I’m looking for suggestions for budget 318 head options for my 76 Dodge D100 low rider project truck.
This entire project has been on an extreme budget so I’m not looking to spend a bunch on the heads.
What I have is a 76 D100 with a 318 2bl. It runs pretty decent showing 68,000 miles. I’m looking to upgrade with a few mild performance parts to make a little more power but still keep the truck very drivable. I have a 360 sitting on an engine stand that will get built up later on as $$ allows, so the upgrades to the 318 have to stay low budget. I have at this time already installed headers and dual exhaust (which made it run and sound a lot better). I’ve picked up a small RV cam, new lifters and new springs to match the cam. I have a used Edelbrock performer intake and a used Holly 650. If I was looking to swap the heads and not spend a bunch of $$ what should I be looking for? I know some of the 318’s had 1.88/1.60 valves and I’d like to increase the valve size yet keep a decent compression ratio with the stock 318 pistons. I don’t intend to get into the short block on the 318 except for the cam swap. If I go wrecking yard shopping what types of applications where those found in? Cop cars? Trucks? Should I be looking for a Magnum 318 with swirl ports? I admit I’m not very well versed in the newer small block stuff and interchange ability with the older small blocks. I want to end up with a compression ration around 9:1. So if I have to have the heads milled to obtain that, I might be able to spend the money to get that done. Or should I just have a quick valve job done on the stock 1976 318 heads back cut the valves, port match the intake and run it?
Any suggestions are appreciated. Thanks, Josh-

maybe some JY mag heads but reportedly alot of em are cracked but people have used them as is. You'd need a mag intake/pushrods. some 302's would bump the CR a bit & would bolt right on since their LA's

Please school me a little, what are 302's?

Thanks, Josh-

they're closed ch so it'd bump the CR up a bit which'd b good 4 you if you could find a set 4 cheap/ready 2 go as you wouldn't want to put alot into them.Prob some mag heads would b more practical but you need a mag manifold as I dont think you want to redrill the heads' intake holes at this point. Not sure on the 302 yrs avail but it'd b better to find a set of them (or mags) 4 sale ready to bolt on & a set of early 273 heads which are closed ch would b good & nobody wants them. do some searching & get a good bargain

Do the 302's have the 1.88/1.60 valves? I knew the 273 heads were a closed chamber, but don't they have the smaller 1.75/1.50 valves? I was looking to increase the flow a little. Does 302 refer to a cast number? I'm willing to invest a few hundred into a set of heads. Just not a grand. Josh-

iirc the 302 (yes the casting #) have 1.78's. the CR will benefit u more than the valve size plus do a bit of judicious porting esp the bowl right below the seat

For a budget, and future use on a 360, I'd recommend Magnum heads. Yep, lots of JY ones are cracked, but they'll be cracked on wrecked vehicles, and they don't crack from sitting. They'll be fine. If you want to drop $700 now, get Enginequest or Hughes Iron Rams, they are new/improved non-cracking Magnums with better ports.

Search for Magnum builds and posts by Patrick and Scratchinfotraction. They always have good info.

Sounds like the 302's are what I want. What did they come on? I'll have them surfaced if need to increase the C/R.

I have a good set of early 360 heads that have been angled milled and have had stainless steel 2.02/1.60 valves installed. I'm just keeping those on the 360 until I get $$ ahead to build it up again. Long story but the 360 was in an 84 D150 that was in an accident and the truck was totaled. It ran 12.80's in the D150. But it needs to be completely gone through again. I just want to slighty build up the old 318 until funds allow me to do the 360 corretly.

302 is the casting number. they have small valves and are about 62cc`s. most easily found on 80`s grand furys/diplomats/trucks and vans. easily ID`d by their heart shaped combustion chamber. if you go to the junk yard to pull them yourself take along a set of metric sockets to remove the exhaust manifold bolts. they get rusted so bad std. tools will not fit and they you are stuck not being able to remove the ex. manifold.

4-v 318 will have the 360 head with 1.88/1.60 valves and open chambers with low comp ratio.

comes stock with flat tappet cam ,but may be a roller cam block on mid to late pre-mag engines.

2-v 318 has the #302 casting heads with 1.78/1.50 vales closed chambers and will be on a 9.0 to 1 comp 318 starting in 85 with roller cams start in 85 in cars only.

2-v 318 trucks got a roller block/flat tappet cam with #302 heads in 85.

you can up the #302 valve size to 360 size of 1.88/1.60 and with some pocket porting to open the bowl,the small ports will keep volosity up and have more flow with the bigger valves.

360 heads flow more on top but lower comp ratio but with the right cam can be made to work on upper rpm

#302 head will up the comp ratio,make more torque on the lower rpm of your stock bottom end

if you went with complet newer engine you would be ahead by running a retro roller cam in the stock long block

I just picked up a 91' pre-mag roller cam TBI 318 with swirl port fast burn closed chamber 9.0 to 1 comp ratio for my 85 stepside engine swap.

i will be swaping in the lanati VooDoo roller cam and springs along with a LD4B intake(matches 318 head ports) with 600 cfm carb and headers

should be a peppy little 318 by monday

#302 heads 85 to 91

some later ones may have a diff casting # but as long as they are heart shaped combustion chambers its the same thing.

Don't forget B-vans. Any 318 2 barrel from 86 thru 91 should have the 302s. I have managed to hoard 4 sets of these, and I don't think I spent more than a hundred bucks on any set.

As for magnum heads, these would require special lifters due to the way the rockers are oiled vs the way the LA rockers are oiled. With the 302s, it's just: 1)buy gaskets 2)install 3)smoke tires

Thanks for the info. I'm going to check out some local pick-a-part wrecking yards. I'm sure I can find a set of 302's. What is going price for basically a "core" set of heads? I'd like to go to a 11/32 stem valve and increase intake and exhaust dia. But that starts Adding $$ up qucik witht he extra machine work. Kind of defeats the intent. But I'll port match, and blend the bowls. Maybe have them surfaced. Run the thinner head gasket? Should work better then the stock 76 318 heads. Josh-

i can get a set at the upullit for about $60

Thanks, that gives me an idea what to spend. Not going the magnum route. I want to stay at maybe $300-400 in head work. With the headers, 276/286 .441 cam, new springs, increase in compression. performer intake and Holly 650. It will run decent enough to cruise around and with the 3.91 gears in the back it will be fun.

The 360 will get bored and new pistons a 290 cam of some sort and will replace the 318 in about a year.

If I really want to get crazy I have a 340 with Brodix BA-B1's that have been milled down to 48cc chambers. Fully ported by Koffels, Eagle rods, roller cam, 1050 dominator etc, etc. but's that's a whole different story.

Thanks for all the info guys... Josh-