360?? Bark Or Bite??

[69ROADRUNNER69]

i have a 1972 360 in my powerwagon and im build a killer mud truck with the works 1 ton running gear and swampers! Now should i stick with this 360 and build it up, ive been hearing that the 360 is the dog of the small blocks that i would better with something else! true??? or should i go with big block or better yet bulid a 318 with a tight bottem end?(stroker 10.to1 comp, lots of porting!?Its still in the air and i need some input!!

[rumblefish360]

OK, you asked for it............


The 360 was called the "DOG" motor because it was for years, strapped with everthing that makes a engine suck.

A billion were made with crap air cleaners
2 bbl carbs, small valves in a large chambered head coupled to a dead on dead comp. ratio.
Sometimes, people did the math and found comp ratios to be as low as 7.3-1.
(Now is that any good?)
ALSO;

Cam specs where around 252 w/.410 lift (Cough hack )
Exhaust manifolds given to this engine were amoung the most restictive. Without a doubt!

Now! Here is the last couple of nails why stock 360's suck!

During the gas crunch and the flower lovers both beating the auto manufactures to death ... The rear ratios were given the lowest of the low and then some. It is normal to find 2.76 as a standard gear but you could get a 2.20.
The clean air act gave us emisions equipment to a high level. So bad the power fell through the floor, and passed hell.

NOW, hows this for a basic reversal;

Take a look at the create magnum engine. Stock 9.0-1 comp ratio. Add med. size cam, single plane intake w/ 750 holley and 1 3/4 tube headers and presto, a stock comp and valved engine makes over 400 HP.

[rumblefish360]

All most forgot, you can stroke it to 400+ cubes. There are kits ready and waiting.

On a 318. Strokers are more expensive due to piston selection and whats out there. But a 4.00 inch stroker crank in a .030 318 is a nice 396 cubes. (I think it was really. I may be off a little)

ON a big block, simple, it's in the saying.

"Theres no replacement for displacement!"

Stroke a 400 or 440 to over 500 cubes.
Is it easy? Just buy a kit and pay the man.

http://www.indyheads.com/ http://www.musclemotorsracing.com/muscle/main.htm

[Dr. Righteous]

If you are planning on putting this thing in a mud pit you need MONSTER horsepower and torque. You can get those numbers much easly from a 440 than anything else. Big cubes making power building easy and a 440 will run sweet while making 500+ ft lbs of torque.

[1972roadrunner]

is it true the extra weight could get you some extra traction? cut right through the goop and bite?

i know my moms phurd explorer (4.0 v6 4door 4x4) can crawl up steep sandy hills and tackle deep mud puddles better than my buddies 89 toyota 4runner. the explorer is a hell of a lot heavier, and i get much better traction than he does. of course, the down side, when i get stuck, i get STUCK! when he gets stuck, give the bastard a shove and he's off! maybe driver experience plays a role? he's more into 4wheeling than i am...

sounds like a neat experiment...440 mud bogger...

[Dr. Righteous]

There is a guy that frequents this board that has built that exact truck.

Had a '89 Bronco once that I took to the beach. There was a trail several miles long that lead to the beach that was all very soft sand. Had 31" tires on it and when it got it in the sand it SANK! It was literally swimming in the sand. I had to keep it in 4lo just to make the thing move. Other 4x4 with wider tires or lighter just went around me. The blasted thing overheated before I got back to the pavement. That is a FORD for you.

[1972roadrunner]

LMAO while ROFL!!! i think had it been a big block 440, i think it would have had the torque to get you through in 4hi...but i dunno...

[MOPARMANJAMES]

The 360 is no slouch by any means but if you want a MONSTER, then go with the 440.
My buddy had a 67 Powerwagon and someone put a 360 in it. It had 4.10 gears big tires, etc. and it was FUN!
When it came time to put a new engine in, he built a 440, Damn that changed the personality of that Truck!
The back of his head was usually sore from it hitting the rear window when he'd take off in low!
His throttle linkage was a little stiff and if you gave it too much gas, wham! cuckoo!