What should i do (Engine)
 

Hey guys,
So my 69' Satellite is still equipped with it's original 318. Now the guy i bought the car from built the motor. (360heads,cam,4brl,intake,headers) Not sure what else he did but i'm wondering for more power if i should pull this motor and keep it on a stand in case i decide to go back to it and drop a 383/440 and do a mild build? Which would be good for shows since i'm cloning it... or what else is there i can do to this 318 for some more hp besides power outers? I thought about a stroker but then i kind of ruin this engine and could of had a big block in there...
Idk what do you guys think?
Also this is my daily driver and weekend strip/show.

Thanks!
~Nick

Simple...how much money do you have to work with?

Well right now i've got about 1000 but this project isn't going to happen tomorrow so i'll have more money to spend when it does happen.

you can do a lot with a 360

Thanks gtx,
I thought about that or a 340 just so i could use all the stuff in the car. But i thought the 360 wasn't reliable?

stick with the 318.

Thanks, Any reason why?

Keep there 318 in until you have the money to put the 383 or 440 in

You got the 318 now, it runs, it drives. Slowly build the bigblock with the right stuff..

Also, if you want a powerful 440, it won't be a very good daily anymore... Trust me.

Thanks,
Yeah thats what i would do. I was just wondering what people though if i should go bigblock or keep it sb. Most likely i'm going with a 440. I know they don't make the best daily drivers but it wouldn't really matter with 500+hp

if built right, anything is reliable
but stick with what you got for now

Guess thats true! I started to think that maybe i'll end up doing it over the winter or something since i don't plan on driving it much in the winter with all the stupid salt on the roads here...

if the guy that put the heads on the 318 didnt put higher compression pistons in then your only running at about 7.5 compression, that wouldnt be a very performance minded engine, you wouldnt ruin the engine if you made it into a stroker, all you will be doing is adding different crank, rods & pistions,

you can bore it .060 over and have a 330 ten ci less then a 340.

if you go BB either go for the 440 or the 400, the 400 has the same stroke as the 383 but a bigger bore than the 440

Thanks fury.
I have had a few people tell me that but idk is there anyway to tell without testing it if it's probably lower?

you would have to pull the head to find that out,, compression tests show how much pressure the cylinder has,(how well the rings seal) not the compression ratio,

Oh! Thanks didn't know that...

Hey guys i found a 70' 383HP minus carb but they said it could use a rebuild for $350 Are HP motors worth much more or not? Is there much of a difference between 69' and 70'?

the 383 had 330hp @5000rpm, with 10.1 compression in 69
in 70 it had the same hp rating @5000 with 9.5 comp ratio

a few months back "engine masters mag" did a lifter test with a 383, all they did was change the intake, carb, cam, and added headers and got over 450 hp out of it @5200 rpm oh and adjustable lifters

im sure the hp engine is worth more than the standard, also depends who is in the market for it,

Thanks 1966sportfury thats sweet! Thats the kind of hp i would like out of a motor and it doesn't seem like much work. Whats different between a HP and a non hp engine? I though the High performance was more horsepower but wasn't sure what was different? When they say it could use a rebuild what is usually meant by rebuild?
Thanks,
~Nick

what i call rebuilt iis bored new pistions, rings, cam, bearings gaskets
what i call over hauled is re-ring bearings gaskets, new cam if needed,

in 69 i know the hp ratings were 290 2bbl, 330 4bbl and 335 4bbl

The extra power was all in the compression ratio, like sportfury said. Maybe some cam diffs also? If its just a tired, and not a blown motor, I would say its a good deal.

Thanks guys,
I'm waiting to hear back from the owner. I was hoping for a 69' dated engine but there isn't much difference?
Oh btw 1966 i should be pulling the 318 apart this weekend and was wondering about the low comp we talked about a few post up. What is different between the pistons?

between what pistions?

You said to check for higher compression pistions since the 318 with 360 heads would give me a low compression.

what you need to do to check it, is pull a head off. then put any piston at TDC use a mechanics strait edge or a dial indicator bridge, about $30 (dial indicator not included)and measure the distance from top of deck to top of piston.
im not sure what the Piston to deck height is on a stock 318 but im sure i can find out,

hp motors aren't really worth more, nor is there anything different with them from a standard 383

pistons/cam about it, hp could be worth alot if i guy that needs a matching # engine