Stroke it or go big?
 

Hey guys,
I'm tossed between what i should do. I like to drag race. (track of course) So i want alot of torque and the hp to back it, Right now I've got the #matching 318 but it was rebuilt before i bought it with an unknown cam, 360 heads, headers and intake. I'm not sure about inside if he replaced the pistons to compensate for the heads or not, But I've cloned my Satellite to a Roadrunner so i kinda feel like i should go with a big block. But i'm just not sure. If i go with a big block i'm leaning towards a 400/451 stroker build over then next 6months or so, But if i stayed small block it seems like i would run into less problems and could be spending more money on the engine rather then a new trans and other big block items. Anyways! To sum it up. I'm basically asking what you guys think would be the best bang for the buck. I'd like to be in the low 12's maybe break 11's, 1/4 mile. But this is my daily driver so I'd like to get decent mileage lol
So just wondering what you guys think.
Thanks!
~Nick

decent gas mileage will be hard without over-drive gears, or a high rear(which wont get you in the 11's)

imo, i would build the sb
then move onto the b blocks later

Yeah, Well right now i've only been getting 10mpg which i was told is likely from low compresion from the heads... So being my first car 10mpg is all i know lol. If i stay small block would you keep the 318? or find a 360? or what. I found 318 stroker i believe it stroked to 394, I could be wrong. Also a local guy has a complete 400 for $200 which sounds like it would be nice if i stroked it?

I can't give you advise on which motor, but I can chime in on the gas mileage. From my recent experience with rebuilding and tuning my carb I have learned there are different tuning options that can greatly affect you mpg.

For example on my Carter carb simply changing the primary metering springs can make a big difference and from what I understand a Holley carb is adjusted in the same way with whats called the power valve which comes in different vacuum ratings, passing more or less gas.

Obviously there are other major things to consider, jets etc..... but my point is you can have high performance and good mpg on the same motor by learning about your carb and how and what you can adjust.

Joe.

Thanks, Yeah it's a Holley but not sure which model. I have though about replacing it but was waiting to see what engine i was going to go with.

400 are nice, but you will need a new trans, 400 can be turned into a real good streat engine, bigger bore than the 440 but shorter stroke,

Yeah, the 400 is on the top of my list of big blocks, 200 bucks is cheaper then any other mopar engine i've found let alone it being a big block. How much would you say it would cost in upgrading the car for a big block? Anyway to know what trans will fit? Or are they all the same length?

bite the bullet & get a cheap jap crapper as a daily driver ya can't beatem for fuel mileage . most racer's who arn't rich drive what ever bargin they can find . then work on there pride & joy in there spare time . this is the boat i'm in :D . back to the V8 talk . get a low deck 400 . it will cost a bit first off to set up ( engine mounts , gear box , headers ect ) but a big block is a big block ;) they sound like a big block & the low decks rev hard & have ample torque . btw you'll spend heaps on machining a small block & all the number crunching is a head ache . 450 - 500 hp is easy to get out of 400 without even trying . & that's with a std crank & rods hyd cam .

Let start by saying all my comments are related to race only motors.. Gas mileage is something we don't talk about. At app 3 gal to the mile and $10.00 per gallon you see why......

I have owned and raced both.. Let's start with the 340 sb.... Started with a R-3 race block and put a 3.75 stroker crank in it... GRP alum rods and Bill Miller pistons... W-2 steel heads and a Comp roller cam. Offenhouser intake and 1050 dominator carb... This was in a 70 Duster that weighed in at 2500 lbs... Had a 904 tranny and a dana 60 rear with 456 gears. Best time was 9.85 @ 138 miles per hour......

The 400 is in a 68 Barracuda. Its a stock 400 block with a 440 crank in it.. This gives me 451 ".... Cheap inches!!! I run eagle rods and pistons by JE... Isky roller cam and Indy Alum 440-1 heads and intake. Quickfuel 1050 carb... The barracuda weights in a 3500 lbs and best time to date is 9.95 @ 139 miles per hour.....

So both can be built for power as both engines have app 700 hp. So, either one will work.

The tranny question is easy to answer..... The 904 tranny will not fit a BB. The 727 comes in two cases... One for BB and the other for SB. You asked about the length and I do know the 727 comes in a couple of different lengths.. I think the longer ones were out of trucks.... Once you decide on which engine the tranny is easy... My opinion is you can't beat a 727.......

This is what I would do.

400 with the 440 like Mack said, 727 built trans and an 8 3/4 rear with two case - one for the strip and one for the street.

A #matching 318 is worth just as much as any other 318 out there. Don't bother with SB as it is too small for that size car IMO.

