The only one I care to talk about is my 1972 Plymouth Duster... may she rest in peace.

Came with a 318 V8, 2-bbl carb, 3-speed automatic, single exhaust.

The main timing gear on it was a composite material, not metal. So, first thing I did was rip out the radiator and flush it. While that was out, I pulled the water pump and fuel pump, then replaced the timing gears and chain with double-rollers. New water pump and new fuel pump on, put the radiator back in... then I redid the belt system. Nice and tight.

Baby had a minor chain whine at that point. I love that sound.

Then... well... Took the whole engine out.

Put in a mild cam, new torque converter, headers, dual exhaust with Hush Thrush mufflers, Offenhauser intake manifold, Carter 4-bbl carb. Car sounded MEAN. Guys in their Camaros with 325's were scared of me. Mustangs wouldn't get near me.

I blew away this guy driving a 68 or 69 Firebird with a 350. (I just think he was a bad driver.) He nearly crapped his pants when I told him... "It's just a little 318!"

Of course, with the cam... I was probably pulling in 360 stats.

Put some nice Centerline wheels on it too.

If I had to do it over again, I wouldn't have bothered with the headers. They were a bitch around the steering column and dropped too low. They wound up getting scraped going in and out of driveways.