What is a 361 big Block ?

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I have an old article somewhere about this factory stroked engine - you can really build them up too.

Bcudamatt
 
I have a '62 361 out in the yard. It still has its original 4 bbl intake and carb. The block is stamped HP. I guess that was the last year for hipo 361s. I've thought of installing it in my new '65 Coronet 440 wagon. It currently has a 318 2 bbl with a TF. It appears they can be made to run well. Would the Purple Stripe cam be a waste of money?
 
So would it be the same weight as a 360 ?

Odd choice to shoe horn into a Demon..

Sparce # of pictures and none really of the interior. engine nor frame..

Price is interesting...

Bout 150 pounds more than a small block. Same weight as the 350, 383 and 400. Not too "odd" at all. He probably wanted a big block and the 361 was there. They did have a version like this:

361.jpg
 
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Every time I see one of these YEARS old threads pop up, it reminds me of the Easter hymn at church. "Up from the grave he arose!" :eek:


:rofl:

That's a goodun. It never bothers me though, because some of our newbies and younger members get to learn new things. That's why I'm glad threads are kept here.
 
Just remember, the early engines with the cast iron Torqueflights, had the extended crankshafts. If you want to use them with a 727 or a later manual trans, you will have to swap out the crank for a later one.
 
You are ok with a 62.The 727 TorqueFlite was well into use by 62.
That is if it's application was automotive and not industrial that the 361 was used for.
I have a 63 361 that I'm building now.Crank/rods are the same as the 383.
Major problem is standard bore pistons that are out of the box ready are few and are low compression. But if you have the four barrel version( you stated it was) and it is not frozen/locked up you may have a good starting point.A 361 and 383 performance is almost identical.A 284/484 Purple Mopar cam is a good one.I used to run the Mopar Purple 509 in many engines in the past.
 
1958 Dodge D500 performance package had a 361 four barrel, 305 hp. D500-1 had dual four barrels, 320 hp. 1958 DeSoto Adventurer also had a dual quad 361, rated at 345 hp (I think exactly the same motor as Dodge D500-1). 58 Plymouth top motor was a 310 hp dual quad 350 big block, which looks just like a 361-383.

361 four barrel was the standard motor in 59 Dodge Custom Royals, optional in other Dodge models, and biggest optional motor in 59 Plymouths. Dodge D500 that year was 383 four barrel, 325 hp. D500-1 was 383 with dual quads, 345 hp.

There were a few ram-inducted dual four barrel 361's in 60 and maybe 61. Ram-inducted 383's were better known and more common.

Last year (I think) for a performance 361 was 62. It was basically the same 305 hp single four barrel 361 of prior years, except it did not have the extended crank flange of those years. After 62, I think all 361's were two barrel motors.

361 looks just like a 383, and, similarly equipped, runs pretty much the same except for a small loss in power from 22 fewer cubes.

My contribution to an old thread. :soapbox:
 
FYI- the industrial motors you can bore the snot out of and get some serious displacement out of them. IIRC< I bored one to 426 size.
 
FYI- the industrial motors you can bore the snot out of and get some serious displacement out of them. IIRC< I bored one to 426 size.

Hmmm... alternative to a 400 B engine stroker? Are the blocks beefed up in any other ways in those industrial 361s? I have read they went on for decades in buses, medium-duty trucks etc. alongside the industrial 413 RB
 
Hmmm... alternative to a 400 B engine stroker? Are the blocks beefed up in any other ways in those industrial 361s? I have read they went on for decades in buses, medium-duty trucks etc. alongside the industrial 413 RB
See the pic of the car in my avatar? It is a 503is CI based on a 361 that came out of a 2-1/2 ton dodge flat bed truck. Runs nines.
 
See the pic of the car in my avatar? It is a 503is CI based on a 361 that came out of a 2-1/2 ton dodge flat bed truck. Runs nines.

:eek:Holy sh** that's awesome. Don't really know what else to say lol.

I'm definitely keeping an eye out for an industrial 361 now.
 
Thing is, so many 361 have been scraped, especially back when the 383 was so, so common! I agree they can be made to run Hint: anyone in Tx , La, have one, for free or cheap, I am a taker. Need a BB.
 
And allot of 361's were mistaken for 383's.
Just like 198's and the 225 engines. Look exactly the same on the outside.
 
383s are a better starting point as there are many off the shelf parts (pistons), it is a big block so it's around 100 pounds heavier than a 360, 360 would be the easiest build for an a-body for sure.

Well, yes and no- if your 361 block is thick walled enough to do super bore job on it like mine, you can use off the shelf stuff you would get for the 383. I bought a kit that was designed actually for the 400 block and put that crank kit in the 361
 
Well, yes and no- if your 361 block is thick walled enough to do super bore job on it like mine, you can use off the shelf stuff you would get for the 383. I bought a kit that was designed actually for the 400 block and put that crank kit in the 361
And also if it's a race car , the block can be filled
 
And also if it's a race car , the block can be filled
It can be- but mine is completely street able and street legal and has a good cooling system. Though street cars can fill the bottom 1/4-1/2 of the block and still be streetable.
 
It can be- but mine is completely street able and street legal and has a good cooling system. Though street cars can fill the bottom 1/4-1/2 of the block and still be streetable.
What year is your block & what's you're pistons ?
 
What year is your block & what's you're pistons ?

It's been literally 20 years or more, but IIRC< it was a 1965 Dodge 2 1/2 ton fat bed. I got a kit back then, for a 400 block bored .060 over with the 440 stroked crank for the 400 block. It might have been Muscle motors? I remember having to do a small amount of grinding for some of the crank throws, IIRC, it was around the oil pick up area. I seem to recall that I drilled out the oil pick up for a larger pick up, then had to do it again when I ground the clearence for the crank throws.
I have just purchased a new crate motor to replace this one FYI.
 
It's been literally 20 years or more, but IIRC< it was a 1965 Dodge 2 1/2 ton fat bed. I got a kit back then, for a 400 block bored .060 over with the 440 stroked crank for the 400 block. It might have been Muscle motors? I remember having to do a small amount of grinding for some of the crank throws, IIRC, it was around the oil pick up area. I seem to recall that I drilled out the oil pick up for a larger pick up, then had to do it again when I ground the clearence for the crank throws.
I have just purchased a new crate motor to replace this one FYI.
You got 4.402 pistons into a 361 block, holy ****.
 
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