340, 360 or 408

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carcrazyguy

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It is time to make up my mind on the motor for my project. I have a 340 block and a 360 block. The car will not be a strip car, just a cruise night and Sunday driver. The Duster is setup for an automatic and will not have power brakes or A/C. I will run 93 or better gas all the time. I would like to have something that could run say mid 12's, just in case I do decide to make a trip to the the track. Which would be the best way to get there?
 
Stroke the 340, it has a bigger bore which means you can get more cubes:cheers:
 
That has been mentioned by the machine shop. I am trying to decide where to spend the money....stroker kit or better heads. I know they go hand in hand but my build (checkbook) will not allow for both. I have a set of J heads to use if needed but might go aluminium if don't go the stroker route.
 
416 vs 408 not much advantage....i would use the 360 block and keep the 340 block for future use or sale.

stroke the short block..and use the J heads....it is easier to replace the head at a later date..
 
If it's going to be a street car then it would probably be easier to just put a stroker crank in it now and get the heads later. You should still be able to make 350-375 HP (at the crank), depending on cam, compression, and intake. It's a lot easier to swap heads with the engine in the car than it is a crankshaft... lol
 
It is easier to bolt on heads later than put in the stroker kit later. You could try porting the j heads yourself if you want
 
carcrazyguy said:
It is time to make up my mind on the motor for my project. I have a 340 block and a 360 block. The car will not be a strip car, just a cruise night and Sunday driver. The Duster is setup for an automatic and will not have power brakes or A/C. I will run 93 or better gas all the time. I would like to have something that could run say mid 12's, just in case I do decide to make a trip to the the track. Which would be the best way to get there?
Click to expand...
360. can't beat cubes. then put a 280*+ cam/intake/headers/mill the heads .010"/trw flat tops/2500 stall tc/3.91~4.10~4.30 gears.
old skool. it'll get the 12's you looking for.
 
70aarcuda said:
416 vs 408 not much advantage....i would use the 360 block and keep the 340 block for future use or sale.

stroke the short block..and use the J heads....it is easier to replace the head at a later date..
Click to expand...

That's the plan I'd go with. That'd make for a nice docile cruiser/bruiser. I know a fellow with a 69 Dart and a stroker with J heads and it runs 12.40's so J heads will work ok when prepped right. But remember that if your J heads need a full rebuild you will spend as much on them as a brand new set of Indy/RHS or EQ heads will cost you and they'll out perform stock J heads hands down right out of the box.

360Z28 said:
360. can't beat cubes. then put a 280*+ cam/intake/headers/mill the heads .010"/trw flat tops/2500 stall tc/3.91~4.10~4.30 gears.
old skool. it'll get the 12's you looking for.
Click to expand...

That'll get you there too but I have to say 3.91/4.10/4.30 gears sure aren't very cruising friendly gears.
 
70aarcuda said:
416 vs 408 not much advantage....i would use the 360 block and keep the 340 block for future use or sale.

stroke the short block..and use the J heads....it is easier to replace the head at a later date..
Click to expand...

X2...the extra torque from the stroker is NICE for the street.
 
Wait a little longer save a little more money and then stroke the 340 out to a 416 and put some ported E-brocks on it.
 
I am in a similar situation. I have a running but wornout 340 with X heads in my dart now and a 360 shortblock sitting in the barn. I plan on selling the 340 to someone who is looking for a 340 for his 340 car or to someone that just has to have a 340 w/ X heads and is willing to pay for it.

I plan on taking that money and putting it towards a stroker kit for the 360. Not going to build anything too radical, because it will be used for the same purpose as yours. I do plan on spending some extra money on the Edelbrock heads and having someone go through them first. Run a little higher compression and still be pump gas friendly.

Good luck with your build and let us know how it turns out!
 
Thanks for the ideas and keep them coming. I am waiting to hear back from the machine shop. Here is my rough draft......

408 (10:1 ????)
J heads
274 comp cam
M1 intake
MSD distributor
TTI headers
2500 stall


I am sure that is not the final plan just thinking out loud here. I know there are many people that have built these small blocks in most every combo thought of. That is why I am posting so I can get input.
 
carcrazyguy said:
Thanks for the ideas and keep them coming. I am waiting to hear back from the machine shop. Here is my rough draft......

408 (10:1 ????)
J heads
274 comp cam
M1 intake
MSD distributor
TTI headers
2500 stall


I am sure that is not the final plan just thinking out loud here. I know there are many people that have built these small blocks in most every combo thought of. That is why I am posting so I can get input.
Click to expand...


Use Dougs headers. They fit the same as TTI's but cost less.
 
I know a guy that'll argue with you till the ends of the earth on that one Burnt. But they do fit nice.

I think every one has a great idea and theres certainly no shortage going on.

I beileve it will be easy stuff to run 12's on a standard 360 and without that much cam or stall to do it.

IF you have the money to stroke it (Not needed for 12's at all) then stroke it now and add heads later. The 340 block will yeild more money to fund the project if you decide not to keep it.
 
There nice. And no, they do not hang down under the steering front end parts and get smashed easy.
 
If you only want to run 12s and dont want to spend much then just put some kb 107s in the 360 with a good cam such as the lunati voodoo or the comp xe high lift,some mild porting on the heads and a rpm air gap.This with 3.55s and traction will get you solidly in the 12s,Ive seen people go 12.70-12.80s with this combo and 3.23s in an a-body,it doesnt take much.If you think your going to want to run 12.0s/11s later on with street gears then go stroker since like others said you can change the heads easier.
 
Use the 360 and keep the factory crank if you want to run those numbers with those parts. If you go 4" stroke... go bigger on the cam and carb.
 
I like the idea of stroking the 360 and using the J head. You can get a nice factory 2.02 head from Indy (Aerohead) for very little. I`d use a dual plane intake like one of the Edelbrock Performers since it`s a street car and a stout solid cam. Maybe a 770 Avenger to cap it off. This would make a very streetable 12 second car.
 
I went with a stroked 360. Not that I had the luxury of a choice of using a 340, though. I figured it was the easiest way to make the power that I wanted, and get into the 12's.

I'm still undecided on the heads, but probably Eddy's.

Good luck with whichever route you choose. Both are good, have fun with it.
 
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