What is a 361 big Block ?

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361

Don't sell the 1962 361/305 HP 'Police Package' short.

Bore ..... 4.125"
Stroke... 3.380"
Compression .............. 9.00-1
Camshaft 'Hydraulic'.... .444"/.456"

These 'Police Packages' came thru with Dual Exhaust, a Dual-Point Distributor, a High-Lift Camshaft, and a 'specially calibrated' Carter AFB.

They were 'screamers' in the NHRA {10.60 to 11.29 Wt/HP} Class.
* 1963 ~ 1964 ~ 1965 ...C/SA
* 1966 ........................ D/SA
* 1967 ........................ C/SA

That Engine Combination was a Record Holder with the Torqueflite in
the 1962 Dodge Model 440 and 1962 Plymouth Sport Fury from 1963 thru 1967.

They were kind of written off at the Drag Strip starting in 1968,
but they still showed up at the Track banging away.
* 1968 ............. F/SA
* 1969 ............. G/SA
* 1970 ~ 1971 .. H/SA

Starting in 1963, they were only available as a 361 2-Barrel.

Plymouth used them up to 1965 in the 'base upgrade' B-Body.
Dodge used them up to 1966 in the 'base upgrade' B-Body

Dodge started to use them as the 'base' Truck Engine. They
were very strong and durable, with a good amount of Torque.
1962 Dart 2 door post car, would blow any 383 RR or Super Bee off the road. Ugly as sin but would fly, kick it and was gone. Put one in my 64 Belvedere and wouldn’t get out of its own way. BTW it had smaller exhaust valves than the 906 and later heads.
 
I think they cast 361 blocks from the beginning to end of B engine production, the only size to do so. Kinda cool.
 
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