318 block casting #'s = 318 race engine?

[rumblefish360]

With the X.

I’m not fully understanding the reply.

But and X appears on the early blocks.
Later replaced with an “R.” Or a R3 embossing.
Mine below.

 

[BeatersRus]

That was the only way to get them or via mail order which was probably directly through the DC program. Perhaps PAW? IDK?

Correct, never in a production vehicle.

It was designed as a “Racing Block” period.
Circle track or drag, it doesn’t matter. The block and the W2 head were made for racing and promoted as racing but never did they say, circle track, nascar or drag.

I’ve had people say different but have never seen it in print or advertisement. Always “race.”

thanks,i didnt do bad considering i pulled that memory from about 35 years ago,reading the Dc catalog and wondering what a race 318 was back Then,lol !!
and,that does make for an interesting question....what Was a 318 race motor designed For ?
was there a specific class? boat races? circle track ?
seems a little bizarre at that time to be designing a small block race engine 318
Unless,another thought,this was the time period when Nascar started whacking our birds and ma mopar was coming up with a small block formula to keep the cars going.
is That how this 318 block got made? foundation for the nascar motors?

 

[rumblefish360]

thanks,i didnt do bad considering i pulled that memory from about 35 years ago,reading the Dc catalog and wondering what a race 318 was back Then,lol !!

Well IMO, you did great! The Ol’Grey matter is good to go!

and,that does make for an interesting question....what Was a 318 race motor designed For ?

Well…. The X block came in multiple bore sizes so you could size it quicker and cheaper. They came in a “Rough bore” at 3.91. So you just gave it a honing and dropped in your 318 sized pistons.

The race blocks were given beefier mains and side walls like the 340 T/A engines. They’re a tougher block than any production block. Designed for big power. Since we know stock small blocks can handle north of 600hp with repeatability, the race block should be seriously considered if your going over 500/550 on a single big e you want to perform over and o er again for a long length of time. Currently, MoPar no longer sells or makes the race block. If you want a new race block, look to “Ritter” for a race block.

was there a specific class? boat races? circle track ?

No, “Race!” Any racing.

seems a little bizarre at that time to be designing a small block race engine 318

Not really when you’re in a class limiting the engine size.
SCCA Racing was one of them. 5 liter max size.

With the as delivered 318 bore size, you could stop earlier than a 340 block which is at 4.04. MoPar used to sell stroker kits. Or parts really. Odd ball crank throws. I have one at 3.45 that uses a 4.03 piston to make a 352 CID engine which fits into the 355 CID limit of a lot of racing bodies rules.

You can not (in the old days) use a small journal crank in the 360. Now there is a place that sells main spacers to use with the small journal crank used in 273, 318 & 340’s.

Unless,another thought,this was the time period when Nascar started whacking our birds and ma mopar was coming up with a small block formula to keep the cars going.

NASCARS CID limit history can be looked up. At the time, it was listed at “5 liter” max size. Off hand, I’m not sure of the exact cubic inch that is but it’s somewhere around 305. So MoPar did t come up with a formula, they came up with a solution to a problem presented to them from NASCAR. Early on, it was a destroked crank. They kept the 4.04 bore of the 340 and used a - *I THINK* - 2.96 stroke crank.

Later on, threw engine testing and racer’s knowledge, different bore and stroke combos worked better on different tracks, so there 3.55 (or less CID engines) expanded with different crank throws.

is That how this 318 block got made? foundation for the nascar motors?

No, the A engine 318 was simply made as a people mover with a rare performance option of a 4bbl. & even a super rare dual quad intake. The 318 “Poly” was the max size the A engine became. IIRC, it started as a 277 CID engine

The “LA” started as a 273, then 318. Basic people movers.

There was no official 318 race engine ever by MoPar. The race block just came in that bore size as well as others but that escapes me at the moment to what they were.

 

[BeatersRus]

my Dude,You Sir,are a veritable Fountain of knowledge.
TYVM !!

ps,the last part there,i was asking more why the 318 race block was even made,not if it had anything to do with production la engines.
you had already answered that with the rough bore design,which makes great sense.
TY again for the Teaching,huge thumbs up to you.

 

[Photon440]

The 318 “Poly” was the max size the A engine became.

With the exception of the 1959 Dodge 326 A-engine with 3.95 bore.

 

[rumblefish360]

Bing! Bing! Bing!

Winner winner!!!!!

I sit corrected and reminded.

 

[RemCharger]

With the exception of the 1959 Dodge 326 A-engine with 3.95 bore.

Agreed

 

[RemCharger]

There was quite a few obscure A engine displacements

 

[TAZZ]

Do you have a link to the info so we can see what you’re seeing and reply accordingly? Otherwise, we’re at a disadvantage.

Mopar Engine Casting Numbers (stockmopar.com)

Mopar Engine Block Casting Numbers (roadkillcustoms.com)

SOLD - 318 (340) race "X" block

And a couple of mopar forums.

 

[TAZZ]

Post pictures of what you have including the mains.

Engine is buttoned up and in the car. It's cold as sh*t here, I'll look later. This coonass ain't made for 19 degree temperatures!

 

[Cranky]

There was quite a few obscure A engine displacements

Was thinking the same thing. Never really researched them but only heard from others. Seems like there was something like a 303 A engine for a short time?? The 326 is news to me lol

 

[pnora]

Mopar Engine Casting Numbers (stockmopar.com)

Mopar Engine Block Casting Numbers (roadkillcustoms.com)

SOLD - 318 (340) race "X" block

And a couple of mopar forums.

So do you have the x on the casting?

 

[TAZZ]

So do you have the x on the casting?

Like I said in post #30, it's 19 degrees here right now. Got water troughs for horses and cows that are iced up and the ice needs to be broken so they can drink before I can get to the car.

 

[TAZZ]

No X on the block that I saw so I assume it's a replacement or warranty 318 block.