stroking the 318

[FASTDARTCHESTER]

Has anyone stroked a 318 with the 4" crank yet? Or know of anyone who has? I figure this can be a real hot setup since you net 390" @ 0.030" over. 318 stuff is abundant and cheap too. Any help will be appreciated because I want to try this soon

[Doug Wilson]

I don't know of anyone who has. But on the other hand, You'd be putting a whale of a lot of money into a 318. Why not just start with a 360, or better yet a 340 block??

[FASTDARTCHESTER]

just out of curiosity, how do you figure? after pricing it out it's actually a little cheaper than building a 360. people want an arma and a leg for 360's around here (detroit) and you might as well forget a 340. finding a 340 is always several hundred dollars more than any other small block.

[Ausydad]

'Cause I already have 4 318 blocks in my garage and a 4" stroker crank will net me 396 C.I.D. @ .060 over. Should be fine so long as I'm willing to half fill with Hardblok to help support webbing. My dislike is that all of the 4" cranks that I've seen so far are cast, not forged.

[FASTDARTCHESTER]

dont go 0.060 over (way too far for and extra couple of cubes), just go the minimum, say 20 thou. Diamond racing pistons have made several sets for people in the area. It's being done, i hear, with standard blocks.

[FASTDARTCHESTER]

Ausydad

to come back at you on the cast crank issue, i have a 70 swinger with a 318, stock cast crank, 0.030 over, ported 302 heads, hughses cam, and several other goodies. i've got about 12K fairly hard miles on this engine and it runs 11:90's with a 150 hp shot of N20. NO PROBLEMS TO DATE. It spins regularly to 6800 rpm. NO PROBLEMS. I think mopar used good iron for the most part when casting their cranks.

[Tony W]

The MP cast 4" cranks come from Scat Cranks. Scat says these are good for 800 h.p. I have seen several 600 h.p. engines build with these cranks. I know guys running 600 h.p. out there old factory cast 360 cranks.

A 4" FORGED crank is available for the small block, Mancini's has them: P5007252 for the 340 block $795, P5007254 for the 360 block $795.00.

[Dart]

Hey fastdartracer...

Aren't all 318's forged cranks?? That is one of the better reasons to go with the 318 over the 360.

[Dart]

Hey Ausydad...

Give me the specs on what you are trying to do...Crank, rods, pistons etc. I want to price this also. What a potential killer street motor. All with 318 stamped on the block.

I don't know why you would have to run the block filler. The 318 casting is fine and they made tons of them early. You could find a very early production block that you would be able to punch .060. I am thinking along the lines of the early 360/340 block that can be punched .060.

[Doug Wilson]

All "A" block 318s are forged. As far as I know, only truck "LA" cranks are. As a note of interest, because of the manufacturing processes used, cast cranks are inherently better balanced than forged cranks. This probably has no practical value - it just is.

Also, 360 complete engines here are costing under $200. 340s are closer to $500, up or down, for the short block.

[Ausydad]

I say .060 over 'cause the block is already there. I'm going 4" stroker crank, '73 L.A. block, Eagle "H" beam rods, ARP fasteners, Miloden 4 bolt bearing caps, Melling high volume pump with reamed passages and heavier spring for pressure, Still undecided on heads, 112/107 cam with 302 total duration, .588/.590 lift, tunnel ram with twin Edelbrock 600's, 1 3/4" fenderwell Hooker headers to 3" exhaust exiting in front of tires, A833, and narrowed 8.75 with 3.91 in a minitubbed Duster. Ther's a few other things I'm still deciding, but that's the jest of it. Compression should be around 12.6:1 if I use the .028 steel shim head gaskets.

[Gary Pavlovich]

Fast Dart, The SCAT crank sold by MP is stout and sustains up to or more than 600HP.
A company in Los Angeles is marketing the stroked 318 @ 390 cubes. No problem with the buildup; they offer parts or the complete motor; cheaper to do it yourself.
I built the Poly 318 into a 402 stroker with more HP and Torque than the LA; go for it.
Gary Pavlovich

[Fast One]

I did wonder what taking a 318 out 0.060 with the extra long stroke would do with less meat in the bores, but I suppose 318 blocks are plentiful if something gives up, wasn't picking on anything just wondered.

