How much of a boost is a 390 over a 318?
I dont need a huge load of power for the truck, just more then it has now.
Do you think i would be better off just doing the 318?
Heads, cam, intake, headers, new exhaust, a little more beef in the fuel dept.
Anybody got some good recomendations on the above items for the 318?
If i decide to stroke a motor, i am going to do a 360, but i think i will be happy with a 318 for now.
here's where you weigh your options...if you do the 318, but dont wanna get into payin so much for a stroker crank for it, just have it bored out and use the stock crank and rods with some .030 over pistons. build the rest with aftermarket parts without going too extreme. examples: P&P heads(gonna have to stick with stockers unless you wanna pay for some eddies or r/ts), M1 intake, rr's, cam, exhaust, headers, bigger injectors, and bigger TB. doing all that will make a very considerable difference in power and is pretty well within budget for an overhauled engine with more power in mind.
or you could do a 360 to a 408. IF you can get a good price on a 360 this might be cheaper in the long run. have it bored .030 over, you can get a complete balanced rotating assembly for around $1000 (from what i've seen, but i havent looked around in 3 years...thats cast crank and rods...forged is more). again, you can get a P&P on the heads you have or save your pennies for eddies or r/t's. get rr's and pushrods, decent headers with a nice flowing exhaust, a mild street friendly cam, M1 intake (used ones on here have been had for around $300), injectors, etc.....
it really comes down to budget. a 408 is cheaper for the ratio of power to money spent. another factor is what are you wanting out of it? just more power for daily driving, something you can play on the track with on weekends, or an all out beast that will get your heart out of rythm when you go WOT? also, with a 408, you can build it slowly while having a brand new bottom end in it. as long as your heads will flow good enough for the cam you will be able to pace yourself with it while being able to drive it in the meantime....same thing with the 318, but you'll be spending more on a bottom end for it if you dont wanna use the stock crank and rods b/c of the odd journal size of the mains. think about what you really want, decide, and do your homework and you'll be alot better off financially. and if you just want a little more power than you do now, the 318 can do that stock with some heads, exhaust, intake, rr's, and damn good tune. weigh all your options and you'll be golden. good luck.
