More good advice and thanks for it all - much appreciated!
I'll tell you why I feel the way I do about upgrades and about my reasoning. First - about me ... I am 53 and pretty strong minded like most "mature" men ;-) ... I'm no mechanic - just a shade-tree tinkerer - most of what I know about mechanics and about Mopars in general was taught to me by my older brother (thank you brother), who is more mechanically inclined than me. But I have over time worked on most of the car, from one end to the other. Never built an engine - biggest ENGINE work I've ever done was replace a head gasket on my 340 (prev engine/orig equip), which was very difficult to do in a one car, not too well lit, cramped garage on a cold night at 1AM
. So, now, with a weak back I mostly tinker, theorize and then get someone else to install. But I love the old cars and for these reasons I want to keep it simple.
The car is not driven much and so, although I like decent mpg, it's not TOP priority. I also LOVE my 4spd, not just because it's a 4 spd, but I love the gearing - shift points - the whole thing ... and so I don't want to change it a bit. I also love the rear axle ratio - it fits my driving needs to a 'T'. So that's why - among other reasons, I don't want to change these things.
I am also a purist, and want to make all the power on-the-motor. I don't want or need to make 600HP, or even 500, but 375 to 450 would be nice (375 for now - that's what this thread is calling for ... 375 - 400).
As to your recommendations ... I like the B/G carb, seems to breath well, and I picked up a nice boost when I installed it over the 600 Holley single feed. But as to issues - I had to make my own Mopar adapter (carb went on before one became avail), so there's the tinkerer in me, and the choice in line feeds for B/G still stinks. The idea of going back to a Carter style carb sounds inviting (I loved the old Thermoquad! - even though it was ugly to look at). But I can see, and as expected, that carb choice is very individualistic. My car could use better off idle response. It doesn't bog, it's just not real crisp from a start. Perhaps the Eddy carb would help that. But the B/G does seem to breath well and the plugs look good last I checked.
The intake it the dual-plane alum variety that came with the crate engine. So going up to the single plane style that the 360/360 came with at the time (and that I think the 360/390 still comes with) is probably in order with a stronger cam.
So that's where I am now. Thanks - regards,
I'll tell you why I feel the way I do about upgrades and about my reasoning. First - about me ... I am 53 and pretty strong minded like most "mature" men ;-) ... I'm no mechanic - just a shade-tree tinkerer - most of what I know about mechanics and about Mopars in general was taught to me by my older brother (thank you brother), who is more mechanically inclined than me. But I have over time worked on most of the car, from one end to the other. Never built an engine - biggest ENGINE work I've ever done was replace a head gasket on my 340 (prev engine/orig equip), which was very difficult to do in a one car, not too well lit, cramped garage on a cold night at 1AM
. So, now, with a weak back I mostly tinker, theorize and then get someone else to install. But I love the old cars and for these reasons I want to keep it simple.The car is not driven much and so, although I like decent mpg, it's not TOP priority. I also LOVE my 4spd, not just because it's a 4 spd, but I love the gearing - shift points - the whole thing ... and so I don't want to change it a bit. I also love the rear axle ratio - it fits my driving needs to a 'T'. So that's why - among other reasons, I don't want to change these things.
I am also a purist, and want to make all the power on-the-motor. I don't want or need to make 600HP, or even 500, but 375 to 450 would be nice (375 for now - that's what this thread is calling for ... 375 - 400).
As to your recommendations ... I like the B/G carb, seems to breath well, and I picked up a nice boost when I installed it over the 600 Holley single feed. But as to issues - I had to make my own Mopar adapter (carb went on before one became avail), so there's the tinkerer in me, and the choice in line feeds for B/G still stinks. The idea of going back to a Carter style carb sounds inviting (I loved the old Thermoquad! - even though it was ugly to look at). But I can see, and as expected, that carb choice is very individualistic. My car could use better off idle response. It doesn't bog, it's just not real crisp from a start. Perhaps the Eddy carb would help that. But the B/G does seem to breath well and the plugs look good last I checked.
The intake it the dual-plane alum variety that came with the crate engine. So going up to the single plane style that the 360/360 came with at the time (and that I think the 360/390 still comes with) is probably in order with a stronger cam.
So that's where I am now. Thanks - regards,
