Sonic check on a '72 .060 360 motor thick or not? To be determined soon.

[TomSchichtel]

Hi there I just dropped my .060 over 1972 360 block off at the machine shop for machine work if they determine it is capable of .070 over. I have read the myths of the legendary early thick wall motors, I will keep you posted on whether this one attacks or supports the theory. Was told I should here by Thursday next week when they get around to it.

 

[1970Duster]

If your out to build a block, junk the one you got and go get a late 80s/early 90s 360 LA roller block.

 

[1wild&crazyguy]

Hi there I just dropped my .060 over 1972 360 block off at the machine shop for machine work if they determine it is capable of .070 over. I have read the myths of the legendary early thick wall motors, I will keep you posted on whether this one attacks or supports the theory. Was told I should here by Thursday next week when they get around to it.

This is the stuff i like to see, people finding out and sharing with the rest of us, thank you...oh and btw, dont mind the above post, i mean hey...why not build a R3 block? ..oh yeah, cause you already have a block ;) lol

 

[inkjunkie]

This is the stuff i like to see, people finding out and sharing with the rest of us, thank you...oh and btw, dont mind the above post, i mean hey...why not build a R3 block? ..oh yeah, cause you already have a block ;) lol

That you did not have to spend a months salary just to own it......and another months salary to machine it......

 

[Abodybomber]

Spend the Money,have it sonic checked ,please.Peace of mind,worth it.

 

[1wild&crazyguy]

Spend the Money,have it sonic checked ,please.Peace of mind,worth it.

Thats what hes having them do.

 

[L4staero]

My own experience with a 71 360 block is at 20 thou over it tested wih the thinnest wall at around .230 from memory. Its just plan thick everywhere

 

[BrianT]

Subscribed. I have a 72 360 block out in the garage. My 91 roller block is at the machine shop right now if that tells you anything...

 

[273]

If your out to build a block, junk the one you got and go get a late 80s/early 90s 360 LA roller block.

Why the love for the roller block? Is it just cause it roller or is there other reasons? Why not magnum block than? Just curious I've seen you recommend them a few times.

 

[1970Duster]

Why the love for the roller block? Is it just cause it roller or is there other reasons? Why not magnum block than? Just curious I've seen you recommend them a few times.

Any and all LA parts bolt to it and is already a roller cam setup.nplus you don't have that magnum head crack problem. That said I'd grab an LA over a magnum any day.

 

[273]

wouldn't you just need to drill the LA heads oiling holes in the deck of the magnum block than it would be the same as 360 roller block?

 

[moper]

That's a very difficult drilling operation because the target is a spot smaller than 1/4" in the cam bearing bore, through 6" of solid cast iron... If you're off, the oil won't get to the new passage anyway.
Any block should be tested if it's supposed to make any real horsepower (say... 1.25hp per cu inch). With a great number of already bored blocks around now, it should really be considered as important as a magnaflux or cleaning...

 

[273]

Thanks moper, didn't realize it wasn't a do able mod so I guess the 360 roller blocks are a little special than.

 

[1970Duster]

Thanks moper, didn't realize it wasn't a do able mod so I guess the 360 roller blocks are a little special than.

Yes and no. Yes in the fact you get the roller cam setup and still want LA block. No if you want a flat tappet cam, it's just a 360 then.

If I ever need another motor I'm going gen 3 Hemi but I don't see that happening any time soon.

 

[moper]

Nothing's impossible - just expensive vs the reward...

 

[T56MaxTorq]

I should have went with the gen3 hemi. I was at the junkyard picking up my roller 360 and they had a hemi with all the accessories and even the computer to go with it for $1500. I think it would have been cheaper to add a carb, re-ring, re-bearing, and re-seal a hemi for the price it is to have a blocked bored and checked, pistons, heads built, roller cam.

 

[TomSchichtel]

So I got a call from my machinist last night and the verdict is: The block is swiss cheese and needs 4 sleeves in order to run any larger than 60 over. After cleaning and a closer evaluation he said he didn't need to send it to get sonic checked. The myth of the thick wall blocks has been tested and it failed in this one instance.

Guess that means my 75 block is getting tore down and will breath again.

 

[1wild&crazyguy]

Without sonic testing huh....
Unless he found holes or could poke through the walls with a pick, that's not very accurate.
Like torquing a main cap with no torque wrench and guessing it to be tight enough but not too tight.jmo

 

[Ted Carlson]

I have a 73 360 that i bored .040 over and it has been run to over 6000 with 10.5:1. I would not bore any block to .060 over before having it sonic checked. Unless you are building a stock class motor, it isn't worth the risk for .020.

 

[70aarcuda]

got an early 360 that is bored .060 and it was never sonic tested...been up and down the drag strip hundreds of times...in a 71 Dart..

 

[dodge freak]

So I got a call from my machinist last night and the verdict is: The block is swiss cheese and needs 4 sleeves in order to run any larger than 60 over. After cleaning and a closer evaluation he said he didn't need to send it to get sonic checked. The myth of the thick wall blocks has been tested and it failed in this one instance.

Guess that means my 75 block is getting tore down and will breath again.

Did you pull the block out of there or just let him "throw it away"

I'm not a very trusting person

 

[dodge freak]

I have a 73 360 that i bored .040 over and it has been run to over 6000 with 10.5:1. I would not bore any block to .060 over before having it sonic checked. Unless you are building a stock class motor, it isn't worth the risk for .020.

Yeah, ..040 used to be safe max, its just blocks aren't as available today, I would get a second opinion before I say for sure its junk..stuff was made pretty darn good back in 1972, heck how thin are todays brand new factory blocks..and what quality is the casting ? Unless its mega expensive, most cars today are made as cheap as possible

 

[inkjunkie]

Without sonic testing huh....
Unless he found holes or could poke through the walls with a pick, that's not very accurate.
Like torquing a main cap with no torque wrench and guessing it to be tight enough but not too tight.jmo

yep

Did you pull the block out of there or just let him "throw it away"

I'm not a very trusting person

yep

 

[moper]

So I got a call from my machinist last night and the verdict is: The block is swiss cheese and needs 4 sleeves in order to run any larger than 60 over. After cleaning and a closer evaluation he said he didn't need to send it to get sonic checked. The myth of the thick wall blocks has been tested and it failed in this one instance.

A good machinist can look and see issues without sonic testing. Especially by close inspection through the core plugs. I've see more than a couple blocks that got sleeves due to rust in the cooling jackets and deep pits on the oputside of the cylinder cores.
Plus - the key phrase is "in this instance".
It's not a myth. The factory did use the thicker cores. What makes relying on the reputation hit or miss is the actual casting. Meaning the individual cores and pouring. That's why things need to be inspected and sonic tested. Because you just don't know if a block or bore is core shifted or there's a thin spot or offset bore until it's done with the particular block in question.

 

[krazykuda]

Yeah, ..most cars today are made as cheap as possible

Ain't that the truth....