13 sec. 360 for $3,000?
Thanks for all the replies guys. I have seen all the videos and builds posted here (and more). I know my biggest limiting factor is my weight and gearing, not the budget- hence why I said stock bottom end, as the engine is low mileage. I already have the car, and it has a 360, 727, and 8.25 suregrip. This is going to be a summer cruiser (already is actually), but I also remember what low 13s felt like when my other car was that slow, and it was still a hoot for me- currently I cant even spin tires, but thats also because it has a junk quadrajet on it from the previous owner that I havent spent any time tuning because the season is almost over and im pulling the motor soon.
I have 904 cores, and both 727 and 904 parts..
I already have 1-5/8s hookers for it, and a fresh rebuilt 780cfm holley vac secondary. Distributor, coils, an old weiand spread bore intake (want to get rid of it for an air gap or even copy), enough gaskets and bearings to rebuild the entire 360, and more that im forgetting actually..
Point being, is that for 3k I think with some horsetrading and luck I could end up with a used combo along the lines of- 3000 stall converter, manual valvebody (if im not shifting it myself whats the point, and yes ive driven on the street with them and its a non issue to me), airgap intake, either stock heads shaved and cleaned up or maybe the speedmasters once black friday comes around, a used or NIB second hand cam, and away we go.
Really my biggest dilemna is cam and compression- I love that it currently runs on junk gas, and thus would love to keep it that way and still hit my goal, but dont want to overcam. If I can find a set of 360 aftermarket drop in pistons that require no balance job to the rotating assembly that will help me get compression up, then thats a route i dont mind either as I know I can be more aggressive in cam selection.
So I have my ideas, and ive built about 4 different 360 combos before myself, so this isnt my first rodeo. I had a 360 roller motor with stone stock bottom end, thin headgaskets, and the imm rhs ported heads with a hydraulic roller that ran 12.30s all day on 87 driving to the track with a 4 speed, but I also had 4.10 gears. It would be too easy for me to get all strip style with this car, but I bought it to cruise with the wife and kid, while still having enough pep to get out of its own way, hence my goals.