68fastback
Well-Known Member
How can you get 350+ horsepower out of a 360 with "L" heads without stroking it and on a budget of $800.
First of all why are you stuck on 350+ horsepower?? It's always kinda hard to build a high horse/torque motor on a budget. I say just build the best motor you can with the 800 bucks and go from there. Or if you have a running motor already you could get a little crazy with the spray to get the power you want!
How can you get 350+ horsepower out of a 360 with "L" heads without stroking it and on a budget of $800.
Get the compression up first with some good pistons, add a good cam, then add bolt ons with the leftover money and later when the budget allows, more add ons.
I assume you have a good solid 360 to start with? 800.00 isn't going to buy you allot but, I would start with a set of Hedman headers or something like them a good 2 1/2" exhaust. A Air gap or D4B intake and 600 Edelbrock. That will eat up your budget.
I actually have headers and 2-1/2 pipes on the car already. The 360 is a strong motor out of a 1984 dodge ram van. I have "L" heads and an Edelbrock LD 340 intake from a 340 that was in the car. I am thinking of going with a new rpm air gap intake, a cam and a new carb. I have a new holley 650cfm double pumper in the box from another car but it does not sound like that will be good enough.
.....and maybe a little pocket porting on those heads would help a bit too. Headers, of course too. It would be nice if those pistons were around zero deck height, not like .080 in the hole @ TDC. Man, $800 is a bit light, but hey.....go for it! How about one of those Hughes cams too?......I'd say about 230 @ .050......or maybe 224/230....something like that. It seems like many years of 360's tend to suffer from sucky compression, which.....to me....should be corrected by better pistons. I'm not wild about milling, and it doesn't improve the compression that drastically either.....of well, a budget is a budget.
If I were you, I'd sell the LD340, and pick up a '73 stock TQ intake. Your buget will improve, and you won't loose performance wise. Your 650 double pump will work fine. Use the headers you already have, and try to find some good inexpensive pistons from another hot rod guy; I see them for sale all the time. Then pick up a cam, and windage tray. I had a great Racer Brown cam in my T/A 340, that I intend to use again. Budget is blown, but move to the rear gear after that.