MP 300hp , 360 crate motor????

[440forPOWER]

Is anyone out there using one of these and what do u think of them. Im considering one for my everyday and tow vehicle a 86 ramcharger and was wondering about their quality. Im trying to decide
on rebuilding the thinwall 360 vs the crate motor as the cost would be very similar but i could get more hp and torque from a rebuild. Any suggestions
would be greatly appreciated! THANKS

[DartMan360]

Hey cant help you out on the 300hp but I got the 380hp in my dart. I have about 700 miles on the motor and havent had a problem. I race this car and has ran a best of 12.46 and runs constant 12.48 12.49. Crate motors are they way to go these days. Altough you do hear some bad stories here and their about them. But you also hear the same stories about some machine shops. So for the pirice i think you would be better off to go with the crate motor. Hope this helps.

[Walkercolt]

Gotta say go with the new crate motor. The Magnum blocks are MUCH better than the old castings. Spend another $400-500 on mods to the new crate and you'll trash any old style engine on power, torque, and most important , reliability. IMHO, I'd stick with the 300HP in a truck.

[Frank]

I've read that the 380 crate motor is actually putting out more than 400 HP. Does anyone have any knowledge of this? Also, does the 300HP motor put out more than it's advertised HP?

[DartMan360]

Yes I have heard that the 380 is putting out more that 380hp. Some people took a couple of them rite out of the crate and got as much as 410hp. Like i said I got this motor in my dart and its running constant 12 40's. And i still think their is a lil bit more in their. Their is a guy that races at Quaker City that has this in a 69 Dart. All he put was the 1.6 roller rockers from huges and hes running 11.80's all day long. So for 3500 you cant really pass that deal up. I have know idea what the 300hp is actully putting out.

[Walkercolt]

The crate engines are just like any mass-produced product, there will be variations in performance. I belive Mopar is saying the 300 HP is the minimum with the carb set-up they recommend, same with the 380HP. Hey, remember the bad old days, when you could get a Chebby 283 that put out 150HP or over 250? I do, all too well. I know Mopar is doing much better on QC than was true 30 years ago. They spec that the crate cylinder bores are true to round plus/minus .0005". Shoot, we had to bore my best freinds' Rat 80 over just to be round and 90 degrees(circa '69). Yes the crates weight about 30-40lbs more, but that's because they put metal where it needed to be, and no more leaking head gaskets! No more warped decks either. If I wasn't in an emissions county in OK, I'd order a 300 for my Dakota tomorrow.

[DartMan360]

Walker.. I hear you on the eminsons part. But have you hear that Dodge might put a hemi in a dakota or ram? I read this story a couple months back in Hot Roding Mag. And i have heard seen it some other places to. THis sound kool. But just wait till the gov steps in.

[Frank]

Dartman, what type of drive train do you have in your Dart? I'm contimplating a crate motor, but which one (300 or 380)? Some of the local guys around here are telling me the 300 is the way to go, but I keep thinking it would be nice to have more power than a new corvette!
Right now my dart has a 318/904/8-1/4. With the 4Bbl, headers, and shift kit my best guess is about 250HP. The 318 is getting tired and it's time to do something about it.
Also, is there a motor mount swap to be made to put a crate engine in a 318 car?

[DartMan360]

I would go with the 380. They are very close in price and the extra couple hundred is worth that 80 or so hp. I have a 904. I was all stock with a Turbo Action Reverse manual valve body. It had a 10 3000 stall converter. I blew the tranni last weekend. So rite now its getting re bult using the B&M Race Masters rebuild kit. I got it from Summit and i think it was $179. I also just ordered a 3500 Stall converter from coan. This one is a lil pricey at $560. But i think it is worth it. The rear end is a 8 3/4 with 4.56 gear. I have S/S springs in the back with the back un clamped. I think they are stock shocks in the back aslo. But up front i have Summits 3 way and they are set to 90/10. The best this car as run is 12.46 at 107 with a 1.63 60'. I think their is a lil more left in the car. As for the mounts i dont know. This car was done when i bought it. But im pretty sure you can use 360 mounts. And i think the guy who put this one in used the mounts off the old 340 that was in the car cause i dont think thier is mounts on that motor. When you do switch I would go with solid mounts as that is was im going to switch to soon. As for the headers i picked them up at a swap meet for $40. They was 1 5/8 and 3" collector. I think they are Headman but im not 100% sure. One thing you have to do when you go with a 360 is a convertor with the weights on it. If your going to use a 10" or smalled you need to use the Flex plate. I would use the flex plate eighter way you go because its a lot easyer then the weights. And it is only 4 bucks more. Well hope this helps. You have any more Q let me know.

[Frank]

Good info Dartman, thanks for the help.