318 Chargers... Does anybody ever restore them to original condition ?

[Daytona R/T SE]

318 Chargers...

Does anybody ever restore them to original condition ? 

Or...

Do they all get cloned into R/T's or hot rodded ? 

[400sforever]

My 74 se was a rust free original 318 triple white. . Now it's a red 512 torque monster that scares old ladies and dominates rice burner punkasses. It's priceless to me now in this shape!

[lukedukem]

if I can locate my original motor and tranny I would. Q5 car. column car. but I can't so I will sell stuff I don't need and keep it scary

luke

[dyslexic teddybear]

Interesting thought.....

Don't think many are willing to incur the costs of "restoring" a 318.....

I suspect there are quite a few not quite survivors that are 318s. I'd be quite happy with one as a cruiser.

Being a fan of stealth.....if somehow enough $$$ came my way[lottery?] I think much fun could be had by taking a small block out to as big as possible and make it appear as stock as possible.......

Yeah....I think much fun could be possible.

[472 R/T SE]

Seeings how it costs the same regardless I think I'd try & find a 6 banger if I were to go back to factory.

I mean if you're willing to restore the single most popular combination Charger, by all means knock yerself out.  Popular or not, you don't see them restored.
If both cars were restored sitting side by side I'd go straight to the 6 banger.   

[Alaskan_TA]

Restorations, even for Hemi cars can cost more than the car is worth afterwards.

So I like cars in 'driver' condition. Not Chargers, but I have one /6 car & three 318 cars. My need for speed passed long ago.

[tan top]

 there has been one or two 318 , 69 chargers on ebay  over the last couple of years , deffinatly one  , it was Y2 , white top & interior , that was restored !

heres one on youtube  , not exactly  Factory OEM type resto , but looks nice     ok      

 .....


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJt_gGBYJO8

[TUFCAT]

Speaking of both 1st gen and 2nd gen Chargers....(but 2nd gen specifically), I think DTBear hit the nail...

The desirability and "coolness factor" (let's be honest) without that big block under the hood of a 2nd gen Charger is pretty low.......and almost always drops the resale value - unless its a survivor.  

I don't think it matters as much for the 3rd gen cars.  Personally I think any 318 Charger (with cold a/c) would make for a seriously nice driving/cruising machine.  I still see many 1973/1974 cars equipped this way that have not been modified.

[Ghoste]

Since I have an RT I wouldn't mind a nice 318 daily driver kind of Charger but to seek one out and restore it???

[ITSA426]

We've done two.  One was my nephew's first charger and he restored it as a high school shop project.  He got an A on the project and he's still driving it 15 years later.  The other is a no option 66 that I restored because I wanted a three on the tree Charger.  I enjoy driving it as much as my hemi car and it is a great road car.  They are as nice as any others we own. 

[TUFCAT]

We've done two.  One was my nephew's first charger and he restored it as a high school shop project.  He got an A on the project and he's still driving it 15 years later.  The other is a no option 66 that I restored because I wanted a three on the tree Charger.  I enjoy driving it as much as my hemi car and it is a great road car.  They are as nice as any others we own.  

I know right!  My 318 Coronet would start right up after a winter's slumber, run great in any traffic situation, never overheat on the hottest day, got decent gas mileage, wasn't fussy, never broke down, and started every time hot, cold, warm it never mattered!  Basically it performed exactly like it was designed to do.

I always appreciated that kind of dependability....  and I never worried about driving it anywhere I wanted to go.    

Unfortuantley in todays world, if my car was a high school chick, she wouldn't get asked to her senior prom...

It got NO RESPECT!..... [Insert Rodney Dangerfield soundbite here].  

 

[Daytona R/T SE]

The one I have in mind is my '72 318 Charger.

I bought this car from the original owner's son back in '95 or '96 for the huge sum of $600.

I drove it as my "cruiser" car for a few years, and put it in storage when I bought my Imperial in 2001.

