360 cheap-o build

nm9stheham said
The above is correct.... the KB's are about 110 grams lighter with the pins than stock, and will call for a rebalance. H116CP's are close to the KB's and piston+pin weight is very close to the stock weights: i.e., no re-balance.

Either piston will push your Static CR up into the mid to upper 9's; you can select the head gasket to tune it to the level you want/need. Speaking of which: What are you going to be doing with this engine? Street? Strip? Towing? Paperweight? LOL

Thanks for the advice on the pistons. I will look into that. Those are the same pistons I believe went into my Dad's 360 back in 2001ish. Never had any problems.

Speaking of balance. . . I know its good but I surely don't understand the process whatsoever. Any experts here care to explain? I grasp that the rods and pistons are all touched up so that they weigh the same, but what exactly is done to the crank?

This engine will be going in my 1973 Duster as a somewhat temporary engine until I can afford to build a W2'd 360. It will also help me learn the car at the strip, this is going to be my very first muscle car as an adult. My last experience with any Mopar was 15yrs ago when I was 16, and even then, Dad was smart enough not to let a kid drive his 1970 Challenger much. The very long tern goal is to put this engine into our 1966 Dart 4dr in place of the smoking slant 6 that is in there now, when my daughter is old enough to drive (she is only a year and a half right now, hehe)