My 11/1 LA360 with a Hughes 230* cam and stock crank and rods is every bit as reliable as any stocker ever was. And it goes 93..... in the 1/8th...at 3650#. With a little less cam you wouldn't know it was hopped up. It has over 100,000 miles on it now, and has been pumping air since 1999.
The first point is; if you have to rebuild something, it might as well be a 360 with at least 350 to 400 hp. With high compression and tight squish, she can make great SBM torque,power and make some terrific hiway fuel-mileage too. And when you lean on it, stuff happens.......
And the second point is;don't let let yourself be lulled into thinking that a stock engine is somehow more reliable than a performance combo. At typical street power levels, this is seldom an issue. Our SBMs can easily handle one to one point two hp/cid for 100,000 miles, or more.
If you go 360, you "might as well"upgrade the auto to a 71 up unit which has most all the important upgrades Then the modern TC selection is wide open. But I suppose your 65 has the push-buttons.Then I can understand your wanting to keep it.In which case, a 360HO is probably gonna kill it.
And of course, at 350/400 hp, you will need to be kind to the 7.25er.
But I gottasay, if you really want to keep that tranny and the 7.25er, perhaps a low-comp teener is a safe bet.On the other hand a 250hp 360 is easy,peasy, and then your car has a future.
