78 360 a good stroker candidate?

[demon700]

I picked what i believe to be a 78 360 when I bought my tranny with the plan to eventually build a 408 out of it. A friend of mine mentioned that he thought the cylinder walls on the later "environmentally friendly" engines might be too thin to bore out to whats needed. Any thoughts? Thanks

 

[needsaresto]

Your friend has bought into a myth. The only was to truly tell is to have the block sonic tested,but really this is an overconcern. Unless your planning on mega power,you'll be just fine.

 

[demon700]

thats what i wanted to hear, thanks

 

[BrianT]

I am building a 408 using a 73 block but am not sure I buy into the myth either. But I do know that ANY block that I'm gonna stick that much money into is going to be sonic tested to make sure it's safe.

 

[Snake]

Mine is a 86 block 20 over no issues,runs cool all day.

 

[423dak]

Maybe a myth, but a friend took his late 70's 360 to 0.060" and the cylinder were full of sandy holes. Myth proven? Probably ok at 20 or 30 over.

 

[mopardude318]

any 360 block will be fine...

 

[needsaresto]

Maybe a myth, but a friend took his late 70's 360 to 0.060" and the cylinder were full of sandy holes. Myth proven? Probably ok at 20 or 30 over.

Even so,it's a simple fix and relatively cheap. Expect to pay about $100 per to sleeve the cylinder. At least you CAN overbore a 360,lol.

The myth has been disproven by several engine builders and I've seen further evidence besides in my own personal builds and various visits to machine shops. There is a reference in the mopar engine builders manual,but it's meaning is not very clear.

And yes I agree on the .020-.030 overbore. It makes sence as a true round bore will make more power,and run cooler than a similar .060 over block. Less meat in the walls means less rigidity in the bore and more steam in the coolant passages.

 

[pettybludart]

I have a 77 360 stroked to a 410c.i(.040 over)Alls good with over 100 passes so far.:burnout:

 

[Coyote Jack]

It's a myth Jeff. The only real difference from an early 360 to a newer 360 may be different core shift. The newest blocks are roller blocks and there is an advantage there. My 360 is bored .040 over and I don't have any problems.

Jack

 

[moper]

The info you find overall is for the most part clear and accurate in terms of intentions. The factory intended for certain blocks to be thicker. The problem is the castings just plain sucked with a capital SUCK. So the sonic testing is the only way to know that YOUR block is good enough or not. I have been pleasantly surprised at more later blocks than early ones. Also, in terms of longevity, the thicker you can leave the block, the better, although for a 360 based stroker, the .040 over pistons are pretty cheap because they are the same as std bore 340s.

 

[RustyRatRod]

I have done 4 over 400 cube small blocks since about 1994. The last one I did is still running in its same incarnation I built it. It's in a 4X4 Ramcharger so it sees plenty of low RPM low speed crawling and does not come close to overheating.....though it was a LOT more fun in my 67 Dart GT. It is a 77 360 block punched .070 over to acheive 416 cubes. Don't listen to the naysayers. They'll go. Sonic testing is best, though. Even though I did not. If .060 pistons are made, .060 is safe. .070 is only .005" more each side of the hole. I mean really.