New Guy Here. Need advice on upgrading from original 318 engine!

[rat1209]

Hi to all and thank you for welcoming me to your site!
I just purchased my very first muscle car.  Its a Red 1973 Charger with a perfect paint job.  The interior is black and is 80% complete, it just needs the cluster to be wired and some missing dash components.  It still has its original automatic 318 engine and tranny, im not sure what kind of transmission it has, but i think it might be the 904. It runs and drives good, but not great.  So i want to replace it, but im not sure which route to go.  I know that the original options on these cars included either a 383 or 440, i dont know what will be easier or what will fit.  Or even if i have to change out the tranny too, and if i do, which one? I dont need a lot power, i want to use it as a daily driver, but would like know that if i wanted to leave someone in the dust, i could! As you can see im new to the whole muscle car world, but i am eager and excited to learn, plus i love my new car!
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!! Thank you!

P.S. I got this beauty for $4300.  How did i do?  (be honest)

[Ghoste]

First, welcome to the site.  Second, you did good (come on, it's a Charger after all).  Third, pics pics pics pics. Fourth, it will almost surely be a 904 in your car but it doesn't matter , if you are going to a big block it will have to be changed to a 727 as the 904 won't bolt up to the big block.  There is a 727 version made for smallblocks and there is a small chance your car could have had that installed at some point but it still won't bolt up to the big block.  Fifth, either 383 or 440 will fit just fine.  It is a very easy swap to do and cost wise ends up about the same for either when you take out the initial purchase price.  As for which engine costs more up front, typically the 440 will run you a little more as they made fewer of them but not much more and not necessarily.
Good luck and keep us updated.

[flyinlow]

Welcome Rat .  Nice car ,looks like you did alright.

My son and I did the conversion on a 73.  More to it than just a 440 and 727 trans.

driveshaft, motormounts , larger rear axle, stronger springs , exhuast, radiator ,fuel line , wiring, and accessory brackets.

Make sure your tires, brakes, steering and suspension are in good shape first.  Whoa need to match the go.

[rat1209]

Thank you both your replies.  Very helpful.
I found a 1972 440 H series chrysler engine with a turbo 400 auto transmission.  Will this work?

And its only $400!  Good deal?

[Ghoste]

They have a Turbo 400 attached to a 440?

[rat1209]

yeah thats what it seems like?  is it Unlikely?

Theyre asking $400.  Good Deal?

[Ghoste]

A Turbo 400 is a GM trans and wouldn't just bolt up to a Chrysler without some sort adaptor.  It should be a Torqueflite 727 on there and yes if it isn't seized up 400 bucks for a 440 and trans is a good deal.

[rat1209]

Thanks.  Ill call and get more details. 

[rat1209]

Now, as far as replacing the driveshaft, exhuast, radiator ,and fuel line. Am i just replacing these to newer ones, or am i upgrading to different ones?

[Ghoste]

The driveshaft is shorter in the big block car, if you are going to the trouble to swap to a big block it wouldn't make sense not to upgrade to a dual exhaust setup, the radiator may be too small to keep it cool and the fuel line may be too small to keep it fed.  The last two you will have to check and make sure though, you may be okay depending on whats there now and what you want to do with the car.

[rat1209]

Im wondering now if maybe i can get some power out of the 318 and tranny it has now just by restoring it?  Anyone recommend this?  Or should i just face the music and replace it?

[acelondon]

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,283.0.html

rusty 318 becomes 402 monster.

that guy is my idol.

Welcome to the club. My ride is a 1974 Charger SE with a 318 and 727 with SureGrip.

[Ghoste]

You can go either way and at the end of it all, it comes down to how much money you want to spend.

[Foreman72]

welcome to you sir

read some of these and then decide if you would like the 318

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,53264.0.html

thats what i have in my 72 and i'm sure as heck keeping it

btw...sweet charger...any more pics?

