wanting to get close to 400 hp.

I have a bone stock ATK remanufactured 318 155 stock hp. 8.6:1 compression. I have removed all smog parts, added headers, dual exhaust, 4 barrel intake and fitech fuel injection system good for up to 400 hp. would an edelbrock top end kit get me anywhere close or is there an easier or cheaper way? im realistic and am only shooting for 400, anything over 300 would be great.

Starting with a used already running/built 400hp 360 would be simpler, easier, quicker, cheaper(?).

I know but I am past that point, I wanted a stock every day driver I thought, after everything was bought and installed, I decided I needed more power. I thought I was old enough I could do without it, I was wrong.

Easiest, bolt on a blower or turbo. With that compression ratio, no other mods may be necessary.

Otherwise, you are getting into the engine and modifying parts. Here is a recipe: https://www.hotrod.com/articles/mopp-0409-318-engine-build/

A magnum 318 would be a cam and intake swap. An LA 318 like the one you spec?

Here's one build but I don';t think the 302 heads are a solution unless that's what you already have. I'd swap magnums on before I spent a nickle on 302 heads.

im thinking with what I have done I should be close to 200 hp, how much more could I get with just the right cam? maybe some better heads?

There is a hotrod mag or some mopar mag link with an article about building a 400hp 318 with parts out of the box.

That is sometimes the disconnect between thinking you did something beneficial and actually finding the proof of it. If this 155 was discovered on a dyno, is it an actual reading or a factored reading adjusted for density altitude and dew point? Texas has a mean elevation of 1700' and nasty ass humidity. Where are you at relative to those factors?

Air flow makes power, so pumping more in with bigger heads and more cam lift and duration helps power production. Problem with your current configuration is you do not have the enough compression to utilize a big increases in air flow. Putting big heads and cam in this combo will make it lazy and less powerful than it already is.

Fine tuning of ignition curves and the carb, might get you closer to 200. If you can find the cam specs and get a cylinder pressure reading, you may be able to use that to talk to a cam company about options you might have. An RV style cam with low duration and high lift might get some extra air in without sacrificing cylinder pressure. Degreeing of the cam would be a big part of setting this up to build the most cylinder pressure.

Not sure where in Texas you are basing you humidity comment on, but Texas is a big place and yeah in Houston or eat of I 35 humidity is bad, You get out closer El Paso and not so. Or up in the panhandle.

I would dial in the timing & the carb then later some EQ mag heads & you can reuse em when you on down the line swap in a stroked 360 (408). 4" cranks are cheap now & the KB pistons ain't too bad.

That was Mopar Action. Did they use a magnum block? Either way it would be worth copying.

TC is correct with the turbo or supercharger add-on. Good HP with mileage and drivability.

- EM

found this:

https://www.hotrod.com/articles/mopp-0409-318-engine-build/

Old LA. But I was sure it was a diff article unless the article face was refreshed

Easiest?

Probably a magnum style top end and a cam in the 220’s@.050, .470-.500 lift.

It’s likely going lose some grunt in that configuration........ you could shorten the duration up a bit to get some of it back.

Something like a Comp 268H should be plenty to get you well into the 300’s with a magnum style top end.

“Cheaper”(possibly) but less powerful....... put 1.88 intake valves in the current heads along with some mild porting, Comp 268XE cam.

To get 400 HP out of that 318, you are going to have to up your compression.
Get a set of closed chamber heads(low cc),thin head gaskets, .022 range.
A good cam,480-500 range.
Performer style intake.
Headers.
A turbo or blower set up will get you there but it will be at higher price.

The usual bolt ons and spray the wee out of it.

Kevin

Yeah, I was thinking the N2O approach, too.

But it wouldn't be my pile of broken parts if I couldn't get a handle on the tune.

275-300-ish out if a 318 really isn’t that hard........ then it’s just a 100 shot.

400hp isn't that realistic. If you're going to spend that much time and money on a 318 you might as well spend a bit more and start over with a 360.

I think you could make a good case for it being cheaper to get 400 hp out of a 360 than a 318, even factoring in a core 360.