will 318 industrial engines direct swap with 318la 70's engines and do they have a steel crank, and or higher compression heads?

Chrysler built industrial engines to last a long time and withstand abuse.

I would expect if anything a lower compression ratio, maybe such premium parts as sodium filled exhaust valves and probably a forged crankshaft.

Maybe others have a better understanding, but I would guess the cylinder heads themselves would be the same, while the pistons would be similar to Sealed Power LC371, which have a shorter compression height.

R.

Assuming it's a decent block, here's what I'd do: Replace pistons with '88 - '92 5.2 Magnum pistons, they are a few grams lighter and have the highest 1.755" compression height of ANY stock 318 non-poly piston.

For heads the best stock heads are 5.2 or 5.9 Mag heads, they have the best combustion chamber of the OE heads and also flow enough for 400 hp.

My '64Dog's Poly 318 did not have a harmonic damper, just a solid hub. I'd check that, I'd prefer a damper over the hub except on a limited-use drag racer.

For intake the Perf RPM Air Gap is #1, I'm using a '75 or '76 Thermoquad intake from a 360 that will work within 25 hp or so of the Air Gap, but it is heavy!

R.

For all sorts of 318 pistons, check out Campbell Enterprises, a board sponsor.

On this type of motor the balance is close enough. Keep in mind that the reciprocating pin end mass is multiplied by 0.5 per assembly, while the rotating or big end mass is multiplied by 1. So a gram difference on the piston/pin end makes only half the actual weight difference.

If one was going to rebalance for sure, then the piston to choose would be the KB piston for 318. It weighs around 84 grams less per piston and makes an honest 9.6:1 with a 64cc head. So lighter, stronger and higher compression. that's what you get for your money. If you really want to go whole hog, you can save about 100 grams PER ROD by going aftermarket. The LA rods weigh in the mid 700s (645 rod at 758 grams) while a decent aftermarket rod like Eagle H-beam or Scat weigh around 650. The Eagle SIR weighs in around 600 grams and their material seems to have more consistent quality control versus 5 years ago.

R.

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php?topic=10449.0;wap2

Engine 1971-92 360 LA 1993-03 Magnum 5.9L

Piston 584 grams 470 grams
Piston Pin 154.6 grams 134 grams
Connecting rod small end 239 grams 225 grams
Connecting rod big end 519 grams 519 grams
Ring Set 56.6 grams 40 grams
Rod Bearing 47.6 grams 47.6 grams


Reciprocating Weight 1,034.2 grams 869 grams
Rotating Weight 566.6 grams 566.6 grams
Weight per Cylinder 1,600.8 grams 1,435.6 grams
Total Bob Weight 2,167.4 grams 2,002.2 grams

Dunno what your cutoff is for a rebalance, but here's the numbers. I know it's for a 360, all I could handily find.