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.