Thank you guys,
To be honest i really don't want another small block. So i was hoping big block would be the better way to go. I've always wanted a bigblock, But i didn't want that to affect what you guys said. If or i should saw when i get a big block if i can't afford gas i can always drive my parents beater.
Btw, MReeves, Which was cheaper? I don't know much about how much stuff cost but i know a 9sec small block would probably cost more then a big block would? I'm just looking for the cheaper route to a mid 11-low 12 sec engine. I have a small block 727 i heard they make a conversion kit to make it hook up to a big block is it better to do that or just find a big block 727? Also yea my grand father used to switch rear ends with his friend one had racing gears the other had highway gears. Does anyone know an exact list of things that will need to be changed?

Thanks aton guys i really appreciate your help!

~Nick

i would be cheaper to go the big block route. a 500 hp small block will cost more than a 500 hp BB. it dont take much to get 500 out of a BB. i build a nice SB once it had power, nothing below 2000 rpm though. just couldnt muster up the TQ for a small engine with the combo i had, i say it matched the HP of a 375hp 440, which is good for a 318, but the best i could get out of it was 8 mpg then again it wasnt made for milage, the stock 440 i have now i can get 15mpg. as far as the trans adapter, i wouldnt opt for that, the less parts you have to add on the less chance of failure, just go find a BB trans, (easier said than done somtimes,)
things that need changed, for engine swap, mainly brackets and engine mounts, the starters interchange, alt will work,(change brackets) extend some wiring, nothing too major though, the biggest is radiator, imo,

The cheapest route is to buy a Mopar that can already do what you want. If you want to do all the work, then the BB is the way to go. Find yourself a BB 727 as well. Look at the TTOTM threads as there is one on swapping 6 cylinder/SB V8s for BB V8s.

Cool thanks!
I'll have to look up the TTOTM. I would of loved to get a BB Satellite/Roadrunner/GTX but they were out of my price range. The search for trans will beginning soon, Not to worried probably 4-6months til i get to the swap.

Hmm, I cracked open my Big block mopar performance book, which is where i got the 451 build from. But i'm wondering since this is my first engine build, Would it be a good idea to make it a stroker or does it even matter? I guess if anything i would just post a question or find a website to help?

a stroker will make more TQ but a lil bit slower take off. than a non stroked engine, if everything else is equall,

Nick, the BB was far cheaper to build than the SB... They both ran like raped apes but the SB was MUCH more expensive. The SB block alone was $2,500......

Haha cool, thats what i always though. I may have found a decent big block donor car, Only has a 383 but sounds like a good deal.

[quote=skatefast91;55695]Haha cool, thats what i always though. I may have found a decent big block donor car, Only has a 383 but sounds like a good deal.[/quote


The 383 and the 400 are the same block.. Same stroke only the bore is different.....

[quote=MReeves;55699] Yeah but i though there was more machine work to stroking the 383?

Gotta tell you, I like my 451. My crank is actually a 426 Max wedge crank a buddy of mine was using for a door stop. I bought Manley Sportsmaster rods and Ross pistons the rest is just Mopar. I've had a kid driving my car to get some seat time the last few races. The air shifter was not turned on for the first pass last week, and she took it to 7200rpm where the chip was at and held it. The car went 5.83@109 in low gear. PG has 1.76 low gear. Didn't hurt anything. I sometimes think I would have like to gone to a 496, but this little motor has really been good.

That's a nice racecar !!!! Met you briefly at Ozark's big bracket race a about 2 weeks ago. I was there with Roland Racing. I had to leave to get back to take care of my parents right after the top fuel car ran.

I have a 68 Cuda coupe I'm building for my G/F. Full chassis and the engine will be a 451 combo also.

I'm building a '70 Duster that I plan on putting a 451 Stroker in. I think Small blocks are built for high revving, and big blocks are built for torque.

I'm also considering a stroker 318 for the Demon I just bought. Not sure about that yet. I still need to get her home. I WISH I could find an affordable Barracuda coupe. Besides an E-Body, that is my next favorite car. It's also my favorite A-Body.

j

My old boss and I built strokers all the time it was his thing he loved to get huge power out a small blocks. Iam newer to mopar and dont know about there stroker kits but the last one we did was a 351 to a 427 ford and put down huge numbers.I think if you want more streetable power you should go with a big block not a stroker. Not that a stroker cant be a driver but most will have have higher compression bigger cam .... to get power numbers./A big block can get those numbers on a more mild build (think it was said above) and there is also lots of room for growth in the future.:) If you want a race car thoe strokers are tons of fun and can put down nice numbers the only down side is they have that long stoke.

easy solution
361 hemi