My requirements... what to build?
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The A998/2.74 low, was for the 318, to get a reasonable 3.61 type of take off, and still cruise at 65=2600
But you don't need the 2.74 low gear for the 360.
HOWEVER if you have found a 2.94 rear for a good price, that is a good thing.
You see; it's all about the starter-gear. With the A904, the low gear is 2.45. And with 3.23s, that makes a starter of
2.45x3.23=7.91. And with a 7.91 starter, 60mph is 6200rpm in first gear. That required the 223/230 cam. Well it actually wanted the next bigger cam, but your application doesn't want the next bigger cam.
But with 2.94s and the 2.45 low gear, the starter gear is
2.45x2.94=7.20, and that gets you 60=5600, a much better fit for that 223/230 cam. And the bonus is 65=2370@ zero slip. The only difference in this combo, is to up the stall to about 2600 rpm,or even 2800, to get off the line a lil quicker. The 2600 will apply a lil more engine torque, say 10%, to replace the 10% lost by the 3.23s. I like it. For this combo I also like an A998/2.45low loc-up trans. This will let you run a higher than 2400 stall, and not heat up the trans oil so much, during cruise.
Do not get hung up about which third member you can find; ALL of them will be fine on the street. But make sure you put it in with a SureGrip on Day-1; you can't be peg-legging it, and with this 360, it will be hard not to spin the tires. Spend the money today. Skip out on the MSD ignition system that this combo does not need.
360 versus 5.9, on a full rebuild does not matter, except the 5.9 is a roller cam engine. Some guys like the peace of mind of having a roller cam.And Magnum heads as mentioned are pretty good right off the assembly line.
I think somebody mentioned just grabbing a 5.9 take-out engine from the local pickNpull. That is a great idea. For a few hundred dollars you already have a perfect engine for your application. Do the usual tests and if it passes just drop it in as is. Whoever said that, was on the money. I was and am just giving my opinion, as to the combo I would build.
So would you say your plan you laid out is a good street machine and cruiser all in one while still getting reasonable mileage and RPMS at 65 mph?
I drove that engine daily for 4 years loving every second of it. I'm a manual-trans guy, and I tried it with every Mopar trans ratio there is, and finally installed a GVod.
I tried it with almost every rear gear from 2.76s to 5.38s.
I would still be driving it today, if somebody wouldda sent me a memo about taking out the ZDDP in about 2004. It dropped 2 lobes right after an oilchange.IMO, that was a fantastic combo.
I can tell you that I like a cruse rpm of ~2250.
But it's hard to give the engine the timing it wants if you go any slower. And if you can't satisfy her need for timing, then the fuel economy will not be there. IMO 2400 is a sweet place to be.
I could tell you, that in one iteration, it got 32 mpgsUS, but I've been told that is impossible. Well at 2600 it is. But that was a one-time controlled test with a double overdrive, and cruising 65=1530rpm, and with a specially prepared carb. That engine was amazing.
As to scary;If you put a 750DP on the combo I outlined and a 3000TC, yes it can be scary. But in direct proportion to how far you open the throttle,lol. And how skinny your tires are. Once the back is over sideways just a few degrees, you only have microseconds to correct; don't ever think you can ride it out cuz I guarantee you with skinny street tires you cannot. At least not without a lot of practice.The brakes do not work when you are sliding sideways. Trust me!! Get off the gas, ASAP, and hang your head, and live to try it again at another time.
But with a 500 or a 600 vacuum secondary carb,and an automatic, you will be fine; even your Dad will have a hard time to get it into trouble.
At 3650 pounds, mine was only just a 12 second car.
By it's trapspeed of 106, the Wallace makes that to be 335 hp. By it's ET of 12.9 the Wallace says 336hp.That is as good as it gets.
I drove there; made one run; fell over laughing,bought a T-shirt, and went home; 2.5 hours each way.
I'm not telling you that this combo is the best or that you have to build it or else!,lol. You will not offend me if you build something else. What I am saying is that I had a rollicking good time with this combo, and I often miss that 223/230 cam. It did everything I could ever want in a streeter, and more.
