I rec`d this email. What do my fellow FABO members think of this build?
"360 Mopar is a great engine. Most underrated by folks. Get the compression up over 10 to 1 .Kb are good if you look after the extra end gap for the hypereutectic material. Error on the large end. clearance as for marine use. (.001 over spec , finish to 4.031) use Hastings race rings. use a 3/4 or full groove main set. (3/4 is enuf but not always avaiable. Half is not enuf!) good set of Rod bolts. clearance bottom end on the looser side. not crazy but not snug for sure. run a melling or similar Hv pump. Install a windage tray . If you cant get a MP one use a milodon or simlar. (good for about 14 ponies ) try and find NOs 340 steel head gaskets. if not plane an extrra 020 from the head and use blue felpros. Stock head bolts and stock torque settings. Cam. Well if you must run a solid phone Jim Dowel at Racer Brown (phone after 7 PM maryland time or he wont answer.) Get an STX -20 . use the iron 273 style rockers. (no hi ratio deallies.) You will also need pushrods. Run any decent intake including and maybe preferedly a performer RPM. Do not run a tunnel ram . these engine arent happy with that deal. Put the cam in 2 degreees ahead. (106. ) J heads are very good, and little if any difference from the famous X heads. Spend a lot of time under the valve in the pocket. just clean up the rest in normal fashion. If the heads are wonked put in the 2.02s . if not the stocker are up to the job. I tested a set I did here at 268 CFM. That is good for a max of about 580 HP so the heads wont be holding him back. They are usually pretty good for CCs but check them and I know you will. Recurve the distributor cutting down the total advance by 1/3. A 3310 would be the ideal carb with the rear plate conversion for normal jets. up here we run 76 in front and 80 rear with a 5.0 power valve in front. That is for open headers. might be a bit much there so maybe try 74s and 78 s first as our air is a bit denser most days.
Set timing at 36 to start total at 3500.
keep header size same size as exhaust valve. HOWEVER.
I would run a hydraulic. So even though you are on Solid I wll just tell you this for what it is worth. Probably because of the 3000 stall converter a extreme energy hydraulic from comp. They have shortened duration but the fastest ramps in the industry and take full advantage of the Chryco .904" lifter diameter. XE285HL would be my pick. It can be run with as little as 9.5 to1 comp ratio. however above 10 and ideally 10.5 would make a difference. Expect well in excess of 400 Hp . Set shift and gear for 6500- trap speed. Should be an aboslute killer and very reliable. and inexpensive. The type of motor that will make the $ guy mad!. "