383 vs 360 in an A 68 Cuda

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Topless69 said:
Yeah, and I got nothin’ against BB’s in A bodies no matter if it’s factory or a swap, just sayin’ if it already had a SB or /6 (which almost all do) I wouldn’t swap in a BB.
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Yep, I agree. Unless building a bracket car.
 
LO23M8B said:
Nobody asked. Can he afford a stroker? Is he starting from stratch? What parts does he have and are you just wondering which would/could be faster?
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The OP hasn't been back yet to weigh in. :rolleyes:
 
S'cuder said:
What are the intake and exhaust manifolds? Is the left side exhaust an M-Code manifold, a 383 or something else? Does the air cleaner have a drop base? I really like it.
Thanks!
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Those exhaust manifolds were B body HPs. from what I remember 1971 manifolds. Intake was an RPM with a drop base air cleaner
 
Lots of different reasons to choose one over the other. When I was young I had to itch to build a big block A-body. After building the first one (440/4sp/3.23SG) I was hooked. I tend to build mild because I want to drive my stuff anywhere I want to. Never had a 360 A-body, but we've got a factory 340 A-body. I'd rather drive the 440...
 
A big block is a whole different animal. All you need are the exhaust manifolds/headers and the motor mounts. No other special parts required, do a basic rebuild and add a cam and valve springs. Easy 400 ft lb of torque and 400 hp with a 268 duration cam. No heads to buy, no stroker parts to buy.
 
I had a 360 in my car and it was great but as soon as I put the 419 big block in I was hooked, such a mild build and surpassed the 360 that was higher compression lighter and had big vale heads. TORQUE
 
I'm a huge fan of BB's - regardless of what car they're in. An engine is an air pump and bigger can flow more air. Period.
But then there us the reality of "what is it you are trying to accomplish?" As @pittsburghracer and others have shown, you can go mighty fast with a SB.
When I built my 408 in the avatar car, I can tell you the 4" stroke in that thing puts a smile on your face every time you lean on it. It's more stroke than my 440 and it is noticeable. That stroke or more in a BB...well, that would make me smile too!
But I'm sure happy with the 408 and wouldn't think twice about changing it for a BB. It all comes back to the same question: "what is it you want to accomplish?"
 
This just in - get bb, drive every day.

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tooslow said:
Is really much more difficult to install a 383 in an A body vs a SB ? I would like to have power steering
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Nope real easy to do. I really like raising the hood on an A body to see a big block. Everybody does small blocks.
 
My hardtop I built like I would have wanted it back in High school. 440 with 500 kit . Cool factor
My Ragtop 340/4 spd. Owned since 1985.

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That’s pretty much true what RRR said. When I did the 400 low deck in the Duster, it went in easy and was fun to drive. I even left the /6 T-bars in. I drive around on Lakewood Drag shocks on all 4 corners & S/S springs. No sway bars.

It was a blast, cheap to do. It basically was the donor car purchase, swap kit, headers plus exhaust and cutting the driveshaft.
 
I'm still in the process of doing my 318 to 400/500 swap so I can't speak much of real experience yet.
I have however read many stories of people pulling their small block strokers and going big block, not so many swapping big to small. Leads me to believe the big block once in and done is the superior build. Do it once and right for what you desire the first time!!
 
The reality is I love all A Bodies. I've had everything from a 170 slant 6 to a an original 383 Formula S and every engine in between. Automatic transmission and 4 speed, Early and Late, 2.76 to 4.10 gears, Loved them all and drove them all over the country, year round. You really can't go wrong unless you don't know what you want.
 
Topless69 said:
BTW nobody has asked, but which A body do you have? some have more available space for BB swaps than others...
Also, I’m not talking someone out of a BB swap that really wants it, just sayin’ it’s more involved, especially if you want to keep power steering.
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Probably the 68 Cuda that is listed in the thread title.
 
Love the logic on this site if someone wants to build something smaller than a 360 no replacement for displacement 360 is the way to go, if bigger than 360 no reason for big block 360 can be built to similar level, and if you need big size dump a bunch of money into a 360 to make it the same size a 400 is stock and a 383 can get close to with an overbore and 440 eclipse. Cause we all know how smaller bore breath better than larger ones :).

Big blocks stronger and more power potential.
 
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