I have a lean burn 318 2bl. What is the best way to get more power out of this cruiser? I just got a 9.25 rear with a set of 3.55 (posi) installed already. I have a set of Hooker or Dynomax ceramic coated headers 2.5 inch duals. What wold be the best heads/cam/intake/carb to put on the car? I don't want to get into building a new motor if I have to a buddy of mine has a 70000 E 58 360 that has been in storage for 7 years for $500 was running when pulled. My 318 is the original low compression motor it was born with. Just wanting a little more fun and power. Thanks love your magazine been reading it for 10-12 years now. Mike  

Get rid of the lean burn crap.
For 318 the 302 fast burn heads are decent when ported if u can find ones that aren't cracked otherwise w2 heads , intake Ld4b or edelbrock dual w2 manifold. 600-650cfm
Complete MSD ignition on the exhaust go 2 1/4 unless you got a lot more gear.  

w-2 heads? here we go again .the guy wants cheap. need more info on what kinda hp ya wanna make  

start with the 360  

Since this is a cruiser And I might take it down the track once a year at Monster Mopar, I would say around 300HP.(with the 318) I already have the exhaust set up on the car (2.5 inch) If it saw 14.99 quater times I would be very happy. I want to get some respect when driving this car.  

Then port your heads & install 1.88-1.60 valves and put comp 268* cam in it.
I threw the w2 heads @ ya cause when it comes to [bolt ons] nothing gives you more bang for your buck than 'airflow'.  

airflow requires compression  

And a running engine too......................

Initiation of 'air flow' from valve does require good signal from the piston.
So ideally u want the piston to be as close to the valve as possible, thereby getting that signal to the valve, [saying alright, low pressure, now send it in] pulling on it giving quicker initiation airflow and more complete fill of the cylinder.

Restricter plate racing 101   - look for cheats guys used to do like raising comp to 18.1  pulling way more than 390 outta those '390'cfm carbs running 600-800cfm rated metering blocks they played timing games along with gianormous cam fiddling, till the rules got way more specific.  

correct,and the best way to get this is with compression and a fast ramping cam.an engine is basically an airpump and the more compression, aka swept volume,or air fills the cylinders faster.swept volume aka compression, fills the cylinders faster .on the upswing the valve with more compression and a faster ramp will open the valves and the aggressive ramp cam will open them much quicker,on the downstroke this will also close the valve faster.valves opening and closing at a faster rate fill volume will give more hp .you have to maintain a minimun valve to head clearance as when you set your valve to piston clearances too close you run the risk of insufficient clearance of piston to head. also,carbon over time will reduce these clearances, so its best to go by the application as fas as valve to piston and piston to head clearances,just set the minimum for the application. imo  

caught a 70 lb yellowfin tuna yesterday morning, tuna steak and mustard for lunch.mm good