Pacemaker Boat Owners Association

I know that I sound like an advertisment but go on line and look up Rapido Marine. I bought my reman long block from them for $1500- + $150 for shipping. (350 chevy) I was very satisfied with their work and (knock on wood) have had no problems with it. And It came with a 1 year warrenty.

The upgrade to the larger motor should be a basic "bolt-in" swap, but I believe that the 273, 318 and 340 were internally balanced engines while the 360 was externally balanced. This means that you'll need to change the flywheel as a minimum, assuming that the core engine is purchased with a damper.

I'd be carefull of building an engine for "low end power", the engine shop may put together something with a sweet idle that's rolling off by 3,000 RPM, an "RV" motor. You want a good idle of course but you also want to be putting out strong and efficient numbers at your intended cruise (~3,300) and WFO (~4,200) RPMs.

The 360 will come with heads that have larger ports and valves that will breath better than those that we on the 318 motor. It's also a motor designed for use with unleaded fuels so it will have hardened valve seats from the factory. You shouldn't have to pay more than $150 or so for a good donor motor if you're going the "custom" engine shop route.

Cheers, Mark

Thanks for the Input. I was looking at Rapido Marine, they have good prices but I didn't know how their work was. A straight bolt up would be nice, I might just go for a 360 long block. My local machine shop wanted 2500.00 to just redo my 318 and he wasn't even going to work it. So I think I'll just up the engine size and call it a day. I love Chrysler and the manifolds and risers are all fairly new.

Steve, Rapido is all they claim to be. And they are straight up on the shipping as well. I am in Maine and they shipped it here for the $150- as advertised. A bit more if you have it delivered to your house.

I am new to Pacemakers but well informed in small blocks, IMO keep your 318.

One engine mount location is differant, intake and exhaust ports are larger the 318 intake and exhaust manifold will bolt on but to take advantage of the 360 you will need a 360 intake and exhuaust manifolds and as stated before 360 is externally balanced so you will need a flex plate/fly wheel for your transmission weighted for a 360.

I think you would be disappointed by the small differance in power after the additional work and money you must invest to install a 360.

A 318 can produce quite a bit of power but I have no idea of proper cam profile (power delivery)
there must be info online for marine 318s for a HP/Torque increase.

Just my opinion