Any love for a 373 SB

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K.O. SWINGER

K.O. SWINGER

Meeting in the alley since 1976
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How do you feel about the old 373 build? Which is the old 340 block with a 360 stroke crankshaft. It's one of my favorites I just love the bore stroke ratio ,piston speed and other dynamics of the combo. It is falling out of Grace with the low cost 4 in strokers what's your opinion?
 
just got done with building mine turned out good perfect torque and horse power can't wait for spring .
 
Cheap Chinese cranks has fostered a new found love for dump truck like torque curves.

I think the availability of a big bore SBM at a reasonable price would turn that around. If I had realized I would spend over $2k on machine work rebuilding my 360 block I would have built a Ritter block with a big bore, small mains/ rod journals and bought the used mega $$$ NASCAR crank I found for $600...
 
Hot Rod Magazine did an article on the car "Hoover's Mover" (The notchback Barracuda was owned by Tom Hoover.) and the 360 used OEM low compression 340 pistons. This was done before the availability of readily available, off-the-shelf performance 360 pistons. The piston tops were actually milled & beveled to get clearance and the compression to be livable with the 3.58" stroke. The wrist pin bosses were machined and skirts were cut down to provide clearance for the 360 crank counterweights. I have the article buried somewhere in my house. It has a lot more tech info, including heads, intake, cam, etc. I'll look for it when I have time but can't guarantee I'll find it. It was an inspirational article in my younger years.

It was the Feb. 1976 issue of Popular Hot Rodding if anybody can find a copy. Now I just gotta find my original.

FEB 1976 POPULAR HOT RODDING SUPER STREET ACTION ISSUE | #94114359
 
Locomotion said:
Hot Rod Magazine did an article on the car "Hoover's Mover" (The notchback Barracuda was owned by Tom Hoover.) and the 360 used OEM low compression 340 pistons. This was done before the availability of readily available, off-the-shelf performance 360 pistons. The piston tops were actually milled & beveled to get clearance and the compression to be livable with the 3.58" stroke. The wrist pin bosses were machined and skirts were cut down to provide clearance for the 360 crank counterweights. I have the article buried somewhere in my house. It has a lot more tech info, including heads, intake, cam, etc. I'll look for it when I have time but can't guarantee I'll find it. It was an inspirational article in my younger years.

It was the Feb. 1976 issue of Popular Hot Rodding if anybody can find a copy. Now I just gotta find my original.

FEB 1976 POPULAR HOT RODDING SUPER STREET ACTION ISSUE | #94114359
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Yes that's the old school way, and from what I remember they were total runners.
 
EddieSketti said:
i posted 340 roller engine last friday. didn't know when i started the build what i was getting into don't know if i would recommend going don't the roller road with a 340.
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Yes I'm sure you'll end up with a awesome power plant but in my opinion a 340 or 373 leans itself more towards a solid lift camshaft setup. At least that will be the route that I take.
 
i also have a fresh 340 based 371 looking for a new home.I built it for my Dart but the stock 340 in it works great and i can't bring myself to tear it apart.
Covid 19 has made decent projects very hard to find!
 
So, is it a turn the mains on a 360 crank deal? What pistons would you use? I know you can make a 349 by putting a 360 crank in a 318 block, and monkeying with Silvolite pistons. I had considered a 349 for my Barracuda, but if the same deal with a 340 block is do-able? :)
 
K.O. SWINGER said:
How do you feel about the old 373 build? Which is the old 340 block with a 360 stroke crankshaft. It's one of my favorites I just love the bore stroke ratio ,piston speed and other dynamics of the combo. It is falling out of Grace with the low cost 4 in strokers what's your opinion?
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A 4.040" bore and 3.58" stroke makes 367.1 CID
 
K.O. SWINGER said:
Yes I'm sure you'll end up with a awesome power plant but in my opinion a 340 or 373 leans itself more towards a solid lift camshaft setup. At least that will be the route that I take.
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I would for sure and you'll be happy and save a ton of money and have a bad *** 340 block
 
JDMopar said:
So, is it a turn the mains on a 360 crank deal? What pistons would you use? I know you can make a 349 by putting a 360 crank in a 318 block, and monkeying with Silvolite pistons. I had considered a 349 for my Barracuda, but if the same deal with a 340 block is do-able? :)
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Any 360 piston that is the bore you need....KB 107 are available....KB 741 are available....

We have a 360 .070 with a stock 3.58 crank......has gone 10.46 in 71 Dart....but it is a back up engine now
 
JDMopar said:
So, is it a turn the mains on a 360 crank deal? What pistons would you use? I know you can make a 349 by putting a 360 crank in a 318 block, and monkeying with Silvolite pistons. I had considered a 349 for my Barracuda, but if the same deal with a 340 block is do-able? :)
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It would be a forged 340 main 360 stroke with 80 over 360 Pistons not cheap but great mix.icon makes over counter pistons build to spray.
 
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Hmmmm? Maybe I'll turn the mains down on that 360 crank sittin in the floor, stick it in my .030 over 273 block. "Rollin....in my 5.0! Ice, ice baby!" :realcrazy:

:rofl:
 
I still got 2 340 main 3.58 stroke cranks in their boxes. from MP ......
 
K.O. SWINGER said:
How do you feel about the old 373 build? Which is the old 340 block with a 360 stroke crankshaft. It's one of my favorites I just love the bore stroke ratio ,piston speed and other dynamics of the combo. It is falling out of Grace with the low cost 4 in strokers what's your opinion?
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It falls out of grace on two fronts.
New crank costs are basically the same. Which Leeds to the second reason....
The longer 4.0 (or greater stroke cranks minus there extra expense) add more cubic inches which is of course more power. Enter the piston price in some cases and the 4.0 stroke crank set up in total is cheaper.
(My additional response below)
70aarcuda said:
I still got 2 340 main 3.58 stroke cranks in their boxes. from MP ......
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I have a forged 3.58/340 main crank as well.
Still need to sonic check a couple of 340 blocks.
Looking very forward to this combo. Locomotion mentioned an early article put out in the Hoover build. I remember the first time I read that and thought it was an awesome idea I just had to try out.
 
Rotating srtroker assembly kit prices for 372 or 408/416 are similarly priced.If you are on a budget and
are using stock iron heads the 408 will be held back, but will make good torque and may be a
better fit for a B body or truck.The 372 would be a better match with reworked stock heads.Similarly prepped with iron heads i'm betting the 372 would be
quicker on the street.
 
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