For performance WITH economy, IMO, overdrive levels the playing field especially with a hi torque,long-stroke, SBM. To me that means an A500 with a 360 and say 4.30s so you can hit 60 at the top of second; and still cruise at 65=2400.
The longer 3.58 stroke will let you run one size bigger cam before losing bottom-end. A 360 also lets you use a cam one size smaller for more bottom end, or one size smaller rear gear, for lower hiway rpm; compared to the shorter stroke family.
>Manuals suck in snow and ice, especially with a lowered front end. Yet I ran one for many years. I keep a tow-rope in the trunk, and welded a hook on the front.
However, a manual will let you hit 60 at the top of second with 3.73s to 3.91s, whereas an auto might require 4.88s..
>I got excellent hiway mileage with a 223/230/110 cam in a 360 with a manual trans and overdrive at 65=1600,just saying; and it still went
[email protected] in street-trim in the qtr at 3650# with 3.55s. I bored mine to 4.04 and called it my little 340 stroker.
In a lighter weight like you are contemplating, it wouldda been even sweeter. Then again, 300pounds less would make a non-360 do ok.
>Course with 4.30s you could run a stock 5.2 or even a a stock LA. or a 340 done up with a small cam; oh heck with 4.30s you can run whatever and have a really great time. Just try not to do it with a 3.09 low MT and a 360,lol unless you love tirespin and don't mind shifting before you get across the intersection. Yeah/no that wasn't my finest decision,lol..............Couldda been awesome at the track tho........
>360s have many,many piston options, and 2.02 heads fit pretty good..
>The A500 overdrive lets you run pretty much any rear gear you want. It's more than just one extra gear. It can actually function sorta like a 5.5 speed. You can run a hi-stall, and vastly increase your starting line power thru the internal Torque Multiplication which automatically decreases as the car gains speed, then you have the 3 regular gears. Then comes overdrive. And finally comes Loc-up, dropping another half-gear or so.
>
If you really want a manual, then my recommendation is for the 3.09-1.92-1.40-1.00 model WITH a GVOD behind it, wired for gear splitting, and 3.23s out back. This will cruise 65=2034. The starter is 9.98 and you can hit 60@5800 in first/OD.
Spitting first and second you get ratios of 3.09-2.41-1.92-1.50 and splits of .78-.80-.78...... and 1.50 ratio will get you 96mph@5800 . If you do this with a 360 and a small cam this is pie, and the cruise rpm will be a pleasure while returning excellent economy.
You could do this with a 340 but it will need a bit more cam and won't make the mileage. But it might trap a lil faster.
You could do this with a 318 but it will take more cylinder pressure,more cam, and better heads.
With the above philosophy,I have been able to coax my small-cam 367 iteration into the 30s mpgUs, with overdrive;point to point. But my 360 does not do well in town. Guess why,lol. Cuz it's so dang much fun to wind it up all the time!!