I have 65 Belvedere II with a 273/904. I would like to rebuild a 318 and swap the engine out. My question is do ineed to stick with a 60's 318 motor in order for it to mount up with my stock motormounts/ tranny, or are the 318 motors pretty much the same until they get up into the 80s. Also are there any years that I should stay away from.

P.S. I just want a nice motor to get around town maybe spin the tires occasionaly, not looking to go crazy with it.

thanks

 

there was some wide block 318s in the early 60s. If you get a 318 from the 70s or 80s though, you'll be fine. It wshould bolt right in with no problems.

 

My '66 Belvedere started life with the old style 318 engine (I've heard them called wide blocks or poly blocks???) and the owner before me switched to a '74 318. He told me the older engine had very little to no performance up grades offered. Now that the car is set up for the newer engine I should be able to install any small block and/or almost an endless supply of performance items (intake, cam, headers, etc.) I didn't change the the engine, but I believe there are alot of engine mount options such as 6 cyl. to small or big block engines and yes this opens you to other things such as are the springs in the car good enough for the engine and so on....

 

Thanks I think the springs should be fine, the 273 and the 318 shouldn't be to much of a weight difference. I will have to research what block numbers are considered the wide blocks. I would assume they make all of the engine mount conversion kits if i did end up getting a wide block vs a standar 318. This will be my first engine rebuild and i would like to get something that would be most condusive to a first timer.

 

Thaks for the link Ryan, I think I am gonna keep an eye out for an LA and go from there.

 

318 LA motors are pretty common as they came in trucks and cars til 93. After that they are Magnum motors. You should be able to use the motor mounts that you have now to install the 318 with.

The wide block (poly block) 318s I beleive made more power than the LA block 318s did. They made the poly blocks it about 1965 (98% sure).

 

i think it is 66, but im not sure either

 

1966,last year for polysphere. I had a 66 charger with a poly.

 

there ya go

 

Thanks for all the help guys i am now in the market ill let you know what i find.

im in Alameda CA, luckily there is a big mopar community here.

 

agree,318 easy to find just about anywhere

 

My 66 Belvedere II came with a 273/904 combo as well. Honestly I thought the 273 was a much smoother ride than the 318 I currently have in my Coronet. It has about the same kick to it with both being stock config. Give the 273 a nice full tune-up and it should give you want you want.