318 Dying in a 1973 Charger, What are my options?
#1423195
04/21/13 02:38 PM
04/21/13 02:38 PM
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 73 Georgia
skh
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Posts: 73
Georgia
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My teenage daughter's 73 Charger's 318 engine seems to be on its last leg. What are the small block re-engine choices if the two most important factors in making this decision are:
* must be able to be bolted into the car's existing carburetor, k frame, motor mounts, automatic transmission, existing power steering pump, alternator and Bouchillon bracket for Sanden A/C compressor (what I call a "plug-and-play" swap out); and
* get the most cost-effective solution?
If we stick with a 318, what is the range of years for a plug-and-play swap out?
If I want to go with another displacement, what years and what displacement small blocks would be plug-and-play for my situation?
She likes the car because it had decent mileage, always starts and runs easily, is comfortable and smooth. Power is not a huge concern for me, but a bit more wouldn't be a problem because it has a 2.76 rear end.
Anything to avoid? Anything particularly attractive?
Thanks, Moparts.
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Re: 318 Dying in a 1973 Charger, What are my options?
[Re: skh]
#1423197
04/21/13 02:49 PM
04/21/13 02:49 PM
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 6,098 Valencia, España
NachoRT74
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340, 360... or WHY NOT ? rebuild the existant 318 with some "pepper"... just a cam, set of KB pistons 4 bbls intake and 4 bbls spreadbore sequential throttle carb should make the job, keeping mileage. Something like a good TQ I don't think will spend more than $600-800 in extra performance parts from a regular rebuild job. These are intake, carb and cam You could use a resto 340 cam or something pretty much similar from Crower, Lunati, Comp, Engle for the 318 and will wake up the engine without even notice the iddle change, or get worry about convertor or axle gears. KB hiper pistons doesn't cost significantly more than a regular replacement piston for the overbore job ( maybe just 20-30% more ) so I'm not including these on the extra cost for that reason. The TQ carb advice comes from the small primaries, and being sequential, will improove gas mileage from any other 4 bbls performance carb. 6139 number was used locally in Venezuela on 318 from assembly plant with success. We got 318 4 bbls engines on 70/72 318 performance cars locally, assemblied by Chrysler of Venezuela. Basic Eddy performer intake will do the job for the 2 to 4 bbls conversion, and can get it virtually from anyhwhere around. you could get the engine done in just 2 weeks, depending on your local machine shop
With a Charger born in Chrysler assembly plant in Valencia, Venezuela
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Re: 318 Dying in a 1973 Charger, What are my options?
[Re: NachoRT74]
#1423198
04/21/13 03:09 PM
04/21/13 03:09 PM
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 6,098 Valencia, España
NachoRT74
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then also dual exhaust system OR bigger single exhaust will improve A LOT.
that's an advice to any way you choose, replace engine or rebuild your existant one, and of course will add some more $ for the job
just a good advice, not really mandatory and can be done later.
With a Charger born in Chrysler assembly plant in Valencia, Venezuela
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Re: 318 Dying in a 1973 Charger, What are my options?
[Re: NachoRT74]
#1423199
04/21/13 03:17 PM
04/21/13 03:17 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 27,347 Today? Who Knows?
1_WILD_RT
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Today? Who Knows?
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You could bolt in a 5.2 Magnum (late model 318) with a intake change... Motor mounts bolt up, trans bolts up, exhaust bolts up, either an electric fuel pump or change to the early timing cover & add the pump eccentric.. It does require a aftermarket intake..
"The Armies of our ancestors were lucky, in that they were not trailed by a second army of pencil pushers."
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Re: 318 Dying in a 1973 Charger, What are my options?
[Re: skh]
#1423200
04/21/13 04:24 PM
04/21/13 04:24 PM
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,526 North Carolina
cjskotni
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pro stock
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If you want 'plug and play', stick with a 318 or get the one you have re-built. Is there any reason you can't pull the existing 318 and get it rebuilt? That would probably be the cheapest route and easiest. You could probably have the engine rebuilt to OEM specs for maybe $1000 or so.... As far as what engines will bolt in...any 'LA' small bock from the 60's thru the mid 80's...as long as it was carbureted. People here will tell you to jump to a 340 or 360 but that is for performance reasons. If you are looking for power, these would be better starting options. 340's tend to be harder (more desireable) to find than 360's. However, unless you get a spectacular deal on a complete engine, this will cost more than the 318 route. I would go on ebay and search on "Mopar 318": Here is one! Here is another! You can also get reman'ed engines through AutoZone or Advance auto for pretty cheap if you don't want to deal with finding another motor. If all you want is OEM performance, these will work fine.
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Re: 318 Dying in a 1973 Charger, What are my options?
[Re: 74RALLYE]
#1423204
04/22/13 11:39 AM
04/22/13 11:39 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,123 Grand Haven, MI
patrick
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I Live Here
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magnums may require modification to the accessory drive, specifically the alternator mount bracket and possibly the PS bracket. the accessory holes are in the same location as LA heads, but all on the same plane, wheras on an LA the lower, outer hole is rearward like 3/4"....
magnums do make a fair amount more power stock, and magnum 318's get pretty good mileage thanks to thinner rings and roller cam. and with a mild cam regrind make some good power.
how quick and how cheap do you want to do it? if you can find a running magnum, I'd go that route. replace the valve springs with hughes #1110 and their retainers, and send the cam to bullet cams to get it reground with their HR259/316 lobe, reuse the stock lifters. get a professional products 4bbl intake for magnum heads.
another option would be to find an '85-up M body (5th ave) engine. they will have the closed chambered 302 heads and a roller cam. should be able to find a good running one for under $400. do the same cam regrind/spring swap and an eddie performer, and it should perform similar to the magnum up to about 3500 RPM, where the superior head flow of the magnum will allow it to pull away.
1976 Spinnaker White Plymouth Duster, /6 A833OD 1986 Silver/Twilight Blue Chrysler 5th Ave HotRod **SOLD!*** 2011 Toxic Orange Dodge Charger R/T 2017 Grand Cherokee Overland 2014 Jeep Cherokee Latitude (holy crap, my daughter is driving)
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Re: 318 Dying in a 1973 Charger, What are my options?
[Re: patrick]
#1423206
04/22/13 12:03 PM
04/22/13 12:03 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,376
dogdays
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DING DING DING! We have a winner! The absolutely easiest way to re-engine that car is to find an 85 - 87 Fifth Avenue. These cards have 318. As they were cammed very small, had something like 2.24 gears in the rearend, and were proimarily bought and driven by senior citizens, the engines are in extra-good shape and have very little value. If the Charger has a 904 transmission, it gets even better. The A-998 transmission in the Fifth has the lower First gear set and should also be the closest thing to a drop-in that you can find. DO replace the timing chain. You'll have to plug the AIR holes in the head to use your old manifolds. Then swap everything over from the old 318 and you're set. R. PS: My Mom's Fifth got a reliable 24 mpg on the highway. Your mileage may vary. Stock, the engine is built for economy, not power.
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