Anyone up on Dodge History

It has a 318 Heavy Duty badge on the front and its apprently the original motor, while compared to a Big dieso in a truck its a small motor but for a petrol V8 it takes up alot of space, anyone have any recollections of Noel Buntines trucks running around the top end.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by UncleHo

G'day Graceysdad :)

The Fireball was a marketing name from memory, heavy duty was, I think, 4 bolt mains, hardened conrods, and generally heavier duty materials, also a better quality heavy duty coil and distributor. standard 318 V8 was that fiffed to Chrysler Royals, Dodge Phoenix sedans and small 2-4 ton trucks,the HD was in 575,675 and 10 series.:)

cheers

---

Ah yes, the three Chrysler Royal models, totally unique to Australia, designed from Canadian 56 Plymouths. :D

Cheers

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by UncleHo

G'day Graceysdad :)

The Fireball was a marketing name from memory, heavy duty was, I think, 4 bolt mains, hardened conrods, and generally heavier duty materials, also a better quality heavy duty coil and distributor. standard 318 V8 was that fiffed to Chrysler Royals, Dodge Phoenix sedans and small 2-4 ton trucks,the HD was in 575,675 and 10 series.:)

cheers

---

They had nitrided cranks also. The 360 and 318 would only vary marginally in weight as they are they same engine family. Different stroke I think. I can't understand how an earlier post calls them bulky as they are not. They have a smaller outline than a Chev. small block and are a little bit lighter. The 340TA was developed by Chrysler for the Trans Am series in the early seventies. It had four bolt mains, steel main caps, a heat treated 4340 crank, better rods, heads, rocker gear, a tin alloy block casting and so on. American industry led the world in foundry technology then and these thin wall iron castings are a classic example. These are an excellent engine family for repowers being able to fit in most places that had British or Euro engines with their design philosophy of long, high, and heavy. Go real good in Jaguars. With the weight loss from the front end you can remove the power steering, and have to reset the front springs down to standard ride height.

In a truck the 318 is a pimple on a pumpkin but under the bonnet of a valiant, its a big motor, I should have made that clearer sorry,