72 Charger 318 Recommendations?

[Flash]

Have a 72 Charger that I have been slowly restoring and enjoying a long the way! I would like to give it a little more go.

Currently has an Edelbrock AVS 2, 340 Intake (3462848), long tube headers, 2.5 dual exhaust.

My plans next are to add a fuel pressure regulator and gauge to give consistent pressure from the engine driven pump and install a AF sensor and Carb Cheater.

After that what would be my next setup? Get it tuned on a dyno, maybe some ignition/timing tuning?

Appreciate any thoughts on next setups, budget being a focus!

 

[DeltaV]

Currently has an Edelbrock AVS 2, 340 Intake (3462848), long tube headers, 2.5 dual exhaust.

budget being a focus!

You're done already!!!

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My plans next are to add a fuel pressure regulator and gauge to give consistent pressure from the engine driven pump and install a AF sensor and Carb Cheater.

Sounds like a waste of money to me for a 318.

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What camshaft do you have?
What distributor do you have?
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What would I do? I would change the rear axle ratio... something between 3.2 and 3.5 even if it means changing out the entire rear axle assembly.

 

[R413]

Rear end gears are huge on a low torque engine. Going from 2.7 to 3.23 is a great improvement.

 

[Flash]

You're done already!!!

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Sounds like a waste of money to me for a 318.

______________________________________
What camshaft do you have?
What distributor do you have?
______________________________________

What would I do? I would change the rear axle ratio... something between 3.2 and 3.5 even if it means changing out the entire rear axle assembly.

Thanks for the reply!

I already had the carb cheater, figure regulator and gauge were not much more. Along with the mods that have already been done, figured most can be used if I ever go with a larger engine.

Believe camshaft is stock, but don't really know. Besides disassembly is there even a way to check? Same for distributor, believe it is stock.

Wasnt think about gears, something I'll definitely need to look at!

 

[WileERobby]

A budget and a 318 ain't gonna get you far. As mentioned, a gear swap would probably get you the best bang for the buck at this point.

 

[#41]

You are never going to be satisfied with the giddyup on a 318, 2 ton car. Spending any money on this 318 is against your principal of doing things on a budget. Your actual best long-term budget build is to keep this car at the mild street driver level, enjoy it, and save your pennies for a big block swap or building a small block stoker. If you just gotta upgrade something, then an 8-3/4 axle with 3.55 gears would serve a purpose now, and be there for when you take the next step.

 

[OMTWF-72SE]

I had a 318 '72 SE and I can't think of ANY reason to dyno that combo. I went from a 2bbl ac car to a 4bbl and it was just enough to get out of its own way with 3.55s. But back to 2.76s and a 2bbl we drove it in August from Phx to Vegas no problems. Think Ricardo Monteban not Ricky Bobby.

 

[Darter6]

maybe some ignition/timing tuning?

With what you have now as far as intake carb and exhaust,Adjusting timing with more advance will give some gains.

a gear swap

You most likely have 2.76 ratio, common with a 318 2 bbl in 1972.
As stated above a 3.23 or 3.55 is a good streetable ratio.
Look up member 318willrun posts. He has some good advise.
I have been down the same road as you. Do what your budget will allow
One more thing The Edelbrock AVS2 and all AFB type carbs do not like fuel pressure above 5 psi.
Your stock fuel pump should be fine at 3-4 psi. So a regulator is up to you.

 

[YY1]

What's a "carb cheater"?

Have you considered a 5.9 magnum swap?

About 150 HP gain if the stock cam is kept, and basically the equivalent of a 72 400 4 barrel.

 

[toolmanmike]

I just deleted a long paragraph (short story) about how to hot rod a 318. There have been volumes written about the subject here and libraries written about 318 performance mods over att FABO. There's no reason for me to take a morning to regurgitate what has already been written.

 

[Flash]

I just deleted a long paragraph (short story) about how to hot rod a 318. There have been volumes written about the subject here and libraries written about 318 performance mods over att FABO. There's no reason for me to take a morning to regurgitate what has already been written.

Hey thanks for the reply, not looking for anyone to "take a morning". Was just curious what the next step would be?

Ive read some articles and most just list everything they have done. So was just trying to figure out what my next step would be. Sounds like I should focus on gears next and research some more on the 318.

 

[toolmanmike]

THere is a

Hey thanks for the reply, not looking for anyone to "take a morning". Was just curious what the next step would be?

Ive read some articles and most just list everything they have done. So was just trying to figure out what my next step would be. Sounds like I should focus on gears next and research some more on the 318.

318 performance recommendations can become a rabbit hole quickly. As an example, here is 7 pages of threads with just the words "318 cam" in the title over on FABO. Like Darter6 mentioned above, check out 318willrun over at FABO. He has a lot of threads and a active Youtube channel about 318 performance. I have always recommended 4 barrel and intake,dual exhaust, distributor advance curve, headers, rear gears, cam and compression or compression and then cam. Then a converter and rear gears to make the cam work. There is no magic combination, just some common sense and what works with your plan for the car and your pocketbook.

 

[YY1]

...and the sad part about those 437 pages on "cams for a 318" is that no one ever actually reccomends a cam.

At least not one that's useable with other stock or relatively stock equipment and provides a modest or noticeable increase in performance.

Typical end results are-
45%- dont bother replacing the stock .400 lift cam.
45%- you need a .600 lift cam, a 3500 stall converter and 3.91 gears to see any improvement in a 318 (or install a 360 or a stroker)
10%- do your own math/research because no one here has the time (but we had the time to do the .600 lift cam and converter/gear math a hundred different times)