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.

I'd stay with that 318,I loved the milage and durability of the one in my 69 Dodge.

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

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.

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..

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.

One of my 74 Chargers had a 318 so tired that a 4 cyl Volvo out ran it! I replaced the rings, bearings, cam and lifters. Added a pair of 302 casting heads that I had rebuilt and it worked out very nice. It was the cheapest option available.
I did try a junk yard engine for plug and play and it was a waste of time and money. Total POS.

Try and find a low milage 5.2 or 5.9 magnum and use a carb on it. Those engines run great. Your biggest expense will be the intake.

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.

Add nitrous and beat the hell out of it till it dies, then put in a 360.

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.