Warmed-over 360+16 year old=too much?
It really comes down to your son. Having built the car with you, there tends to be that appreciation for time and money involved in getting something on the street.
My first car was a very salty 440. I drove it then like I drive it today. You'll always have people wanting to race you etc, avoid the stupid situations and you are golden.
If you feel good about him you should be fine with the 360. You can get into trouble with a mild build, but it isn't like your sticking him in a Viper. It sounds like he values the car and there are some people, at any age, that use that logic to base their decisions around.
Good luck!
Thanks! I would love to build him something that just sounds badass, but...I know he would want to test the limits sometimes, or even just play around a little and go sideways on a back road. I know he will do that anyway, regardless of what engine he has lol. I just know that the more power it has, the quicker it can get out of control, and land him in a ditch, into another car, or worse. I guess I am a worrier, and I want to try to lessen some of the chances for something bad.
I even thought of an EFI magnum transplant, and using the computer to limit the timing lol. Or an MSD box that he doesnt know about, behind the glovebox, with a rev limiter set fairly low, or hiding an adjustable timing knob...lol
I agree. My first car was a 318 3 spd on the floor, no power brakes or steering. I would build a solid 360 for his car and then throttle it back with a two barrel carb. A year or so later, after he's proven he can handle the responsibility, you can swap intakes and carbs. That way you only have to build one engine for it.
I have been thinking about that too. I have a 360 block, and a magnum 318 block. Each one just needs bearings/rings, bores were still nice but I took them apart to inspect them.
Heck, I could build a fun 360 with very little cash outlay right now, just some shopping. Changing my stroker setup, so I have a strip dominator, 251/254 solid cam, 750 dp, j heads, just find some good used flattops, port the heads and put some chevy valves in them, dip/deck/hone the block, etc.
Too bad I need the money for the stroker lol.
