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318 vs 360 vs 440

RockyPat

RockyPat

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Hello everyone,

I have a 1971 Charger with a 318.

I got a 383 with a 727 and two Edlebrock performer B and RB intakes. One of each.

I was going to swap the 383/727 combo into my Charger, but the 383 is not going to be saved. Too much cylinder wall pitting, stuck, and already 40 over.

I was planning to find a 440 to swap in with my 727 and performer intake, but then a buddy of mine yesterday was talking about how awesome the small blocks are and how they can be stroked out to higher cubes while still being lighter than a big block.

He was talking about how they rev higher than big blocks and are cheaper to build.

I like the big block torque, but my car is already set up for a small block.

I know a 360 is externally balanced, and those issues have to be accounted for.

I could also use my 318, but it is stuck as well. Unknown internal condition.

Anyone know from experience how much cheaper a small block is to build than a big block roughly?

What would you guys do? Stay small block or swap to a big block?

I am trying to stay on a budget.

Any other help would be awesome!

Thank you!
 
Find a decent 440 would be my recommendation
A fancy stroker small block doesn't sound like staying on a budget.
 
Cheap is relative to what you are wanting to do. Speed cost either way, how fast can you afford to go???
 
Go 440 all you need is engine mounts and exhaust. Stroker kits cost money. If you buy a 440 buy it as complete as possible. Finding and buy components can be costly and pain in the arse.
 
With the ole girl weighing in around 4000 pounds, give or take, there's no replacement for displacement.
In my opinion small blocks work best in a lighter car (A body) but fail to impress in a B body. I had a 73 Charger with a transplanted X-head 340 out of a 70 Challenger... was fine once you got all that mass rolling but from a stop it wouldn't get out of it's own way. Probably with a tricked up transmission and a high stall speed converter it would have made it better but once you kick a 440 in the *** you'll never think about small blocks again once your eyeballs return from the back of your head..
 
Good input here. We all forget sometimes that it's torque that really gets a mass going. Not likely you'll find many opportunities to really use the output of a high winding small block on the street anyway.

Go with a torque powerplant. 440 fits the bill pretty well.
 
If you have your heart set on running a stroker, do a 451 or 470 in a 400 block. Otherwise find a 440 and do a stock stroke rebuild in that. Would be the cheapest and fairly easy to get 500 hp.
 
It's dejavoodoo all over again.
 
RemCharger said:
Find a decent 440 would be my recommendation
A fancy stroker small block doesn't sound like staying on a budget.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the comment. I agree with what you are saying. No stroker kit is "budget" friendly. Lol
 
Fran Blacker said:
Go 440 all you need is engine mounts and exhaust. Stroker kits cost money. If you buy a 440 buy it as complete as possible. Finding and buy components can be costly and pain in the arse.
Click to expand...

Yes finding those small parts can be very annoying. Does not sound like too hard of a swap. I also think I would need to shorten my driveshaft, get a stronger rear end, and beef up the suspension. I can't seem to find that thread about the steps needed to swap a big block into a small block car. Dang it! Haha
 
peabodyracin said:
Good input here. We all forget sometimes that it's torque that really gets a mass going. Not likely you'll find many opportunities to really use the output of a high winding small block on the street anyway.

Go with a torque powerplant. 440 fits the bill pretty well.
Click to expand...

You are correct! Torque is key. I also agree that I might not find much use out of a high revving small block. Thanks for the comment.
 
hunt2elk said:
If you have your heart set on running a stroker, do a 451 or 470 in a 400 block. Otherwise find a 440 and do a stock stroke rebuild in that. Would be the cheapest and fairly easy to get 500 hp.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the message. I think a stock stroke 440 would be my route since it already has 440 cubic inches. I have read good things about 400 strokers though.
 
Which Trans and rear-end are currently in the car
 
RockyPat said:
I am trying to stay on a budget.



Thank you!
Click to expand...

Batman cheap.jpeg


It costs the same for machine work. Bore and hone, hot tank cleaning, surface decking, heads resurfaced, valve jobs, etc.
Parts for the LA will be cheaper since so many more of them were made.
A 383 has a shorter stroke than a 360 and almost the same stroke as a 273-318-340 so they will rev about the same, all else being equal.
A 4.0 stroked 318 makes a 390 cubic inch engine. Headers fit better, it is lighter than any big block. This may be a viable option for you.
 
RockyPat said:
That is true Mike. Not very fast considering my budget! :rofl:
Click to expand...

I agree with others a mild 440 would probably be your best bet economically to achieve what you are wanting inthat heavy of a car.
Good luck!
You may get more input if you disclose your budget as well.
 
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