Joined: Fri Oct 28 2005, 12:14PM
Location: Toronto
Posts: 169
A 600-650 cfm carb is about right for a stock 318, and that a four barrel carb would add some fuel economy as well as power. Add a dual exhaust for some added pickup.
1)good 2 1/4 dual exhaust with low restriction mufflers 2)convert to electronic ignition 3)aluminum dual plane intake and 600 cfm 4 barrel those are the easy and inexpensive ones.after that you are looking at a cam swap/head work.you could always buy a good used 360 and apply the same as above.no one would know but you! 4)NOT ENGINE WORK BUT IF YOU HAVE 2.76 GEARS SWAP THEM OUT FOR A 3.23.it will feel like you gained 50hp <span class='smallblacktext'>[ Edited Thu Jun 22 2006, 10:07PM ]</span>
I agree a small 4 barrel and dual exhaust are good if doing no other mods and a six pack is WAY too much carb for the otherwise stock 318.
On the other hand, I am running my original 318 with a 340 six pack set up. The 340 intake will bolt right on. However, some extensive head work is needed to truly benefit, or find a set of the good 340 heads and work them as well. I also did a 40 overbore and am running a 340 six pack cam (more or less). I would have to check the specs again, but I think it is a .455 lift on both the intake and exhaust. I am also running 5.6 Durango manifolds (shoulda got the mopar shorties for a Durango) and dual 2-1/4 pipes thru flowmasters. I have chromed nothing. It is all painted Chrysler engine blue to give it a factory look. If I keep my foot out of it, I manage 18 mpg on secondary roads on a 2.5 hour trip! She is not real quick off the line with 3.23 gears, but once she's rolling the front gets real light at 110 mph. I have not put my Chrysler Marine tach in it yet, so I won't hold 1st gear any furhter than 55-60 mph and 2nd to around 85. I should have upgraded my heads rather than reworking my originals, but overall I am very pleased with the performance. It won't smoke my wife's 5.9 Durango (she's got me off the line), but she can't stop me from walking away either.8)
You mentioned in the other post that you need interior panels for the rear... I have a set out of a 70 Newport convertible that will fit, but the pattern won't match your doors.