[Sublime/Sixpack]

Based on what you said about not needing a lot of power, and wanting to use your Charger as a daily driver, I would either rebuild the existing 318 or find a used 360 to rebuild for it.  The 318 is a good engine and can make respectable power, but personally I'd go for a 360 if one is available.

[flyinlow]

A 318 is a good engine. If yours is healty ; good compression ,oilpressure and no noises the easiest and least expensive improvement would be to up the power of your existing engine.

Play with the ignition timing

dual exhuast/maybe headers

dualplane intake and small/medium size 4 bbl. carb

you can pick up some decent HP without getting into the engine and it may improve you milage if you keep your foot out of it.

A performance gear will help alot. You probably have a 2.76 now . Changing toa 3.23.or 3.55 will wake up the Charger. However if you are going to put a 440 in later you should upgrade to a 8 3/4 axle. The gear will hurt your milage some.

[rat1209]

Ok, thanks to all.  Youve convinced me!  Im keeping the 318.

Lets  start with the carb, which brand and what kind should i get?
And can I just plop it on or are there additional modifications I have to make.

BTW.  You guys are great!! Very insightful Thanks Again!!!

[flyinlow]

Check ebay and Craigs list.

You will have to change intake manifolds to use a 4bbl carb

Used intakes are fine if undamaged or unmodified. Used carbs can be junk unless you know the seller or you see it on a running engine.

Edelbrock and holley websites can give recomendations. You can get Carb/intake/aircleaner/gasket sets that are matched to each other and save money.

Midrange torque intakes and 600-700 cfm carb would be my choice.

With a timing light and a distributor spring kit you can improve your HP,drivabilaty and gas milage for under $50 and a few hours of your time. I would do this before switching to a 4bbl carb.

Would install free flowing dual exhuast before switching carbs. A bigger carb wont be happy with single exhuast. Sounds and looks better too.

[rat1209]

What's a distributor spring kit

Sorry if it sounds like a dumb question. But I rather ask you guys than a mechanic in person. 

[flyinlow]

The stock distributor has a centrifical  advance mechanism inside that advances the ignition timing as the engine rpm increases. It uses weighs to advannce the timing. The weights are held in their base timing retarded position with springs. A stock distributor may not get full advance untill 4000 rpm. If you buy a spring kit, it has weaker springs that allow the timing to advance by 2400-2800 rpm. You can also increase the initial timing.

Looking for 10-15 degree BTDC at idle with vacume advance pluged. Total mechanical advance 36-40. You have to experiment a little to see what you can run without getting spark knock. Maybe some of the smallblock guys can give you more acurate numbers. A Mr. Gasket kit a Jegs is About $10.
My 318 was set at 2 1/2 deg. BTDC. Increased to 15 deg. before it started to spark knock. Then back off a couple of degrees.

Check if your vacume advance goes thru a coolant temp. valve . If so by pass it.

[GTX MATT]

Your car is kind of heavy and the 318 will never put out the amount of torque that a 440 can. Torque is what moves a car, the heavier the car the more important torque becomes. A 318 is a great reliable motor and is often overlooked I think, a 318 with a 340 cam, heads, intake, exhaust manifolds, carb, and same compression ratio will run almost identical. They can be turned into a good performing engine easily and cheap.

Id recomend swapping to a 440, thats what I'd do if it were my car and thats what im doing with my car.

By the way the 383 was gone in '72.

[Purple440]

I had a 318 in my 71 Charger years ago, and my roommate kept up with me in his Chevrolet Cavalier (early 90's).  It was a stock 2bbl 318...broomstick cam and 2:91 gears, 727 trans (original 383 car).   I put an Eddy intake and carb on and it didn't make any difference.  Being 18 an new to muscle cars, I didn't know any better.

If you stick with the 318, sure you can up the horse power, but you'll never have the torque of the 440.  You have a heavy car, so you need a big engine.  Torque rules!

Good luck rat1209, either way the guys on this site will help you get the most of whatever engine you decide to go with.