MOPAR gear heads

[skeets]

I was talking to a frind that has a mid 60s Plymouth with a 318. Its a real PIA to go with a 383 /340/440 so he has been kicking around with going with a stroker kit that would make it like 390 or 392 anyways I havent a clue what needs to be done never haveing done anything like that I told him seek advice from somebody that knows something and not me.
So anybody ever do a stroker? do the heads need worked on? The bores need all trued I know that and most likely the journals need some work and made some stuff on the bottom,,, but Im guessing here

 

[tempforce]

best performance upgrade for the 318 is a 340/360 hi performance cam and the police intercepter 4bbl intake, with a 625 cfm carb.
a better solution is to use 318 heads on a 360. giving the heads oversized valves and hardened seats also a 3 angle grind.
if you can find some, the 340 heads have 2.02 intake valves, which are larger than the 360 valves. the 340 heads also have a higher compression ratio, i.e.: smaller quench area.
if your into high rpm's the 360 head would be your choice, machine it to fit the 2.02 intake valves. compensating with different pistons to keep compression up.
swap out to the hp cam shaft and you will have a engine with lots of torque and still rev over 6,000 rpm's with no problems.
keep the carb around 625 cfm's, unless your always into the higher rpm's then use a 700-750 cfm carb
installing aftermarket fuel injection helps power and economy.
9.5-10:1 compression should be your goal. so you use pump gas.
if you really want a barn door burner... find a 355 engine. i.e.: a nascar engine... the engine stroke is between the 340 and 360 and has a much stronger block than even the 340 six pack engine, the 340 six-pack engine was used as test mules to save the 355 blocks for races only. Richard Petty won quit a few races with the 355 engine.

 

[CaveCreekRay]

Gee... what damage will that do to the environment?

(Now NASA says greenhouse gasses are cooling the planet, you know like the time before they said they were heating the planet up. I own 18 internal combustion motors and am always looking for more... PICTURES SKEETS!!!!)

 

[eddiebob]

I was talking to a frind that has a mid 60s Plymouth with a 318. Its a real PIA to go with a 383 /340/440 so he has been kicking around with going with a stroker kit that would make it like 390 or 392 anyways I havent a clue what needs to be done never haveing done anything like that I told him seek advice from somebody that knows something and not me.
So anybody ever do a stroker? do the heads need worked on? The bores need all trued I know that and most likely the journals need some work and made some stuff on the bottom,,, but Im guessing here

There are two different versions of the 318 and I do not remember what year they changed but it was in the 60s. The earlier one is not the one you want to modify. Easiest solution is to find a 340 or 360 small block and do an engine swap.

 

[skeets]

Thanks for the idea of the 360, I never heard to much good about the 360 but then that just maybe because of all the EPA crap that had to be hung on them too,, Ray I am going to pass along all the info I have gleaned and if he goes the stroker route I ll figure out some how to post pics or a swap too!!

 

[Tooljunkie]

Swapping in a big block will be a big project, the early 360's were a great replacement for 318s. I had a 71 360 that was internally balanced, was very strong.
There were a few versions of 318s including a long stroke 318 used in trucks in the 60's
The bore-able 318 engines were called premium blocks with thicker cylinder walls.cant bore any old 318 out to 360 as the walls are too thin.
I had a stack of 318's and 360's and a couple big blocks, tossed them when i did a major yard clean up. Should have kept them.

All i have left is my power wagon with 318 two barrel, advance curve kit in distributor. That truck goes where most trucks refuse to go.

 

[tempforce]

the 318 came in a 'A' and a 'LA' configuration.
you want the later 'LA' engine, which they made a gazilion of.
the speedway forged crank is still available if you want to modify a 318 or 360 into a 340. just remember the 318 or 360 blocks aren't quite as strong.

 

[skeets]

Thanks guys,, I think if he can get 350hp out of it he will be happy, and i dont think the 727 would have any problems with that much hp

 

[tempforce]

i built a 361hp 360 a few years ago, using 318 heads with mild porting. running about 9.5:1 compression. was getting about 21 mpg @ 65 mph.
with 2.73 rears. in a 83 d150 longbed 727 auto. according to the readouts, it was producing slightly more than 413 ft lbs peak tq. still had a smooth idle using the stock 340 hp (high performance) cam.

i might mention that when i decided to do some towing, i swapped in a different torque converter and a 3.73 posi... the mileage dropped dramatically. i averaged about 7-9 with a best of 13, worse when towing, around 6 mpg... mileage was under 3 mpg on one trip. (i was towing over 11,00 lbs up a mountain). decided i needed a diesel..

 

[bearskinner]

Why not replace it with a late model modern fuel injected 5.7 Hemi? Get one delivered on a pallet, with wiring harness.

 

[lugbolt]

I know a guy who runs an early 70's dart with a 360/408. It runs VERY well. Makes about 650 hp, on a mild build.

350hp out of one would be hard not to do. Cylinder heads will limit you more than anything but the aftermarket can/will handle that easily.

The B and RB engines would go right in, there are kits made to make it fit. But they are huge. Especially the RB's. But NOTHING sounds like a big old 440, and I mean nothing. And they run really well with very little work.

 

[tempforce]

try stuffing a 440 cross ram into a 73 dart.
be sure to add a sub frame connecting the front and rear sub assemblies. if you don't, you will need a frame shop to fix your twisted unibody dart. ask me how i figured that out.. LOL even after getting it fixed. by the time i sold the car, the sub frame was needing a twist back to normal...
and your right, the sound of a big block must be felt to be appreciated...
a good source for 440's and 727 autos are the early winnebago motorhomes

 

[skeets]

I have pass all this along to him and at this point he said F&(* it!!! He said he found a 66 charger with a built 383, sooo maybe the Satellite might be headed down the road,,lol
Thanks guys for all your input,, and yeah a 440 with opened headers will rock your world

 

[tempforce]

fun covering the subject.

 

[sawmill]

My brother's '69 Dart and my cousin's '69 Baracuda. Both have 440's with a single afb carburetor. My cousin builds Mopar racing motors for a living.

 

[Tooljunkie]

So now we talking chargers, my long time ago frien had a 68rt. 440 open headers. That beast would turn around on dry asphalt at 30 miles/hour.
Av gas was its favorite go juice.
Had a lot of fun with that car. Was orange too ***128077;