for the same price what are yalls opinion on that? I’ve read i would have to change some things front end wise or maybe it was rear because of the extra weight?
Also ramrunner I would love to hear and see some I’ll have to look and see if I can find them through your profile or something!
HT413
Semi Pro Bowler
if you are thinking of stroking that 318 into the 390’s, the first $500 I’d spend is on lumber for a small shed.
Then I’d pull that 318, toss it in and build a 440.
Then I’d pull that 318, toss it in and build a 440.
MrJLR
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HT413
Semi Pro Bowler
Nah not hating at all! Buddy had a nice warm 318 on a 68 charger and it’s a nice car. A very basic 440 build will cost ya $5k and you’ll get that back all day in resale value. What’ll really will sell that car is having the numbers motor AND a nice stockish 440. Best of both worlds.
A world beating 318/39x will be a tough sell.
MrJLR
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RTSE470
Active Member
Be prepared to spend more money on the rest of the build like Trans, axle, wiring, driveshaft (may need pulleys and other motor accessories). Also there are the "upgrade" pitfalls that many (including myself fall into) higher end heads, carbs, stall convertors, suspension upgrades, body and paint, it is not hard to let a fun project get rapidly out of hand and outrun your funds and abilities. But it is YOUR car and you get to make the call but if it was me, I'd go the 360 route, the time and money you'll save can be spent enjoying your ride with your dad crusin in your charger instead. Just my 2 cents, Good Luck with whatever route you choose with your car!
Most bang for the buck. 408 stroker, hopped up 904 trans. Ford Explorer 8.8 junkyard axle. Do it all yourself and could have an easy low 12 second street car for less than $10k easy.
Doug
Doug
JustCurious
Well-Known Member
well i got into contact with my dads friends friend and he has a couple 400/727 combos that are good to freshen up.. wants 600 for the pair. Does not seem like a bad idea either i suppose.
HT413
Semi Pro Bowler
Sounds like a good deal, specially if all the parts are there.
JedIEG
Well-Known Member
I have gone down the same path and probably in a similar boat being young and in this hobby when considering a budget. I considered the 5.9 magnum, I got a 400 and 727 but in the end a 318 is in the car because every other part needs more attention for the car to be drivable. The engine is a luxury item in the end. Unless you can spend 5-8k on a stroke kit, heads, valve train, transmission parts and machining for the 400 you probably will end up with them collecting dust like me. Buy them and sell the good parts... If you are going down the efi route, look at a gen 3 hemi. Good power, fuel economy and one big benefit over the big blocks is transmission choice: 727, A518, RFEs, Nag1, even the ZF if you are real dedicated.
Challenger340
Well-Known Member
If you want to build a 318 ?
Then build a 318.
Wee-18's as with any other small Engines, get knocked under the "no replacement for displacement" mantra which is very true.
That said....
NOTHING wrong with a Stroker Kit installed in a 318 and using any of entry level Aluminum Heads, they are surprisingly strong performers for the undersquare dimension, and the usable rpm range can be a gas on the street !
Some attention to gearing/tire diameter and mild stall converter is prudent if an Auto is used, but same as with any well planned build.
Remember also ?
There is some consideration to Stroker cost mitigation, in that the 318/904 came out of your Car, it WILL go right back INTO your Car with minimal work typically associated with swapping the Car over to a different Block/Engine/Trans configuration ie: cooling System, Fuel System, Suspension upgrades/Torsion bars for the Heavier BB B-Body Combo's already too heavy on the front end
Then build a 318.
Wee-18's as with any other small Engines, get knocked under the "no replacement for displacement" mantra which is very true.
That said....
NOTHING wrong with a Stroker Kit installed in a 318 and using any of entry level Aluminum Heads, they are surprisingly strong performers for the undersquare dimension, and the usable rpm range can be a gas on the street !
Some attention to gearing/tire diameter and mild stall converter is prudent if an Auto is used, but same as with any well planned build.
Remember also ?
There is some consideration to Stroker cost mitigation, in that the 318/904 came out of your Car, it WILL go right back INTO your Car with minimal work typically associated with swapping the Car over to a different Block/Engine/Trans configuration ie: cooling System, Fuel System, Suspension upgrades/Torsion bars for the Heavier BB B-Body Combo's already too heavy on the front end
Last edited:
Challenger340
Well-Known Member
Mark1972
Well-Known Member
I would only take offense if any of you blatantly called me out on my ideas and said I was stupid and don’t need to touch it because I don’t know what I’m doing.
Which would only be partially true
I am not familiar at all with mopar, thanks for the suggestions thus far.
If I’m tossing the idea of putting the original back in then a damn sure don’t want to put another small block in it.. sucker is a 5600# ish car.
So if I scrapped that idea what would be a good option? Or is the magnum 318 the best option?
I can do fab and custom stuff.
As to the confusion on large cam and cross country that was poor use of words. I just need to be able to drive it 2-3 hours away if I need too
I'm kinda in the same boat. I just finished the first part of my 1970 Satellite. Meaning the body and interior are done, and its safetied and reliable. Original 318/904/8.25 combo with 2.71 open rear. While I wont be doing the engine this year, the tranny is going to get serviced and maybe adjusted by a local shop i trust (the owner is a Mopar guy). The rear is being upgraded with an 8.25 Sure Grip and 3.91's. Unless you're pushing more than 350 flywheel hp, the 904 and 8.25 will be fine. Assuming you dont abuse it constantly. Changing from the open 2.71 to a posi 3.91 will make the car feel totally different. Maybe even more than the mild 300hp rebuild it's going to get. I'll post again when it's done in a couple weeks. While I do own a 383 that needs rebuilding, I just cant justify going that route right now for a near daily driver. If I wanted to build for street/strip, I wouldn't have started with a 3600 pound, 19 foot long car. Anyway, just my opinion. I'm pretty new to Mopar but am loving cruising now that its driveable. Good luck with your build.
Mopar4Speed
Well-Known Member
Don't forget that the 318 magnum has a reverse rotation waterpump and that the stock timing chain cover does not have a spot for a mechanical fuel pump. Which means you would need a electric fuel pump and a reducer/regulator with carb or run efi. Also previously noted by others the flexplate/flywheel will be externally balanced vs other small block (except 360la)
BeatersRus
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- paying it forwards
had a guy stop by the other day,
he was running a 318 la block with a stroker crank = 392
10 1/2 to 1 compression.
the heads were magnum heads but drilled for an la intake.
he was pushing 400 plus torque easy and i think? around 330 horse.
he specifically mentioned his gas mileage was excellent.
just a thought,for you 318 guys......
he was running a 318 la block with a stroker crank = 392
10 1/2 to 1 compression.
the heads were magnum heads but drilled for an la intake.
he was pushing 400 plus torque easy and i think? around 330 horse.
he specifically mentioned his gas mileage was excellent.
just a thought,for you 318 guys......
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