you know what you are right , they are like night and day ,,,,, have some fun with the 400 but ill tell you this you will never look back to the small block ever again once you go big , all your ganna wanna do is go bigger and bigger , next thing you know your ordering a stroker kit from 440source for that 400 and bam you have a 500 stroker with their alum heads and the cam setup , you will never ever look back to the small block stage with that kind of power

I'd use the low compression 400. Turbochargers and superchargers like low compression ratio engines. Be sensible with the boost and have plenty of power, fun, and reliability.

How is it a "turbo or blower" fits into a low budget? What is the absolute cheapest blower for a mopar- 4 5 6 grand?? Remind me to not inquire about low cost ideas here. In the old days you could take a GOOD running sound smogger (B/RB)and put a better cam, intake, carb and good dual exhaust and have a torquey mill on a budget. A 400 done this way is no match for a 1970 440 magnum but its leaps and bounds ahead of the 318 he has. Plus the 400 smogger holds major potential for future changes when money permits. For $200 he is getting all those nuisance parts youd have to hunt down. Having a driveshaft made or modified professionally is not expensive. Good tight 400 with a Comp Cams High energy cam, weiand action plus dual plane, vac secondary holley, cheap headers with dual exhaust and cheapie turbos would be a new world compared to a teen.

If it runs good and needs nothing.... $200 for a running motor is a good deal. Sell off your 318, hunt down the parts to change it over to a big block, and swap it in. Drive it, and build a 440 later if you want.

Personally I'd find a 360 and drop it into place. The money you save on a BB trans you could probably locate a running 360 or donor car/truck/van...

Just be careful... it's a slippery slope. My 318 was in really poor shape and somebody GAVE me a 360 Volare wagon. My weekend/low-buck swap spiraled WAAAAY out of control into a rebuilt motor and trans and over two years of time and saving.

And remember.... there is no shame in a Satellite. They all don't have to be turned into RR clones...