Hopping up my 318

Hey guys I'm thinking about running kb399 pistons in my 318 I have 360 heads on it with stock 318 pistons but trying to get some more performance out of the 318 so I'm wondering if it would be a good combo with porting and polishing the 360 heads and some kb399. Any insight is appreciated I tried searching to see if there was any info on this combo but couldn't find anything
Setup I have now
318 stock bore with stock pistons and 360 heads cam I'm running is a lunati LUN-10200702LK and weiand action plus and quick fuel 750

If I were going to spend money on the 318, KB167 pistons would be the choice. KB399 is a dome type and is old tech. Problems with flame travel in the chamber and detonation. I would zero deck the KB167 leaving the option open to upgrade to closed chamber head and build for quench later.

All that said, 360 cores are a dime a dozen.

Would it be worth running kb167 and say an edelbrock head with out zero decking it due to I've already sent it machine shop would prefer not to have to take it back. And I know i would just prefer to stick with what is supposed to be in my car

I think you’re onto something there.

Can you do it? Yes. If pistons were at .020 of deck height then probably no need to deck it- just use the thin head gasket. If lower then I would absolutely do it to get quench. Machine shop doesn't want to take it back? If they are not in business to make money and do what the customer needs, then find another one.

I am doing my 318. I went with the kb167 pistons. I didn't want to deck mine for the same reason as you. I am looking at the Sidewinder heads (63cc) and the soon to be released Trick Flows (60cc). I would like the Sidewinders as the price will be better and I really don't need the TFs. The problem is the vendor can't get them from the supplier, so I may have to go with the TFs. The TFs are gonna be great heads but are more than I want to spend.

I think the eBrocks are 65cc?

Whichever piston you run, you should zero deck the block or at least have a fresh machined deck. If your gonna half azz it you should just toss rings and bearings in it.

Yea, domed pistons are so old tech, dont ever try to run gas ported nitrous domed pistons, modern ring pack and closed chamber heads, you might just go really fast.

China man must say no selly to greedy American.



quote=roadrunninMark]I am doing my 318. I went with the kb167 pistons. I didn't want to deck mine for the same reason as you. I am looking at the Sidewinder heads (63cc) and the soon to be released Trick Flows (60cc). I would like the Sidewinders as the price will be better and I really don't need the TFs. The problem is the vendor can't get them from the supplier, so I may have to go with the TFs. The TFs are gonna be great heads but are more than I want to spend.

I think the eBrocks are 65cc? [/quote]

I think so EV!

I'm not half azzing it I have already sent it to the machine shop and made sure everything is straight and flat which is why I say I would rather not have to send it back to the machine shop around here machine work isn't cheap

Ebrocks are 63cc

Here is a youtube video of a mid 80's Dodge truck with a built up 318 and
4 speed.
Maybe you can contact the person on youtube and find out how he built up the 318.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGHQi5lTGvY

I didn't see the 63cc version before... Is that a closed chamber head?

60779 is the part number and yes closed chamber

Trying to see if the valves are stainless steel... and the diameter of the stems...

Stem diameter is 0.341 and I believe they are stainless

OK, that is smaller than 11/32. I see they need to be gone through first, a bunch of reviews about it on Summit.

What they need is no more costly then a valve job where they check the guides and seat pattern, if you go that route pic your cam first to see if there "do it all" springs are ok or if you need to change.

I sorta dont understand why anyone would put an al head on a 318 when you can get new real mopar castings in the box with hardened seats for $75 a head and be ready to run for $450 or so. Or even a J head but thats just me.

Can we talk you into finding a 360 block & stroking it (4" cranks are cheap nowadays) & the KB 356 (iirc) pistons ain't too bad. NOBODY that I have even spoken with that has stroked one has regretted the reasonable time/expense it takes to do one. You get alot of cubes (408) in a SB package. You have a bit invested in the 318 but I dont think you will get what you are seeking from it & once the 408 fries the tires one time you will forget all about that 318!

I know 360s are alot more capable then 318s but building this 318 means a little more to me then just that. It was my father's engine he ran around in back in the day I'm not looking to build a monster motor just something fun.

Understood, post how it turns out.

run the low compression, supercharge it and call it a day. procharger at 7-8 pcs boost will get you about 500 hp.

^^^ Ding ding ding I (do) believe we have a winna! That would kick some tail. I'd want one all under the hood, no cutting.

Another alternative would be to just clean, re-gasket, paint & detail the engine as a display. Sure, it's not a Hemi, but it's sentimental, and would still be pretty cool as a display.
I'm assuming it's just your Dad's engine you have, not the whole car. If I were to find my Dad's old Sport Fury, I'd want it how I remember it (stock), except maybe a more modern brake system.

What year is the block? there are two compression heights that were used, the early 9.600" and the later 9.577"
Take out the 6.123 rod and the 3.31/2 stroke and you have either 1.822 or 1.799 left for compression height.


It used to be the trick to use 318Poly pistons to raise the compression as most of them run about 1.8.

I was concerned when I opened up my '86 318 and found the pistons 0.055" in the hole. I used the Mr. Gasket 1121G thin gasket which is 0.028" thick. My squish area still worked, testified to by the excellent mileage I got and the complete absence of pinging with 34* total mechanical advance and the lowest grade of gas. The closest that 5.2Mag pistons got to the deck was 0.044 and then you add the head gasket which was probably right at 0.040" compressed height leaving the piston 0.084" down from the squish pads. Yet they worked too.

R.

I often wonder if on the brand x boards if the same thing happens when a 305 is mentioned. Just build a 350!!!! Or I’m building a 302. Just build a 351!!!

I have run a 12.5 to 1 340 in the past with dome pistons. I just don't care to run race gas in a street motor. No slight intended as I am sure you have a monster little 318 there.

Actually, the 305 is a generally reviled POS even by the Chevy guys and yeah, they'll tell you to build something else.

As for the 302, that one depends. In a lot of applications wedging in a 351 is nigh on impossible, so the 302 get the nod because it has a shorter deck and fits better, but they'll stroke it to 347 or bigger in a heart beat. But if there's room, a 351 get's the nod.

It costs virtually the same to build either the 318 or the 360 and it's foolish to go with the 318 unless you have an otherwise compelling reason.

408,408,408. Man do I get tired of hearing this. Do you know how many 408 my kid runs faster than every week with a stock crank 360. LMAO. Oh and its 3200 pound too.


Untitled by John Cadamore, on Flickr

Untitled by John Cadamore, on Flickr