It always ran great, seemed like it didn't suck gas too bad, and would actually burn rubber when I wanted it to.

When I put it in the barn, the A/C still worked.  

It does have some rust issues, but I can fix all of that myself for the cost of parts and welding wire.

Fast forward to now...

The Imperial has been sold.

I've built a new garage to house my "keeper" project cars and parts.

Slowly, I'm bringing my cars home from storage, and the old brain starts storming...

[jdiesel33]

My 74 se was a rust free original 318 triple white. . Now it's a red 512 torque monster that scares old ladies and dominates rice burner punkasses. It's priceless to me now in this shape!

Love it. Well said. And that is a bad ass 3rd gen. Would love to see more pics.

[A383Wing]

my car restoring days are over..I can't keep up with what I have left now.

But, if I were to take another project on, I would like a 66 or 67 Charger with 318 and manual trans on column, or a 2nd generation 6cyl car, manual or auto trans...

[sdweatherman]

Not a Charger - but the Plymouth counterpart. Restoring a 1971 Sebring Plus with 318/Auto. Doing most of the work myself and keeping the 318. Going to drive the wheels off of it when I get it done, so I like the prospects of semi-decent gas mileage. The 318 will have a little more umph than stock - 340 cam, mid 80s swirl port heads, aluminum intake with 4bbl, headers. Going to keep the Sebring Plus emblems on it, but it will have a Road Runner feel - painted bumpers, police wheels, etc. - but no strobe stripe.

[1974dodgecharger]

would you buy a slant 6, 70 charger, in awesome condition for 40k?  Didn't think so, lol....

[500Jon]

318 chargers are all the RAGE now in Europe...
Go twice as far on a gallon of GAS @$7.50 (£5).

My Moparmate has a 67 Charger with a 318 fully restored and got top-5 in the Euro-Nats...
He can drive it every day, where as I don't drive my 440 cars at all!!!

[Dino]

I bought my 318 car with a 440 under the hood and nobody knows where the original engine is, or trans, or rear end...

I would have considered restoring it back to original if all the parts were there and if the car wasn't green on the inside.

[J-440]

 Someone did a 318 turbo build up awhile back and it made the cover of a Mopar mag.  Got 600 horses out of it on race gas and was built up heavily.  It's rare but they do hot rod those motors sometimes.

[paironines]

I would sink the money into my green 68 Charger to restore it and keep it green but I would keep the big block that's in it instead of the original 318. No RT emblems. So to answer your question, kinda keep it original.

My uncle has a red 71 318 Charger and his plans were to definitely keep it 318 as that's all he needs / wants.

[keith88]

I bought mine last year with a 318 its not the balls to the wall 383 that that i owned when i was 18 but neither is the price of gas, oh it might be cheaper right now but believe me that wont last long it will go back up than im really going to like the 318 gas mileage. There anit nothing wrong with keeping them a 318  makes them a little more drivable and doesn't temp you to do things to that  might break it.

[bill440rt]

I did. My '68, kept it with the 318 for years. Wasn't restored stock, but the 318 stayed for a few decades until the 440 swap. 

I do remember reading a few years back about a 2nd Gen 318 Charger that was restored to OE specs, I think it was even ran thru the OE Cert. judging at the NATS, IIRC. I think the car was light green in color. 

[ACUDANUT]

318 chargers are all the RAGE now in Europe...
Go twice as far on a gallon of GAS @$7.50 (£5).

My Moparmate has a 67 Charger with a 318 fully restored and got top-5 in the Euro-Nats...
He can drive it every day, where as I don't drive my 440 cars at all!!!

318's don't get much better fuel mileage than 440's.  Maybe, what 2-3 more per gallon?

[Sublime/Sixpack]

would you buy a slant 6, 70 charger, in awesome condition for 40k?  Didn't think so, lol....

