How to make some torque with a 68 318

xxcarguy

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Any ideas
I would like a big block but don’t have it in me to do a conversion.
How can I make the 318 have a little more torque?
Thanks
 
Wished I had it in me to do this.
Maybe if I moved to Australia!!!

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If the engine is basically sound I would start with dual exhausts ,maybe a rear end ratio change especially if a 2.78 is in there now. Don't know much about 318's ,4 barrel and better intake perhaps. Don't take my word for it as the professors with all the experience will chime in. Just some thoughts.


Uncle Tony's Garage on youtube is building a 318 4 door drag car with a 318 now.
 
The main problem with the 318 is that it was designed to be an economy engine. The heads do not flow well and neither does the exhaust. You can go to a bigger cam with a couple of degrees of advance and an after market intake with a smallish 4BBL carb and a set of headers to gain some horsepower. The later Magnum heads flow a lot better but you would need to go to an aftermarket piston because the Magnum head has a larger chamber volume. If you wanted to go a little crazy you can also install a stroker kit for a big boost in performance. Have you checked to see which gear ratio the car has? Going to 3.23 gears would give you a good boost for off the line performance if the car has a higher gear set.

Dave
 
It really depends on how far you want to go with it, and what type of driving you do with the car. If you also to keep it relatively stock looking, and what kind of budget you are looking at. You could start off with a cam a little more spec'd for low end toque and a 4 BBL, maybe some better flowing exhaust and a 323 gear. Beyond that, Decking the block, a nice set of 340 or 360 heads, upgraded ignition, higher compression ratio, larger bore. it really depends on how far you want to go with it. I think you can get a 360 crate motor from Jegs for about $2500 that has 400 ft/lb of torque if you are not worried about keeping the original engine.
 
Easy. Throw away the 318 and stuff in a 340. I’ve done this numerous times and without swapping over to all the big block support parts, you’ll get big block “like” power (I know a 12 & a half to one blah blah blah big block will be stronger that’s not what we’re after here). Anyways if you don’t have a 340 or 360 lying around. You can do a 340 iron intake think 68-69 or a low hp hi torque aluminum intake w a Holley 600 or small carter 4 bbl. Go with some early 70’s 360 J style heads or equivalent there of. I don’t know if you want the big valve 340 heads might be too much. Add some cam for low end torque not top end hp plus 340 360 style exhaust manifolds w dual exhaust. Throw in some 323’s (355’s suck) and you’re in business. Just be prepared to give up all the farm equipment qualities the 318 is loved for. Don’t forget to upgrade your radiator if you’re adding more ponies under the hood. Good luck a 318 is a peppy little engine and if you think about it. It is bigger than a 289 or 302 it just pales in comparison to a 340 or 360 4bbl. That’s why it is treated like a weak sister, compared to them it is...

My 69 convertible has a 318 4 bbl by the way.
 
Thanks.
It’s the first small block I have owned.
My other 68 Fury was a 383 4bbl.
I guess I want a little more get up and go while on the freeway.
It came with 323s and has 90,000 original miles.
Don’t want to mess with it to much.
I like the 360 idea but not keeping the 318 for 100 years in the garage incase I need it.
Love the car, it just needs more umph.
 
Gotcha. If you got 323’s then 4 barrel it and dual exhaust it. That’s all I did to mine because I want it to keep it’s good manners in heavy traffic. I’ll post a pic of my intake. I haven’t installed it yet cause I’m running a 2 to 4 adapter and it’s been doing ok w that. I’ll add the 340 intake when I open up the engine. I’d really like to find a vintage LD4B edelbrock but they’re more expensive than a LD340 which is nuts.
 
RV (idle to 5,000 rpm) cam swap, dual plane intake and a 500 cfm carb, dual exhaust and electronic ignition conversion. You can also go to 3:55 gears with the small block
 
RV (idle to 5,000 rpm) cam swap, dual plane intake and a 500 cfm carb, dual exhaust and electronic ignition conversion. You can also go to 3:55 gears with the small block
I don’t know. I’ve always hated 355’s. 323’s do a good job and I just always went to 391 if I needed stiffer gears in the 8&3/4. 355 to me are the worst of both worlds too high and not low enough. Just my two cents.
 
...but a 360 swap would allow me to repaint and detail the motor compartment?
My wife says drive it and have fun. You don’t have to take everything apart.
 
I don’t know. I’ve always hated 355’s. 323’s do a good job and I just always went to 391 if I needed stiffer gears in the 8&3/4. 355 to me are the worst of both worlds too high and not low enough. Just my two cents.
Had 3:54s in my Superbird and hated them.
You are right. It wasn’t quick and it wasn’t fast. Everything on the road could outrun it.
 
My wife says drive it and have fun. You don’t have to take everything apart.

Your wife does have a point. Embrace what the car does well. Can't compare it to a big block, do you want a small block screamer? Maybe out of character for what the car is. I wouldn't personally consider trying to make her much more than what she was when born from the factory. If you want a hot rod muscle car get one and leave her be. She has her charms now.
 
Your 318 can be made to be a decent performing small block. My Coronet wagon with a mild warmed over 318 drives and performs well and I appreciate it for what it is. It sounds and runs great. It's never going to be a tire fryer and wasn't intended to be. Your wife has the right idea.
 
I just rebuilt the 'teen in my 73 Satellite wagon last year and been driving it a lot this year.
It is a heavy car and torque is the name of the game..
Summit Racing K6900 RV cam works great.
Lots of vacuum yet has a hint of cam at idle and pulls well.
I used the factory heads with small valves but the heads received a ton of work to flow better. Everyrhing was port matched valves back cut 3 angle grind and smoothed out the bowls
Edelbrock Performer intake with a 800 CFM Thermoquad.
For you a 625 Holley or 600 Eddy will work too.
factory exhaust manifolds dual exhaust, 3.23 gears and 27 inch tall tires.
With a recurved distributor timing is at 20 degrees initial and 35 all in I get great bottom end, excellent fuel economy.
Running 302 heads will help bottom end.
360 heads will drop your compression ratio but increase flow.
Hope this helps
 
...but a 360 swap would allow me to repaint and detail the motor compartment?
My wife says drive it and have fun. You don’t have to take everything apart.
Listen to your wife....she's smart! Also, listen to "Uncle Tony" and "318WillRun" on youTube
 
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