gearheadmike

ok i got a 85 318 from my diplomat its the low hp motor ik.

There will be no emissions/ac/smog in this car again.
So idont know if i should take my block and bored it over some and get different heads and cam or should i find a older year 318? This will be mated to a std trans also. Im on a budget around 1k i have right now a eldebrock performer intake318/360 and eldebrock 6-650 carb.
I dont need 400+ hp i just want to be able to street run some cars lol and burnouts.
I dont have a lot of know how on mopar engines. let me kno thanks

Like what year/engine size heads would be good to use?
what year engines would be good?

Coronet 500

Give this a read: http://www.allpar.com/mopar/4bbl.html

gearheadmike

i can get a 89 dodge ramcharger 318 EFI compleat for $125 i got the eldebrock performer intake that looks like it'll bolt on a 600 carb and about everything for a electronic ignition. Any1 know about what these engines hp is? And if its a roller cam? if i get this ill then have about $750 to spend on it

89ram150

My '89 has the roller 318 in it, the Ramcharger should too. Stock TBI I think is around 170 HP. My truck is no rocket, but I can run with mid '90's Chevys with 350s all day long. Torque is close to 300 ft. lbs I think. Personally, I think if you;re wanting to keep it pretty stock, I'd keep the TBI. It's a very primitive EFI, mine has been very dependable and worry-free.

Coronet 500

I would stick with the Diplomat for sure. Camshaft change, freshened up heads and your carb intake would be a noticeable improvement.

Do a compression test, leakdown if you can, to know what your starting with.

gearheadmike

all i want is to have power and be able to stop and light up the tires when i want to lol. idk if i should get a diff engine or keep my 318 diplomat and cam it/ign kit/ performer intake/4bbl / ?
can i use my stock heads and get work done to them? and is the 89 ramcharger heads any better? i ll have around $600 to spend on my diplomat engine if i dont get another engine

Coronet 500

Your 85 may have the desireable "swirl port" heads that end in the casting number 302. Can be seen with valve cover removed. Another option would be to put in a 360. If the 318 has a good compression test and dosn't have too many miles I'd stick with the 318.

gearheadmike

my diplomats 318 has only 85k original miles. it is there any easy but efective work i can do on the 318 heads?

Coronet 500

A port match with some minor clean-up would do fine. Increasing the valves to 1.88"+1.60" will only help if you plan on running over 5000 rpm regularly. Sounds like you want a hot street engine not a hard to drive "drag racing" engine. Camshaft choice is key. Have you seen Comp Cams Camquest 6 program to help in cam selection.
Don't forget budget for timing chain drive, springs retainers and ignition upgrades.

gearheadmike

yea i want a street burner lol just a motor to rais a lil hell with. and yes id like to get a cam id like to get one that gives good power and i love cam noise and yes if i use my stock engine i plan on getting new top(or possable whole) gasket set/ timing kit/ and ill have like $200-300 for head work if needed for a good cam

Coronet 500

How are you with cam choice and cam principals? If you need help check out Camquest 6 or start a new thread with "318 cam choice?" and I'm sure you'll get plenty of input.

gearheadmike

no good at all im new to this stuff and yea ill have to do that

Coronet 500

Just for giggles I ran yours with stock bowl ported heads, dual exh. headers no cats.

275DEH =323hp 355tq. stock converter, choppy idle.

XE268H =322hp 362tq. largest for stock converter.

XE256H =308hp 371tq. strong torque through low end + mid range, good idle. This is the cam I have in my truck and the description is accurate, purrs like a kitten and lots of grunt.

You can see basically as the model number goes up (more duration) horsepower up, torque goes down.
Lunati has some nice cams they have developed for Mopars.
Make sure you have enough in the heads for bigger lift cams as most stock 318's had .390"-.410" at most.

gearheadmike

yea i wont have any emissions back on car no cats/air pump/lean burn/ect
what do they mean by bowl the heads?

gearheadmike

i can get a 1992 5.2 magnum from a dakota 95k miles for $400 should i get this engine/get 4bbl intake/600 eldebrock carb/electronic ignition kit. and run this? been getting told it has way more hp and is a better 318 then the LA engines

Coronet 500

Bowl porting is the area (bowl) under the valve in the port where the rough casting meets the cutter that makes the valve seat. There usually is a sharp edge there and some minor blending can increase low lift flow. The magnum LA debate could be a whole other thread but I'll give you my opinion. The more HP thing is mostly EFI modern computer control. LA engines were never designed as an HP engine, although there is plenty of potential.
Your manifold won't bolt on a magnum head, the camshafts are 2-3 times more money, there is no provision for a mechanical pump, every magnum I've taken apart has had the valves pounded in or the seats have been cracked due to lack of hardening when manufactured.
I don't hate the magnum, they are the same engine except for the heads which were not as great as they were first thought to be.

gearheadmike

how much hp do you think i can get out of my 85 diplomat 318? its the lean burn engine. and i can get a intake to fit the mag head for $160 its got around 90K miles on it im looking to get most hp as i can right now i just dont know if i should stick to my (la)motor or go to the mag motor?

Coronet 500

No more power than the modified LA, anymore than shown and you'll be looking at a gear change and possibly clutch upgrade. I'd stick with the LA.

gearheadmike

well im puting a shift kit in my 904 trans