318 V8

Garrtt_51 · 07-28-2007, 04:17 PM

i have a 1969 dodge dart. it has a 318 v8. i was wondering if this is a good engine to build power with or should i buy a crate engine. if it is a good engine to build power with what should i do to it.

unclemike · 07-28-2007, 07:48 PM

How much can you spend? The easy way is to go crate engine, no running back and forth for parts, dealing with shyster machine shops etc.

Garrtt_51 · 07-29-2007, 12:29 AM

right now iam on a pretty limited budget so which ever would be cheaper. i would like to make about 400 hp

unclemike · 07-29-2007, 11:29 AM

Mopar Muscle did an article on a 318 build up that netted over 400 hp. It involved worked 360 heads and .030 pistons with enough of a dome to make some decent compression.
You are ahead of the game as far as having a forged crank in your block but lack a sufficently strong rod. The cast crank 318's got the 340/360 rod with a pressed pin. Rather than waste money on reuilding stock rods price out a set of replacment aftermarket pieces.
Since you say you are on a budget be warned that you'll be spending a minumum of $3,000.

Garrtt_51 · 07-29-2007, 11:27 PM

sweet thanks

eric22 · 07-31-2007, 01:30 PM

welcome to the site

ucfierocharger · 08-02-2007, 11:38 AM

I would suggest trying to find a 360 or a 340. If your car runs you would probably be able to find a 360 for just a couple hundred dollars and you can build it while you still drive your stock 318 around town.

I am doing just that with my charger and it was a great decision. I can still drive it around and its not stuck in the garage til the motor is finished

Garrtt_51 · 08-02-2007, 11:59 PM

i would like to keep the original engine

ucfierocharger · 08-03-2007, 06:10 AM

thats understandable, but your going to spend more money building a 318 to 400hp than a 360. But like it was said, It IS possible, just expensive.

Garrtt_51 · 08-03-2007, 10:00 PM

yeah i realize that but iam not expecting to get the car and then in a month have all the work done that i want done

440roadrunner · 11-09-2007, 08:06 PM

Just my opinion, but I think you're going to find it really expensive to get that kind of power out of a 318. For example, you can throw away your present heads, intake, cam, pistons, and rods.

Not much left, is there?

CAT-TECH · 01-29-2008, 02:56 PM

You can make decent power out of a 318 and still have it very streetable but when you shoot for 400+hp natural aspiration with no NOS you will lose some of your reliabilty and streetabilty. As to how much you lose depends on just what you do to make that power. I would say keep your 318, do intake manifold, new carb, headers, high flow exhaust and see how you like the power of the engine then.

74SWINGER · 02-18-2008, 11:41 PM

Where can I find a 360 then to put into my '74 SWINGER because I too am aiming for 400hp. Any ideas on where I can get a MOPAR 360 to drop into my dart?

kmn5 · 02-23-2008, 03:11 PM

hmmm, 400hp.. interesting stuff
(Btw: do you guys quote at the crank hp or at the wheel hp?)

07-28-2007, 04:17 PM	#1 (permalink)
Garrtt_51 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 5	318 V8 i have a 1969 dodge dart. it has a 318 v8. i was wondering if this is a good engine to build power with or should i buy a crate engine. if it is a good engine to build power with what should i do to it.

07-29-2007, 12:29 AM	#3 (permalink)
Garrtt_51 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 5	right now iam on a pretty limited budget so which ever would be cheaper. i would like to make about 400 hp __________________ MOPAR or No Car

07-29-2007, 11:27 PM	#5 (permalink)
Garrtt_51 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 5	sweet thanks __________________ MOPAR or No Car

08-02-2007, 11:59 PM	#8 (permalink)
Garrtt_51 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 5	i would like to keep the original engine __________________ MOPAR or No Car

08-03-2007, 10:00 PM	#10 (permalink)
Garrtt_51 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 5	yeah i realize that but iam not expecting to get the car and then in a month have all the work done that i want done __________________ MOPAR or No Car

07-28-2007, 07:48 PM	#2 (permalink)
unclemike Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 8	How much can you spend? The easy way is to go crate engine, no running back and forth for parts, dealing with shyster machine shops etc.

07-29-2007, 11:29 AM	#4 (permalink)
unclemike Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 8	Mopar Muscle did an article on a 318 build up that netted over 400 hp. It involved worked 360 heads and .030 pistons with enough of a dome to make some decent compression. You are ahead of the game as far as having a forged crank in your block but lack a sufficently strong rod. The cast crank 318's got the 340/360 rod with a pressed pin. Rather than waste money on reuilding stock rods price out a set of replacment aftermarket pieces. Since you say you are on a budget be warned that you'll be spending a minumum of $3,000.

07-31-2007, 01:30 PM	#6 (permalink)
eric22 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 7	welcome to the site

08-02-2007, 11:38 AM	#7 (permalink)
ucfierocharger USB car drive man Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Cincinnati OH Posts: 139	I would suggest trying to find a 360 or a 340. If your car runs you would probably be able to find a 360 for just a couple hundred dollars and you can build it while you still drive your stock 318 around town. I am doing just that with my charger and it was a great decision. I can still drive it around and its not stuck in the garage til the motor is finished

08-03-2007, 06:10 AM	#9 (permalink)
ucfierocharger USB car drive man Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Cincinnati OH Posts: 139	thats understandable, but your going to spend more money building a 318 to 400hp than a 360. But like it was said, It IS possible, just expensive.

11-09-2007, 08:06 PM	#11 (permalink)
440roadrunner Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 272	Just my opinion, but I think you're going to find it really expensive to get that kind of power out of a 318. For example, you can throw away your present heads, intake, cam, pistons, and rods. Not much left, is there?

01-29-2008, 02:56 PM	#12 (permalink)
CAT-TECH Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Cali Posts: 42	You can make decent power out of a 318 and still have it very streetable but when you shoot for 400+hp natural aspiration with no NOS you will lose some of your reliabilty and streetabilty. As to how much you lose depends on just what you do to make that power. I would say keep your 318, do intake manifold, new carb, headers, high flow exhaust and see how you like the power of the engine then.

02-18-2008, 11:41 PM	#13 (permalink)
74SWINGER Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 1	Where can I find a 360 then to put into my '74 SWINGER because I too am aiming for 400hp. Any ideas on where I can get a MOPAR 360 to drop into my dart?

02-23-2008, 03:11 PM	#14 (permalink)
kmn5 Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 10	hmmm, 400hp.. interesting stuff (Btw: do you guys quote at the crank hp or at the wheel hp?)

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