318cui from 1967

[Mario Keller]

Hi guys,
I want to start a cheap small block build. Try to reach 300hp.
Since I am here in Germany, parts are kind of rare/expensive. I was offered some ported heads 3769974, good condition. I was thinking about a mild cam. Block is original. I have a standard four barrel intake.
What would you experts recommend to do?
I know I loose compression with these heads, but flow would be better.
Heads what I use today are 2843675.
Can somebody give me some advice?
I don't want a high performance engine, just a good runner with a bit more power.

Thanks in advance.
Mario

 

[YY1]

US spec 1967 318 is a 9.2:1 compression motor, so you're a little ahead of the much more common 8.8:1 run of 70 to 83-ish 318's.

Should probably measure it though to really know where you are.

 

[toolmanmike]

Hi guys,
I want to start a cheap small block build. Try to reach 300hp.
Since I am here in Germany, parts are kind of rare/expensive. I was offered some ported heads 3769974, good condition. I was thinking about a mild cam. Block is original. I have a standard four barrel intake.
What would you experts recommend to do?
I know I loose compression with these heads, but flow would be better.
Heads what I use today are 2843675.
Can somebody give me some advice?
I don't want a high performance engine, just a good runner with a bit more power.

Thanks in advance.
Mario

You will probably lose a half point of compression but gain performance with the ported heads. The bad thing about the ported heads is to make them work, you will need a fairly aggressive cam and rpm to get you there. Along with that, headers, a higher stall torque converter and higher ratio rear gears may be needed to make it all work. Many of us either keep our 318's near stock or transplant a 360 for more torque and power without building a radical engine.

 

[YY1]

 

[YY1]

Here come the-

"just get a 360"
"you need a 4.56 gear and 4000 RPM converter to get any power from a 318"
"use the stock cam....or a .600 lift cam"
"stroker kit"

replies.

 

[toolmanmike]

Here come the-

"just get a 360"
"you need a 4.56 gear and 4000 RPM converter to get any power from a 318"
"use the stock cam....or a .600 ift cam"
"stroker kit"

replies.

Yep. There's a reason for that. I choose to leave my 318's alone. I might add a 4 barrel (or not) It won't turn them into a tire burner so it might not be worth the work and expense. Either one can accelerate past the speed limit and cruise down the highway at the 20 mpg mark. They are just powerplants and not race engines. If the OP want's more power, he can throw any combination of parts he chooses at it and see what happens. A pair of open chambered heads could be part of a successful combination depending on how involved he wants to go. You know the story.

 

[YY1]

Start with dual exhaust.

 

[R413]

Rear end gears are huge improvement to a stock engine.

A Mechanical lever. Remember your 10 speed bike? Wrong gear = no go

 

[Mario Keller]

I already have dual exhaust.

 

[YY1]

"Cheap" Edelbrock "Performer" intake and "cheap" 500/625 CFM Edelbrok 4 barrel is next.

 

[YY1]

I already have dual exhaust.

Headers?

Mixed bag.

$$$$ for good ones.
Still a PITA.

340/360 manifolds.

Power steering?
If not, 90's "Magnum" manifolds is the answer.

 

[Secret Chimp]

My wagon originally had the single-year-only '67 318 with the closed-chamber heads. I never touched them, as basically all other 318 heads are open-chamber smog-era heads with worse compression.

I put Comp's mildest cam in it (69000 or something), new valve springs and an Edelbrock dual plane. It was pretty fun to wind out with 2.91s, but I was still hitting 60mph in 1st gear.

If you already have a 4 barrel and dual exhaust, a small cam (with your existing heads) or a rear end change to 3.23 or 3.55 will probably be the best bang for your buck.

Depending on what the law out there allows, you might be able to find a 1990s Magnum 5.2 or 5.9. You can convert them to carb for really cheap.

Or, if your block still has good compression and oil pressure, a Magnum head swap would be a better move than any ported heads from LA small blocks. You'd most likely still need to source those heads off of a used engine.

The Swedes really like their old Mopars, you may have better luck looking for parts there vs within Germany.

 

[71Beeper]

Any modifications that can be done to a 360 engine, those same mod's can be done to that 318.
I heard that some will put the top end from a 273 on it to achieve a high winding small block.

Or go the other way and put together a boosted 318.....