aknotts

I have a 1973 Plymouth Satellite, mostly stock that I have completely torn down for resto. I have front suspension and engine bay completely redone and ready for the engine.
The 318 is torn down and ready to be built. I have been lurking on this board since I started this project 18 months ago and have gotten very good info so far.
However there seems to be many differing opinions on the best build for a 318 so I am posting this in an attempt to get my specs and parts list together so I can begin the engine build. I will try to answer as many of the questions that get asked when this question has been asked before.

What I have:
Looks like a stock 318 1973 LA motor
Has eldebrock aluminum intake and headers with a 600cfm carb.
Transmission is stock for this car ( will be redbuilt and beefed up, need sugegstions here too)
Rear end is stock ( will also be matched to Motor and tranny combo)
Front disc and rear drum
( this can be changed)
I WILL have AC

Budget: We will only deal with motor build here so I would like to keep it reasonable, under 3k would be great, Less is better.
I can have this done at a local shop for that but prefere to try this myself, I have never rebuilt a motor or car for that mater this all new to me so be gentle.

What I want:
I would like to hit 300HP
I want lots of low end off the line power, topend speed is not as imortant to me, although I dont want to kill top end either.
It will not be a daily driver but I want it to be driveable.

Thanks in advance...ajk

440roadrunner

Personally the decision for me would be easy. ---Find a 360 LA and rebuild it. You'll need a car oil pan and pump pickup, and you'll need an aftermarket (like BM) weighted flex plate to take care of the engine balance problem, unless you get lucky and get a 360 with a useable automatic.

Everything else is pretty much a bolt up.

Gorts 5th

What I want:
I would like to hit 300HP
I want lots of low end off the line power, topend speed is not as imortant to me, although I dont want to kill top end either.
It will not be a daily driver but I want it to be driveable.


300 hp is doable out of a 318.
cam i would research lunati 268 or 270 duration voo doo cam kit.
air gap manifold.
set 360 heads 160 188 if you can port em. mill the deck 0.30.
new pistons flat top 9.5 10 :1.
no larger that 650 holly or edel, if edel get a 650 spread bore, if you can find it in holly. do the same.
if your feeling really ambitious you can swap the 727 for a 518 and run a taller gear.
im running a 3.90 with a 518 od w/lu.
if not use a 3.55 or a 3.23 save some rpm's.

PK1

$500 360 magnum motor used under 100K on the clock. Compression test and run. Sell Fuel injected parts.
$50 Tig up the holes in your intake and re drill for head bolt angle.
$20 Change timing chain and water pump
$ 100 misc gaskets and consumables
$ 75 electric fuel pump
$ 50 oil pan

Reuse all the front accessories and AC. Keep the serpentine belt set up. Make custom hoses for you power steering. The truck cam is the 300 HP crate motor cam. With timing cover off consider a Hughes regrind for 200 bucks with your core. That will up the HP. Add valve springs.

Rebuilt 727.

You get better oiling, less rotating assembly friction and weight, roller camshaft and lifters. Improved compression, light 8mm valves.

aknotts

Can you give me an idea of which 360 heads to use, like make /model/years of vehicles that would be best swap?

Gorts 5th

i got mine out of a 76 doge van pre-emission-no holes drilled in the exhaust for air pump, any where around 76 older the better
i left the stock valve size 188 160 but a set of under cut valves would help and i ported mine to the max cleaned up the chambers and had 0.50 milled off the bottom for compression but if your going to do the block install a set of trw flat top pistons 9.5 or 10 if you can find em
trw makes complete rebuild kits with pistons check em out at summit racing really nice

78D200

You can build hte motor to create power in teh RPM range you want and still have a decent top end withthe right gear ratio in the rear axle and tire size.

If you have a $3k budget, I would look into the magnum motor. You could even swap in the MPFI and have the PCM reprogrammed to get more power than you are looking for.