318 poly rebuild

[scout175]

Can a machine shop get everything they need to do a pong block rebuild of a 318 poly for a 66 Belvedere? What would be the cost of acquiring/installation of a reman LA motor? Which is cheaper?

 

[matthon]

Just a thought.
I looked into rebuilding my 318 poly, then I found/bought a rebuilt 318 poly with 5k on it, then a complete good running original, then another.
At times, there are a number of people swapping a poly for a big block.

 

[R413]

Poly is better than the LA in my book. Expensive to buy performance parts though.

 

[BeatersRus]

seems? like you arent concerned with the originality of the poly,so why not do a Magnum 360 install instead?
at least youll be at 300hp and better headflow and gas mileage,as well as power versus an L A engine.
you can get a good one out of a dodge truck from 94 up,Dirt Cheap,and itll bolt right in,and to your transmission too.

the way i do it,is look around for a used 94-up Running dodge truck that has a bad transmission/Common for this gen/ buy the whole truck strip it,and then scrap it and get most of my money back = free motor.

just a thought,its what a lot of the duster guys have been doing for over ten years now.

 

[PurpleBeeper]

Can a machine shop get everything they need to do a pong block rebuild of a 318 poly for a 66 Belvedere? What would be the cost of acquiring/installation of a reman LA motor? Which is cheaper?

Other factors to consider are your budget and how much of the work will you do yourself? The easiest way is to rebuild what you have and put it back in. Every modification usually requires several other things to make it work right.

 

[j-c-c-62]

Poly is better than the LA in my book. Expensive to buy performance parts though.

The only way a poly IMO holds up here to any comparison is if you have an alum aftermarket intake available for it (they do exist extremely rare and desirable and big bucks), anything else is a deal breaker and performance almost waste of time and money for a nostalgic engine very few want, and that number dwindles every day. There are of course work arounds to everything, like adapter intake wedges for an LS Alum intake, but at the end you only have a dated mid size lowly Frankenstein not light iron head motor ("L" in LA stands for light I am told) that is almost one of kind that cost a bundle that nobody still wants.
You got unlimited time and money and no family that wants to inherit it, go for it you only live once.
We here will be glad to help you spend your money.

 

[66 Sat]

Nothing wrong with a poly, stroke it and you'll have all the power and torque the chassis can handle in a visually appealing engine that is very robust.
Biggest expense will be custom pistons, other than that it's mostly LA series interchangeable.
Intake manifold is the least of your worries, factory 2 barrel can support decent power and my engine with a factory cast iron 4 barrel manifold made 341hp at the rear wheels on the chassis dyno.
The 360 Magnum swap makes the most financial sense, a 440 swap should also be considered but all depends on budget and final use.
If you want something unique and be part of a growing poly cult, then rebuild what you have.

 

[matthon]

Early 325 poly, runs like a top with no power whatsoever, it's fantastic, I mean look at it!

 

[matthon]

Poly in my 64 wagon, someone else spent the $ on a rebuild, runs great, TTI headers, 2 barrel.
It can get out of it's own way no problem.
This thing is great on gas too.

 

[PurpleBeeper]

Can a machine shop get everything they need to do a pong block rebuild of a 318 poly for a 66 Belvedere? What would be the cost of acquiring/installation of a reman LA motor? Which is cheaper?

Here’s a guy selling a 318 Poly dual quad intake. This modification would require 2 carbs, linkage & maybe a throttle cable (?). The cool factor would go WAY up and horsepower would improve as well FOR SALE - Poly 318 Alum Intake 2 x 4 WPD4D

 

[threewood]

The Poly will be more expensive to build and you will still be behind in power to an LA 318 which can be done cheaper.

I built my poly but it is original to the car so I felt the need to keep it. I'm not disappointed at all but money will be better spent with a 318 or 360.

Mine...just added A/C

 

[retractable]

Just had the poly 318 rebuilt for my 64 fury. Original engine with 98000 miles. I have about 300 miles on it before the snow came. Very satisfied with the rebuild.

 

[dvw]

Rebuild the Poly? One of the toughest parts to come by would be the cam. Then pistons aren't in high demand. Stock size valves may be a tough find. The Magnum has been mantioned. But they are all fuel injected so at the least they would need a manifold swap. They are also serpentine belt. I have bolted the LA style water pump/timing chain cover, belt accesories, etc. components onto a LA. Not sure, but the Poly stuff might swap as well. The LA engine would be a good fit. If you are only worried about a good driving motor a 318 LA would be the cheapest. If you wanted more power a 360 LA would also be easy. Depends on what you want. As to the Poly having power. Power is a relative term. A 400+hp Poly isn't going to come cheap. A 200 hp engine isn't what I'd call powerful. I would bet the number of polys that have been to the drag strip even for test and tune could be counted on one hand. Some like the OE look no mattter the cost and hassle. If thats important? Obviously you can rebuild one.
Doug

 

[threewood]

As far as poly cams goes, Schneider Cams in San Diego will regrind a camshaft for you but you need to send them the core.

 

[icetech]

I had that same situation with my car.. i love polys and wanted to keep it original, but the cost and all of that for a poly just didn't make sense.. in the end i got a $300 318 LA and threw it in... parts are easy and if you want to make it have more performance also easy...

 

[j-c-c-62]

I had that same situation with my car.. i love polys and wanted to keep it original, but the cost and all of that for a poly just didn't make sense.. in the end i got a $300 318 LA and threw it in... parts are easy and if you want to make it have more performance also easy...

It just seems with all the hurdles we have in our hobby with our old cars, swimming upstream with this much current with a Poly, an LA solves a lot of issues and it ain't an LS.

 

[icetech]

It just seems with all the hurdles we have in our hobby with our old cars, swimming upstream with this much current with a Poly, an LA solves a lot of issues and it ain't an LS.

yup... Sadly it isn't an LS

 

[Spare Parts]

I got this off a poly site
Thought I would share on this post.

 

[j-c-c-62]

It's now a double a 2 bbl?