I don't know about spending $40k, but depending on the color combo, other options, etc., I'd be interested. Personally not EVERY car I drive or own has to be fast.
There's something to be said about having an appreciation for a piece of machinery for what it is.

[dyslexic teddybear]

would you buy a slant 6, 70 charger, in awesome condition for 40k?  Didn't think so, lol....

I don't know about spending $40k, but depending on the color combo, other options, etc., I'd be interested. Personally not EVERY car I drive or own has to be fast.
There's something to be said about having an appreciation for a piece of machinery for what it is.

Very much agree.....appreciate a piece of machinery for what it is.

[paironines]

I did. My '68, kept it with the 318 for years. Wasn't restored stock, but the 318 stayed for a few decades until the 440 swap. 

I do remember reading a few years back about a 2nd Gen 318 Charger that was restored to OE specs, I think it was even ran thru the OE Cert. judging at the NATS, IIRC. I think the car was light green in color. 

Was the car a green 68 that had the entire drivers side inner/ outer rocker and part of the floor replaced from a parts car? If so I seen it up close and it was beautifully restored.

[Patronus]

No

[HANDM]

I've got a love/ hate thing going with the 318 in my Challenger.

I love the small block scream winding it out in second.

I hate how long it takes to warm up before driving it....

The Charger with a 383, fires right up and after a few good revs, is ready to drive.

What invariably happens is when I want to drive one, I choose the Charger based solely on the hop in and drive ability.

[A383Wing]

I've got a love/ hate thing going with the 318 in my Challenger.

I love the small block scream winding it out in second.

I hate how long it takes to warm up before driving it....

plugged intake exhaust crossover? Common issue with small blocks

[ACUDANUT]

Nope, it's a smallblock issue.

[Pat1973charger]

I recall a 318 charger restored to original in a mopar magazine featured back in I think June or July of 04. Was a green car i know for sure. I'll look for the magazine in a little.

[HANDM]

Nope, it's a smallblock issue.

Exactly that...... Nothing plugged, every LA that I've had has been the same way......

[ACUDANUT]

Why would anyone not want to upgrade in engine size.  Like it was said earlier, it costs the same to build a 440, as a 318.  Why bother with a LA (aka: Little Ass)
Who looks for a 318 original car...Not me 

[chargd72]

Why would anyone not want to upgrade in engine size.  Like it was said earlier, it costs the same to build a 440, as a 318.  Why bother with a LA (aka: Little Ass)
Who looks for a 318 original car...Not me 

I think it depends on what you want the car to do.  If you want it to go in a straight line fast then yes, by all means drop in the biggest motor you can and have fun.  But a lot of people today, like myself, are building there cars to be all around performers.  I chose to build a 360 "Little Ass" motor because with with today after market aluminum parts you can be close to 200 lbs lighter on the front end than a cast Iron big block.  This will make breaking and cornering a night and day difference.  Plus, with my 408 stroker kit and Paxton supercharger I will happily run any kind of race with someone who put the same amount of money into a big block.  You might be able to pull away from me SLIGHTLY on those long straight aways, but I promise I will run away from you on a road coarse by a larger margin.   

[HANDM]

Why would anyone not want to upgrade in engine size.  Like it was said earlier, it costs the same to build a 440, as a 318.  Why bother with a LA (aka: Little Ass)
Who looks for a 318 original car...Not me 

Dude, the lowly 318 has made the hobby possible for a great many of us. Would I have preferred an RB Charger or Challenger? Sure, could I afford them? Fuck no!

What I have is very dear to me even though they are a lowly LA Challenger and a B Charger........

