Get this book. $30 on amazon. After reading it, I decided to build a 3.580" stroke 360 rather than a 4" stroke 360 to 408. The cost of a new cast Scat internal balance crank was the same. Pistons, rings, bearings, et cetera would have been the same. I want this engine to last even if I beat the living snot outta it.
I do have a 400 block that I plan to build a few years down the road. Plans for that is a 470 for the compression height and rod length over the 451, the difference in piston speed is negligible. It's been sitting in my shed for about 5 years now. I'm in no rush.
If you want the displacement, go with a 383 or a 400. You get;
- Lower piston speed and stress on parts
- The low deck, how many pounds more mass over the front axle than the small block?
- Plenty of options for aluminum heads from 440 Source to Trick Flow, and everyone else.
- Aluminum intakes...
- The option of a whole fiberglass front clip bumpers and rear decklid, as I plan from AAR Fiberglass, which will lighten the heck out of it.
- You can lose the interior, et cetera. Over on bigblockdart.com there used to be a page that broke down all the stuff you could do to lose weight by swapping out parts. Here's an archive.
Put your big block dart on a diet
Copy and pasted below as well.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1934709476/?tag=fabo03-20
Put your big block dart on a diet
Information compiled by various members of this site. Feel free to send along any info we could add to this list
Vehicle Part factory weight fiberglass weight lighter part lighter part weight weight savings
63-66
67-69 ft bumper w/bkts 29 lbs 6 llbs 23 lbs
70-72 hood 56 lbs 16 lbs 40lbs
ft bumper w/bkts--dart 30 lbs 6 lbs 24 lbs
ft valance pan 6 lbs 3 lbs 3 lbs
ft fender w/extension 24 lbs 7 lbs 17 lbs
doors-complete 70 lbs/ea 28 lbs/ea 42 lbs
dash complete 32 lbs 8 lbs 24 lbs
trunk lid--dart 45 lbs 10 lbs 35 lbs
r bumper w/ bkts--dart 36 lbs 8 lbs 28 lbs
r bumper w/bkts-duster 40 lbs 6 lbs 34 lbs
rear sideglass 12 lbs/ea lexan copies 1 lbs/ea 11 lbs
rear window regulators 11 lbs/ea
73-76 ft bumper---'73 58 lbs 6 lbs 52 lbs
dash complete 32 lbs 8 lbs 24 lbs
r-bumper w/bkts 73 duster 40 lbs 6 lbs 34 lbs
engine parts
400 engine block--empty 222 lbs
complete b-motor sht. blk 350 lbs
452 head 51 lbs/ea stage 6 head 26 lbs/ea 25 lbs/ea
iron intake 40lbs aluminum intake 15lbs 25 lbs
iron ex. manifolds 50 lbs headers 25 lbs 25 lbs
iron water pump/housing 20 lbs aluminum, setup 5 lbs 15 lbs
driveline/chassis
833 4-speed m/t trans 115 lbs bb727 a/t trans 120 lbs
flywheel-steel-typical 35 lbs
clutch and steel bell hsg 65 lbs t-converter-typical 20 lbs a/t lighter@ 75lbs total
power steer gear box 34 lbs manual steer box 9 lbs
p/s pump and hoses 12 lbs 37 lbs total lighter
stock upper contrl arms 4 lbs RMS tubular arms 2 lbs 2 lbs
stock disk setup 50 lbs/side
stock brake booster 10 lbs
complete w/wiper setup 6 lbs
master cylinder 6 lbs alum m/c w/ adapter 3 lbs 3 lbs