360 vs 383

318willrun said
LOL... I'll run those numbers with the factory 360 dished pistons and smog heads. In fact, I was 13.9's at 3450 (3650 at the line) with 2.45's, no headers and the dished piston 360. Again, just trying to see how 66fs did his measuring to basically dog the 360 as such an underperformer. Not challenge him, just understand him.

OK. On a small block 360. I am not really down on them. I built more than a few really good ones for other people, but they are not the be all, end all. If you have one, they are a good starting point. Nothing wrong with them. I personally do not like the external balance, cast crank, and the pistons way down in the hole. You can make any MOPAR small block fast, not just a 360. I always ask what someone has on hand to start with. Everything has pluses and minuses as well as intended usage. As you know, even bodies make a difference on what I would choose. I have had 2 Barracudas for 40-50 years, one an original "68" 383 727 car and the "64" 273 4 speed car. I had another friend that ran the only MOPAR on a dirt track. He ran a 318 and was the fastest car on the track. I knew enough about the car and the 318 was not that special. I grew up with high and low compression 340's. I still have them, would you swap a 71 340 for a 74 HP 360? At 19, I rebuilt the 273 in my 64 Barracuda with it's forged steel crankshaft and TRW forged pistons. It went on to be a test mule for every conceivable mod I could lay my hands on, including things people said I could not do. In the beginning that thing was fast, in the end it was really fast. And that was through early A exhaust manifolds. If I can do it with a 273, it can be done on any small block. Big blocks have so much potential they are in another league for me, it is so easy to make good power with simple mods. You can only use so much power on the street, and I'm just not that into stop light to stop light. I'm more into can you keep up and sustain it.