I want to end up with a zero deck height. Thank you for your time.

custom pistons or use sealed power W322NP and cut the deck ~.055"

those pistons are $54ea from rockauto.com...for that price, you could pick up a 318 out of a 5th ave (roller cam engine) and pick up some KB167's for less money...or probably find a non-roller 318 block for free and pick up some KB167's

externally it'll look identical to your 273, other than the "318" cast on the side of the block under the drivers exhaust manifold.

Patrick I'm glad you chimed in as you can enlighten me about this. I am wanting to build a mileage sb for my early dart & I was thinking of a 273 rather than a 318 & I was thinking that there was a comprehensive thread awhile back that detailed the ills of doing a 273 but I could not find it. A 273 would be a bit smaller but if the pistons are way more $$. What are your thoughts?

We have them. Check them out at the link below or give us a call. You can also go to the "rare & obsolete" section of our website to see them
http://www.hughesengines.com/Index/produ...FNtYWxsIEJsb2Nr

Thanks,
Kevin

Egge also has the 10.5 pistons listed in their catalog.

Thank you EDIT Is there anything else that's different or problematic on this block that would make a person better off going with a 318? It will be a low rpm around town mileage machine w mag heads.

magnum heads will need a notch at the top of the bore. I set a set of 360 heads on a 273 and the 1.88 valves had very thin clearance on a .040 273.

You could get some 1.88 seat inserts and ream the guides out to use the 360 valves but that is a lot of hastle. Some magnum heads I have seen have a seat that is smaller than the valve and mabey you could turn a set of 1.92 valves down and still get them to seat at 1.88 or smaller diameter but check carefully. Neither the RHS EQ or Mopar aluminum magnums I have here could do that but a stock 99 5.2 mag head I have would probably work.

The stock 273 closed chamber heads may be the best choice for that type of build because you get more quench area less crevice volume and more flow, the only thing you give up are hardned seats and a little swirl and velocity. Th 68 and 69 open chamber heads are good for scrap metal

My mag heads are done. 1.94 & 1.625. Sounds like I probably should use my 318 instead of buying that $50 block in Minnesota(+ the shipping) & sweating 45 cubes. I was just thinking that the mileage would be better(early A body) but I'm probably getting too anal with this.

I agree on the 273 heads except the hardened seats. Really not needed for a light car that going to light driving and no long towing. I've had 273 heads without the hardened seats and no problems. One thing to remember,the 273 2bl motors were rated at 8.8 to 1 Cr. With a little machine work and a .028 felpro you can get 9.1 to 9.5 cr with the flat tops depending on how much meat you take off the heads and the deck. I am getting ready to do another 273 only this time i would like to find some forged 8.8 2 bl pistons. They are out there, just have to find them. $475 for the L2222 from Huges is a good deal

does everything interchange(w 318)ex the pistons/rings EDIT the CH on them is 1.921" which makes the deck height 9.699"

They are pretty much the same motor with the exception of pistons and rings. Of course the 273 has the steel crank which to me is a plus. The 273 works the best with some steep gears, the lower the better. If it's a street car with no freeway driving I wouldn't hesitate in running some 4:30's. You can play with the 2 bl pistons and get your CR up in the 9.1 to 9.5 area with some machine work. Stick with the 273 closed chamber head. 66-67 is the better head. You are looking at around 57 to 60cc vs 65cc 318 head which is open chamber. You can get the 273 head to flow pretty good with some basic bowl blending. In fact we did a comparision with a 318 swirl port vs the 273 and the 273 outflowed the swirlport. Both heads had the same bowl work. in fact the 318 head lost port velocity after doing some bowl blending. PM me and I'll share some specs on my 273 and give some info on a couple of cam grinds that work real well with a 273.

PM sent

hotroddave is the one who did the super duper gas mileage 318 (started out looking at a 273), he's actually got the motor for sale. IIRC he's getting low-mid 20's around town, it's just a 0 deck 318 (KB167 pistons), 273 mechanical cam, and 302 heads.

if I were to build up a mileage V-8, I'd go with a roller 318 block, stock crank & rods, mag heads maybe cut down to 55-58cc, KB167 heads at ~.012 below deck, Mr gasket or MP .024-.028" gaskets, and something like a hughes HER9204AL cam, eddie performer, and small tquad or qjet.