Can anybody give me the pros and cons about a 318 w/ 360 heads. I bought this beauty last week and Im just looking for a little info on the motor so I can decide which carb would be best for it. It has a Edelbrock performer series intake manifold and 500 cfm carb.

 

The bad thing is that it will lower your compression ratio.

 

The lower compression is a bad thing, but it might work or ok if you put a big enough cam in to utilize the larger valves.

 

couldnt he add a bit bigger carb to?

 

Thanks for shinning the light on this subject. I still havent decided if I should pick up some heads from pick-a-part or buy a new cam. If I could compensate by using a carb how much more cfms should I go with. I have a 600cfm already but its an electric choke. What about turbos, wont they raise the compression.

 

Turbos don`t affect the compression, they just force more air in. I would think 600 is probably big enough for your motor. I would just put a nice cam in.

 

I have an '84 W-150, 318 with '74 360 heads. My '84 had rotators on the exhaust valves, and the cast-in plumbing for the air pump. Got bigger valves and ports with the 360 heads plus I had flat-top pistons. It all depends on what year heads you get.
Some have larger combustion chambers, so you will get a drop in compression.
I am running a 600 AFB (Edelbrock) four barrel and performer intake. Been running this combo for ten years, does need more cam in mid-range. Hope this helps.

 

Thanks for the additional info guys. I will have to check the compression. Would you recommend a RV cam or after market. I really have no experience with cams and any help would be well appreciated even though I wont be able to tear the motor down until spring or whenever I get my other truck running.

 

It depends on what you really want. A mild cam would pick it up a little and give you good road manners. I went with a Mopar Performance Purple .450/.455 @ 268/262. That is a little more agressive.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nB2OQDElR1g Listen to that and you`ll get the idea.