Hello everyone - just hooked up to the forum and this is my first post.
I've read through some posts and haven't found any real info on what (if any) mods one can do to increase fuel efficiency to a 77 B200 tradsman camperized van. I have replaced the plugs/wires/distributer cap/rotor/vaccuum lines/pcv/breather/fuel filter. I have a K&N air filter and change the oil regularily.
I was wondering if going to a 4bbl carb/intake manifold (or throttle-body fi) would help if NOT lead-footed (I experienced about a 15% increase in fuel economy with a small block chev doing this). This van is 8' tall and extended - I do keep it around 100kph/hwy. I live in the mountains where most of my travelling occurs and could use some extra HP for climbing as well.
Any ideas would be appreciated.
Cheers
Dodgevanman
07-21-2005, 06:47 AM
Yes, a 4bbl. would probably help you a bit. It will give the engine a bit more power so it's not working so hard through that weezy 2bbl. However on a 318, you can't go too crazy with the size of the 4bbl. because the 318 has small port heads.
I would recommend an Edelbrock Performer intake and an Edelbrock 500cfm carb. w/electric choke. I would also add dual exhaust to help the engine breathe better. With the electric choke you can eliminate the heat riser on the right side exhaust manifold.
jorma
07-25-2005, 06:49 PM
Thanks Dodgevanman - I'll keep an eye out for some parts - I do like the electric choke idea as my stock 2bbl choke has stuck on me a few times forcing me to pop the doghouse and force the butterfly in cooler/wet conditions ... now to fix my Rad - she sprung a leak this weekend and I'm off on a trip Friday - not enough time to swap carb/manifold I'm afraid .... hafta wait till fall
Dodgevanman
07-25-2005, 07:14 PM
If your looking for new parts, Summit Racing has good prices. www.summitracing.com
(I don't work for Summit)
Ram3500Dually
07-25-2005, 07:26 PM
Find a good set of heads from a 340 or 360 and do the intake and carb as was suggested along with a set of headers and true duals and you should be all set with added performance and fuel mileage. Also a taller set of tires on the back will help after you do these mods.
Dodgevanman
07-26-2005, 06:59 AM
Yes that would definitely help...if you do find a set of 340/360 heads than you can get away with a 600cfm carb.
Mopar_Ryan
09-24-2006, 02:51 PM
Sorry to bring this post back up.... But I'm looking for performance mods for my 318 also. Will the 340/360 heads just swap right on or will I have to shave/modify anything? I know where I can find some heads off of a 1986 360 cheap. Do you know the technicalities that I might run into?
Dodgevanman
09-26-2006, 07:18 AM
The '86 360 heads will bolt right on. You may or may not have to plug up emissions holes under the exhaust ports. The '86 heads are a swirl-port design and flow very well.
Mopar_Ryan
09-26-2006, 04:56 PM
Ok. so what about an older set of heads? My truck is an 85' btw. Thanks though.
Ryan
Dodgevanman
09-26-2006, 09:04 PM
On a stock 318 you don't want to go too crazy, but here's a few head choices I dug up that would probably give you some better performance than what you have now.
68-71 340, casting no. 2531894 had 2.02 intake and 1.60 exhaust valve with a CC volume of 63cc's which is same as you have now. The larger valve sizes will allow your 318 to breathe better without sacrificing compression. You don't want the '70 340TA heads because they require adjustable rockers.
Another option would be 71-72 360 heads, casting no. 3418915 with 1.88 intake and 1.60 exhaust valve with a CC volume of 65cc's. This would lower your compression ratio a bit, but increase the amount of air and fuel into the combustion chamber over what you have now.
Either one of these will be an improvement over the weezy 318 heads you have now which only have 1.78 intake and 1.50 exhaust valve sizes. And the fact that the ports on 318 heads are smaller. If you want to add a 4bbl. carb., you should change the heads to either of the ones I mentioned or use the '86 swirl-port heads. I was wrong about the '360 heads being swirl-port heads....this was 318 (car) heads only, but they still burn and flow very well and probably easy to find.
B-300
09-29-2006, 04:23 PM
318, '86 swirl port heads are also "closed chamber"heads with a quench were 360 swirl ports don't have this and are less efficient. The 360 heads are all open chamber until the '94 Magnum engine which is Double quench, similiar to the GM vortec head.
Another option is Edelbrock heads, they are now double quench for improved efficiency.
--B-300--
