Recipe For A Hot, Low Budget 318 Mopar

We have about 700 bucks wrapped up in our happy little Small Block. Here's everything you need to duplicate it at home.
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*SOCIAL MEDIA:

[omwfymom]

Uncle Tony is a legit genius /mad scientist. The way he gets so much out of an engine for so little is art. Guys like him are a dieing breed.

[arttafil]

Oh my God, I’d almost forgotten the trick of swapping pistons and rods in the 318. You’re so right about the porting work. Good old fashioned shade tree hot rod ding from the late 60’s. You bring tears to the eyes of an old geezer like me (72).

[RacerRickxx]

I build motors all the time and there is a saying in the motor building industry - "too loose and only you will know, too tight and everybody will know". A few tips for those who will be building.


When your crank is being ground, ask for it to be ground to low limits. This is the extra clearance Tony was talking about.


If you are getting your rod bolts replaced, resize the rods and have them resize them to the middle clearances if possible. Too tight will reduce rod journal bearing clearance, but increase bearing crush. Too loose will increase rod journal bearing clearance, but reduce bearing crush. With the crank ground to low limits, and the rods in the center of their allowable size, your rod clearances usually end up real close to where you want them for a performance street build. For any performance motor, I replace the rod bolts and resize the rods. Once you have done it enough, you can tell how round the big ends of the rods are by how the rod caps come off.


Stock parts are actually pretty tough when setup correctly. The two weak points in most motors are the oiling system and the valve train.
I like to replace the valves with new one piece valves. Its cheap insurance because the factory 3 piece valves like to break off the heads at the worst possible moment. This is especially important for a head that has loose guides. Hardened valve locks are a must as soon as you go up in spring pressure. Luckily they are cheap. Older Mopars have a really strong shaft rocker setup and strong pushrods, so little is needed to be done there. For other motors you may not be so lucky.



For any motor, pay attention to the oiling system. Clean it, make sure that all of feed holes line up properly, that there is no leaks, clearances are set correctly, and that the pickup is set correctly in the pan. Any of these are wrong and your motor will not last long. A high volume pump may be needed in a motor that is built really loose to keep acceptable idle oil pressure but it takes more power to drive and oil drainback can be an issue. A high volume pump can pump a stock oil pan dry because the oil can't drain back to the pan fast enough. A high volume pump is not always needed, or wanted.


With stock parts, stock or stock replacement bearings are fine. The stock pistons/rods/oiling system will fail before the bearings are overloaded.

[shaggydogg]

That piston flipping goes back to Ford flathead days.. real old school stuff..best gear head channel on you tube.

[mmcnew]

This build is like a “Sloppy Mechanics” channel build. But instead of a modern LS engine, using an old, old looked down on Mopar small block. Way more fun!

[vanatic]

I've been a 318 believer for 40 years. They may not be the most powerful engines out there but they are reliable and buildable. My old '76 Dodge B200 with the original 164k mile 318 just made a 3664 mile trip to Colorado and back, no sweat. It's never been opened up since I've owned it; I'm 2nd owner and that's all the way back to 42k miles. However it may be time to tinker! Tony proves you don't have to break the bank to run better!

[racerc]

I cut my teeth on a 318 in the 80's. . '73 Challenger I bought for 500 bucks. Had an anemic 318 with a 2brl. I threw a cam, 360 heads, 4brl and intake and a set a headers and had a blast for years in that car.

[vladimirvolkhov]

Love the fact that your videos tend to show people how to budget build engines like the Slant six and the humble 318 for maximum effect. These are the type of things that the average guy can Aspire and relate to. Always look forward to your videos.

[DrewLSsix]

"A loose motor is a happy motor " I'm convinced that more street strip engines are lost due to tight factory clearances than due to weak parts or to much power adder.

[daveowens]

Actually glad to see someone respect and rebuild the 318. Had one in a 73 Road Runner back in 1975 when I was 18, and my brothers and I tweaked that engine. Stop light to stop light, I never lost!

[snoman]

The 318 has always been my fav, vastly under rated
by many IMO. I had an old 80s van that passed a 350 Camaro (WFO side by side and he didn't want to be passed) on the highway and the guy followed me until I stopped, to see what I had under the hood. He was choked to learn he was outrun by a tired 318 with a Carter Thermoquad and no other mods.

[arthurwells]

I put a 1970 318 and 727 torqueflite from my father inlaws rusted out truck in a 1982 ram short bed miser pickup with a 3:91 83/4 posi rear stuffed a crane 68 340 automatic repop cam, 1980 trooper car 318 steel intake and thermoquad carb, a mopar performance electronic ignition kit to replace the lean burn setup a set of black jack cheap headers with sonic turbo mufflers a carter high volume mechanical fuel pump stock converter and that little thing was so impressive whipped up on my cousin’s 360 dodge pick up easily I changed out the 3;91 it got real noisy to a 3:23 rear and showed my cousin 5000 rpm in high gear with a 27 “ tall tire which I believe was well over 120 mph it started hunting the road so I backed out of it the 318 is definitely one under appreciated little performer !!!!

[davidlewis]

This project takes me back to when I was younger it makes me want to do it again great job brothers

[maximuswedgie]

Man, I wish I lived by Uncle Tony. It makes me wonder how much power I’m losing by not doing simple things to my B body Mopar. His knowledge is awesome. I’m addicted to these videos!

[MalaiseEraMedia]

The video length is 7:27.
I see you being clever with the mopar references.

[Ricks]

Hundreds of thousands of dollars is spent by the major companies in Research and Development including the engines and the tolerances they calculate to take into account the oil type and squash rates, viscocities and additives to acquire healthy coverage, bleed and running temps where its needed. Big clearancing can lead to unwanted materail passage through sacrifial bearing areas which pass through to more crucial and vulnerable areas also leading to catastrophic failure, at worst. I used to remember hearing high strength Magnets on the block and sump, in areas, can help catch unwanted material movement, old computer hard drive magnets work great and the look very fitting as i recall, bust em open, grab the magnets 😉. Its a banger Uncle Tony i just hope its a gear banger on the strip, all the best 😊

[bcabmac]

I love this build. Watching it makes me feel like a teenager again and brings back a lot of good memories from street rodding when I was young. Pure old school. Uncle Tony is still young at heart. I come back to watch it every now and then because it puts a smile on my face. Thanks again for posting.

[Z_]

You never cease to amaze.. it's pretty cool to see someone else has the same thoughts. Chevy isn't the only cheap horsepower. You just gotta know your machine. Well done man!

[Fubar]

When Uncle Tony uploads I stop what I'm doing and watch.

[johnkordish]

Uncle Tony is an old school hot rodder and I enjoy every one of his videos. He knows his stuff and I would love to chat with him for hours on old V8’s and tips and tricks!! You da man Uncle Tony👍