318 performance
Administrator
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 87,398
Likes: 4,213
From: Clayton MI
Death Flash.
According to popular theory, there are zero differences between 318 and 360 heads. Now, rumor has it... that some of them had different sized valves than others..... I have not found a definitive answer to that one yet.....
Good heads can be found for less than a grand..... clearwater sells them for 3-400 a whack. A bit more, will get you bigger valves. That will help performance some, but, you will still be held back by the intake, and cam. Your best bet is to decide what you really want from your motor. Do you want high end power? Or, do you want stump pulling torque? Do you offroad? Drag race? Haul heavy loads? Just tool around the countryside???? The intended use for your truck should dictate your build. A motor that builds all it power in the upper RPM band is going to be useless for towing......
Once you know what ya wanna build it for, pick parts toward that end. Chat with whatever manufacturers sales department (or, tech department, if available) and tell them what you have in mind, and ask what they recommend. Some places have pre-packaged parts that will give you what you want, regardless of which end of the spectrum you choose. Bear in mind, engine building is NOT cheap. Not by any stretch of the imagination.
According to popular theory, there are zero differences between 318 and 360 heads. Now, rumor has it... that some of them had different sized valves than others..... I have not found a definitive answer to that one yet.....
Good heads can be found for less than a grand..... clearwater sells them for 3-400 a whack. A bit more, will get you bigger valves. That will help performance some, but, you will still be held back by the intake, and cam. Your best bet is to decide what you really want from your motor. Do you want high end power? Or, do you want stump pulling torque? Do you offroad? Drag race? Haul heavy loads? Just tool around the countryside???? The intended use for your truck should dictate your build. A motor that builds all it power in the upper RPM band is going to be useless for towing......
Once you know what ya wanna build it for, pick parts toward that end. Chat with whatever manufacturers sales department (or, tech department, if available) and tell them what you have in mind, and ask what they recommend. Some places have pre-packaged parts that will give you what you want, regardless of which end of the spectrum you choose. Bear in mind, engine building is NOT cheap. Not by any stretch of the imagination.