Hello Everyone.

My name is Andres , recently my father and i purchase a 1974 Charger SE with a 318 as project car. it's currently painted all black with green interior.

I would like to build the 318 to reach around 300+ with my budget of $2000 or should i go another route? not sure yet some people tell me to get a 360 motor instead.

this will be my 1st muscle car build. Total noob.

i'm looking forward to learning a lot as well getting to know the Mopar community.



Thank you

 

Risk -

The 360 crate motor will be an easier undertaking, if you can do an engine swap. If you're really into this, that won't be anywhere near as much fun, nor will you learn as much as you would by building up the 318. That assumes the 318 is sound, of course.

300 HP is very do-able with the std parts:
Cam (including springs, and lifters)
Intake manifold and carb
New exhaust (headers and full duals with X / cross over pipe)
You can also find 340 HP heads on the cheap, which will increase compression and give you larger valves.
The stock electronic ignition system is good, but you can cheaply make it better (upgrade the ECU and distributor).

The above was what I did to my 318 back in the late 70's.

...and you don't have do it all at once, which can help your budget.

Take a look at my photo album:
https://moparforums.com/forums/membe...er-albums.html

Same car, but we swapped of the 318 for a 440 in the early 80's.

edit: Also remember, that down the line you will have to look at the tranny and rear end. Depending on your plans for the car, things like shift kits and high(er) stall converters might be necessary. The Charger most likely has a 2.73 rear ratio in an 8 3/4" housing. You will probably want a little steeper.

Good luck,

Archer

 

Welcome aboard.

 

Welcome to the forum.... Be sure to check out the Mopar of the Month contest... A lot of "Mopar help" here and everyone here loves to share....

 

Welcome!

 

welcome to the forum

 

Welcome to the forum, nice project! I am working on a 71 charger myself.

 

Archer,

Thank you for the fast response.

i'm looking to overbore the block to .030 as well clean the block , add new pistons while being the machine shop. good idea or should i stay with the stock ?

as for Cams what company or which ones will be good?

For headers i'm looking at.

Hooker Competition Headers 5901HKR

or Summit Racing® Headers SUM-G9041



yes the beauty of building it slowly is that i can pay for each as i go

Thank so much for the feed back

 

Risk -

If you're going to pull the engine, then for performance the 360 crate engine might be an easier route. My suggestions were based on the notion that you would be working on the engine while it was in the car. That assumes that the short block is sound and holding good compression. That needs to be checked out first.

Since you'd be redoing the block, the heads will need work as well, given their age. Valves, seats/guides and springs will need work or getting after market heads.

Been a long time since I did a small block, but comp cams has a good rep these days. (I used Crane cams in my small block.) There are a few guys here who can give you more specific recommendations, based on what you want to do with the car. Just remember that after a given point, the more power you make the less drive-able the car will be. An hydraulic cam with about a 280 duration and under a .500 lift is usually a good choice.

I've always liked Hooker headers, however TTI has a really good (but expensive) product. For a mild street engine, you won't need more than 1 5/8" primary tubes and 2.5" collectors and pipes.

The problem is that you do have a lot options. I'd start getting prices for the parts AND machine shop work and cost to pull then engine, if you're not doing that yourself and compare the total to the price of the crate engine swap.

Assuming you're new at this, you can do the intake, carb and ignition yourself to get your hands dirty. Next would be the headers and exhaust and then decide when you want to do the cam / heads. You overbore the cylinders only if needed, since the amount of displacement gains will be minor.

Archer

 

Archer,

Thank you for the information.

What about getting a 360 of a 2001 Ram 1500 motor and swapping into my 74 ? How hard could it be and would i get the most bang for my buck? my father found one a yard that we can get for cheap.

i'm sure the motor mounts , oil pan.

Also converting it to Carburetor.

or should i stay in the route of the 318 ?


Thank you,

Risk

 

Risk - Sorry, I don't know a lot about the newer engines and what kind of compression it has, etc, and since it's out of a truck, might be set up for torque, which isn't a bad thing. You still might be looking at a rebuild, since it's still 12 - 13 years old. Archer

 

Late magnum 360 would be a great motor to upgrade your car . You would need to change the intake to a carb manifold. Shumacker has motor mounts. There are thinks to consider mainly which trans you have ? 727 would be the best . 904 is do able if built properly for a 300 hp. and the Torque converter/ flex plate balance

 

HEY HEY HEY HERE HOLD ON HERE THAT'S THE CHARGER MY BROTHER AND I LOOKED AT TWO, THREE WEEKS AGO MAYBE FOUR, THE GUY SAID IT WAS NOT FOR SALE HOW THE HECK DID YOUR DAD GET IT YOU LUCKY BUMM
THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE......
check out my thread "CAR NOT FOR SALE?"
MAN YOUR LUCKY!
EMMMM!


The late model 360's may be different if it's a la block you should have no problems with the swap but if a magnum block you have allot of differences that will have to be addressed
computer
cooling
mounts
as far as a 904 and a 360 i don't even think you can get a torque converter for that set up and like TVlynn said it has to be built, i went through two of em on my first 318! i broke hard parts soo... your better off sticking with a 727 or if you get creative go with a 518 ***** that's what we would have done...
Lucky!

 

TVLynn -

For the Intake to a carb manifold: i was looking in summit racing but could not find any for 5.9/360 for a 99 not sure if the year matters.


i actually wrote to mike at Engine-swaps.com , he reply super fast , told me it was strait forward swap all. i need is the '73 & Up Poly Spool 273/318 or 340/360 Replacement Kit from their site. 73PLA (340/360)

As for Trans: We think the 318 came with a 727 but not sure yet. could we see it in the vin decoder ?

Thank you for all the info and help.

 

Gorts 5th -

crazy! what small world so you actually wanted to buy the same charger? just read your post. i guess my father was at the right time and at right place. the sellers wife was the one who told him hahah he needed to sell it.

yeah its 360 from a 99 ram 1500 , definitely we want to use intake to a carb manifold as well new oil pan and motor mounts. did not know about the cooling ? what would we need?

Thank you

Risk

 

Yea that's the one on the corner of 46 and old Sanford hyw...
when we looked at it it didn't even have seats in it.
lucky!


If a L A block you should have no problems straight swap
but if it's a magnum block you will need a electric fan for cooling i don't believe it has a water pump like the L A blocks.
some one on the forum can get more specific on this than me.