[archie360]

Second that, owned a few nice 318 cars when I got into the hobby that were a lot cheaper than the big inch stuff.  No not the fastest, but still looked damn nice going down the road.  Had a rallye red 74 318 roadrunner with white strobe stripes.  One day I was parked in front of a store.  Came out and saw a 71 GTO w/455HO stickers parked next to it.  Hopped in my RR and left.  The Goat never knew it was just a little 318 under the hood  

[69bronzeT5]

Why would anyone not want to upgrade in engine size.  Like it was said earlier, it costs the same to build a 440, as a 318.  Why bother with a LA (aka: Little Ass)
Who looks for a 318 original car...Not me 

Dude, the lowly 318 has made the hobby possible for a great many of us. Would I have preferred an RB Charger or Challenger? Sure, could I afford them? Fuck no!

[ACUDANUT]

Handman


"Dude, the lowly 318 has made the hobby possible for a great many of us. Would I have preferred an RB Charger or Challenger? Sure, could I afford them? Fuck no!

What I have is very dear to me even though they are a lowly LA Challenger and a B Charger"


Hold on there dude. I totally agree.  I was talking about when it comes to rebuilding a 45 year engine.  Why not upgrade ?

[RallyeMike]

Not every car has to be a finicky screaming race car. Many people know and love the reliability, longevity, smooth power, and economy of a 318 car. A bigger engine is not necessarily "an upgrade" depending on what you are looking for. If someone already had something fast or a trailer queen, I can totally see restoring a nice driver 318 car for use on vacations and other road trips.

[Mikko]

My other 70 Charger in originally 318 car, still SB car and i like it that way. It was fast done restoration meant for use, get it done for last summer and it was used Basically summertime daily and could even let my friends to drive it to bar and cruisings and sit next to with beverages

"Not every car has to be finicky screaming race car", touche.

Sadly, but i´ve noticed. That more and more faster i build my cars, more unpractical those will be and less i drive them.

[Ghoste]

Which is exactly why I'd like to find a nice 318 one for a daily driver.  Someday.  By accident, not by searching for it.  And cheap.

[dyslexic teddybear]

318s have their place.

I had in the past, likely one of the more looked down on Mopars......78 Volare with RR stripes, 318 and OD 833.

One of the funner cars I've had. It did most everything well.....except getting 2 kids in and out of car seats. Decent power, handled and rode decent, GREAT mpgs.....would love to have another one.

I can appreciate a tire melting fire breather......and a 318 cruiser.

[GOTWING]

When I sold mine it had the 318 in it, when I bought it back 23 years later it had an early 340 in it, I have a 69 TNT 440 for mine to freshen up for it.

[elanmars]

318 chargers are all the RAGE now in Europe...
Go twice as far on a gallon of GAS @$7.50 (£5).

My Moparmate has a 67 Charger with a 318 fully restored and got top-5 in the Euro-Nats...
He can drive it every day, where as I don't drive my 440 cars at all!!!

318's don't get much better fuel mileage than 440's.  Maybe, what 2-3 more per gallon?

A little bit more than 2-3 for sure. I'm cool with my two 318 cruisers currently (1969, 1973), my only issue is that the '69 is down with body work things, and the '73 needs the front end to be rebuilt, and the torque converter fixed, 'cause it's giving me crappy gas mileage (11-12mpg, what I would usually get in my 383 and 400 cars).

[garner7555]

Not mine.  It is a 318 car, had a 400 in it when I got it, but it got a 440 after I got it.    

[HOTROD]

IT really boggles the mind?  People bitch about this all the time it's not like you can go back in time and order what you want!
So we have to improvise you get what you can!
And then you make it your own! Factory only did so much and then they shipped it off And that's what we are doing putting our performance part's on , R/T , SRT, or whatever! !!

[Mytur Binsdirti]

I've rediscovered what a 383 is like & they run great and still have decent performance.

[ACUDANUT]

383's scream and I love them.

[moparnation74]

I've rediscovered what a 383 is like & they run great and still have decent performance.

383's scream and I love them.

Completely

[HANDM]

X3,  love the 383 in the Charger

[Charger-Bodie]

318's and 383's really are great engines. Nothing wrong with the non R/t chargers.

[ACUDANUT]

Huge difference in power between a 318 and a 383.