Hello there all. I have seen alot of different builds folks recommend for the various Mopar engines. So, I decided to ask this question. if you had a stock, say early 70's 360 good runner, sound engine. What would you do for a BOLT ON build? Im talking nothing more that cams, intakes, headers, carbs, possibly heads, that type of thing. Just no machine work to the bottom end. And try to keep this as inexpensive as possible, but yet best HP you can. A friend asked me this same question the other day , and I didnt know exactly how to answer as there are so many factors. So, if you were average Joe Shmoe, doing work to your own car on weekends to get a little more power, what would you do? What would your expectations be, etc. Looking forward to all your different opinions !!

 

With-out "digging into" the engine I would say a decent Intake, carb, and headers to start with.... Cam swaps are easy nuff, BUT to make a big difference you would possibly have to start changing other things such as Torque Converter, gearing etc... JMHO

 

you could go with a cam the gives good low end torque

 

Depends on the purpose of the vehicle.

Cam will give you the greatest "bang for you buck" in my opinion. Next to that is making sure that everything you buy will work together. No point in getting a set of short tube headers if you have an intake that make power in the mid-high RPM range.

 

Heads with bigger valves are a good bolt on for more power, might not be too cheap though unless you get some good used ones.

 

A good set of headers with a mild cam, aluminum duel plane Intake, mopar orange box ingnition and performance Carb(650-750cfm).

 

if its pretty much a stock 360. then a a cam to give a lil more grunt. dual plane intake. headers probly not, your cam will quit pulling when the headers start making power,

 

First of all what is the purpose of this vehicle, it definitely matters, but for regular street use, i would do the following. Personally i would compresion test it, assuming they're still up to factory specs(because if they're not you may have to tear into the engine), then i would do carb, intake, headers/complete exhuast. Then you'll see for yourself, if you still want to go ahead with the cams. Let us know what you decide.

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1966 Coronet 440 318 poly

 

the purpose of this car would be your average street machine, cruisin to shows, summer driving, yet keepin the ability to rip the tires off at a whim. Just a fun car, not a racer, but not a classic show car, a nice HOT ROD. Needs to sound and perform great, it may be a "primer car" or descent paint, but nothing spectacular.

 

You will want parts that work in the 1500-6000 RPM range then (low to mid RPM).

WHat transmission are you thinking about going with, auto or manual?

 

727 Auto.

 

You'll probably want to at least flush the 727 transmission, if not rebuild it, and get a stall convertor that has a little higher stall rating than that of the factor torque convertors. I'd say around 2,000 RPM would really wake that motor up as it will allow the motor to work in the RPM band that it is creating power.

 

With out doing anything internal it kinda really handcuffs you. 360s suffer from low compression ratios as they are a smog era motor. Big cams will make it worse with out compression. If the motor is an original 4bbl i would leave the stock intake manifold. If not I would go for a performer RPM. A fairly mild cam but something the does move the power up in the RPM range a bit. If I can mill the heads to increase compression and install the thinnest head gaskets I can find..Try to get it around 10 to 1...If I cant mill the heads..I would leave them alone..and put a 100 horse shot of nitrous on it. Good set of stainless steel headers...Good valve springs.

It would be fun with just a mild cam, aluminum high rise manifold, good headers and just nitrous it as much as you dare. They say with cast pistons which were stock you shouldnt go for more than 100 or so horse kit. Go with a high stall converter, steep rear gears and just have fun till it blows.

 

NITROUS!! And lots of it! A push-button hot-rod. Really....if you just cruise, and wanna fry the skins once in a while, then a $300 NOx kit will do the job. Maybe spend some on a good dual exhaust system too.

 

then he needs to build the engine's internals up a lot