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Dodge LA 318 2-bbl, Electronic Lean Burn specs: 318 ci (5.2L) 8-cylinder, 3.909 x 3.311 in (99.3 x 84.1 mm) bore and stroke. Rated 145 hp, 1977.
The Dodge LA 318 2-bbl, Electronic Lean Burn is oversquare — the 3.9094" bore exceeds the 3.311" stroke by 18.1% — a layout that favors airflow and RPM over leverage at the crank. The 3.311" stroke does not reach 4,000 ft/min of mean piston speed until about 7,250 RPM, so piston speed is not what limits this engine's revs — valvetrain and breathing are. A rod ratio of 1.849 is long by production standards — less side-load on the cylinder wall and gentler piston acceleration around TDC, the geometry that tolerates high RPM. Each of the 8 cylinders displaces 39.8 ci (651 cc).
It is one of 15 engines in the Dodge 318ci family, all of them 318 ci — the differences between them are in compression, heads and rating, not displacement.
| Displacement | 318 ci / 5.2 L |
|---|---|
| Bore | 3.9094" |
| Stroke | 3.311" |
| Cylinders | 8 |
| Configuration | V8 |
| Compression ratio | 8.5–8.6:1 (published figures vary) |
| Rod length | 6.123" |
| Rod ratio | 1.849 |
| Bore/stroke ratio | 1.181 |
| Block material | cast iron |
|---|---|
| Head material | cast iron |
| Valvetrain | OHV |
| Fuel type | gas |
| Firing order | 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 |
| Advertised HP | 145 hp |
| Years | 1977 |
| Year | Version | HP @ rpm | Torque @ rpm | Comp. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | net | 145 @ 4000 | — | — |
Factory specification sheet.
| Bore/stroke character | 1.181 — oversquare — bore exceeds stroke, which favours higher RPM and larger valves |
|---|---|
| Mean piston speed at 6,000 RPM | 3,311 ft/min — conservative for a street engine |
| Rod ratio | 1.849 — long — less side loading on the cylinder wall, favours high RPM |
| Displacement per cylinder | 39.8 ci |
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