[NewBlackDak]

http://hughesengines.com/www/hughesengines/


They CAN help you out. I'm stroking a 5.2 Magnum. Bored .02", and stroked 3.79. Internally balanced. This is going into a 4wd toyota Tacoma. It's my brother's toy/hunting truck. They give you the specs on all the machine work. Check them out. Give them a call if you're serious. It takes them forever to reply by email, and they're not very helpful that way.

[concord997]

Originally posted by FASTDARTCHESTER
Ausydad

to come back at you on the cast crank issue, i have a 70 swinger with a 318, stock cast crank, 0.030 over, ported 302 heads, hughses cam, and several other goodies. i've got about 12K fairly hard miles on this engine and it runs 11:90's with a 150 hp shot of N20. NO PROBLEMS TO DATE. It spins regularly to 6800 rpm. NO PROBLEMS. I think mopar used good iron for the most part when casting their cranks.

Hi FAST, I was going to do a 360 crank build up, but.. I changed my plan. I'm having the heads cut to fit 188/160, with stainless valves and seats. they are 302s, ported, ....I see you have the same plan, and I'm more interested in your finished engine. what cam, did you use, I might have the builder look into it. the engine will have a .030 over. No2 is'nt an option, but... Thanks Don

[dilley340]

Hey guys, I just got my 4.0" steel stroker 340 back from the machine shop this past Friday.

I'm building a 6-71 blower motor and decided to go with the steel crank and Milodon 4-bolt main route for insurance. I had the ball rolling before Mopar Muscle and the other mags started doin' theirs.

Anyway, I had talked to the guys at the Muscle Motors tent this past Mopar Nationals in Columbus. They were offering a new kit featuring the steel 4.0" crank. That was exactly what I needed. The kit contained the 4.0" steel crank, custom Ross 8.0:1's (extra $$$), Eagel H-beams, C & A rings and Clevite bearings. I also ordered the Milodon 4-bolt mains. The block was put together using ARP studs. The MM kit included balancing, but another balance job on the crank was needed. Luckily, they only had to remove material.

The guys at Muscle Motors are easy to talk to and very helpful. I worked with a guy named Mike. Ask for him as he's very professional.

Mancini Racing also offers a stroker kit.

Check out my page on the 340 mill at:

http://communities.msn.com/Duster340/the340mill.msnw

[FASTDARTCHESTER]

Concorde,

I talked directly with Mopar Performance on this one and they told me go for it. They said the biggest problem is getting pistons but Diamond quoted me a great price (around $550) to make custom pistons how I want.

The tech guy at MP said that with MP's hotter 290 deg adv dur cam the engine should make 475 hp (i told him i was opening the 302's out to 1.88/1.60 and porting them heavily). He also said it should be a killer torque engine (makes sense with the stroke we're dealing with).

I want to flow the heads also. I'm gonna section a 302 head and see where the jackets are to determine how far i can go with the porting, remembering short turn is CRUCIAL.

It's gonna be some work but very affordable for a great street engine. Probably cheaper than a crate!

I'll keep you posted!

-Fast

[concord997]

Hi again fast, I think i saw a simillarty(sic) in the engines but,.. only close... I'm going for a little less then you have. I'm not going to race it or beat it. The engine will be .030 over, balanced, performer manifold, edelbrok 1406, ported 302s and 188/160 valves, stock center dump exh manifolds(no room)and 727. i'm hoping for a few more horses, and dependablity. Good luck with yours, Don

[Tony W]

FASTDARTCHESTER, if you section a 302 head, can you post some pics of it? If so, I would also like to add them to my home page (please). I have a couple pics of magnum heads sectioned on it now.

[Gary Pavlovich]

Tony, I was very interested in your site w/Aspen and the 360 dyno data. Would like to know how the TQ would have performed in place of the modified 800 Holley given the same engine mods?

Additionally, the head flow data on the W2 heads, X and J 915 castings vs. Edelbrock is also enlightening; always thought the W2 was superior over the Edelbrock alum. heads, given the same port work or out of the box (see Hughes Engines "out of the box" Edelbrock head data).

Interestingly, the old 318 Polyhead design will support up to .700 lift without reversion! Can't do that with any OEM or W2 head.

Let me know your thoughts on the TQ vs. modified 800 Holley.
I would have e-mailed you privately but as with most members,
the "permission to e-mail" members box has not been checked when registering.
Thanks,
Gary Pavlovich
glpavlovich@cox.net