Early 360

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Mr Shine

Mr Shine

At 12 dad said “Tear this 318 apart”.I was hooked.
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Anyone know when the 360s started production?
Just stumbled on one that says 6/17/70
 
Just like some cars with a build date from the end of the previous year. They have to start production before the actual model year. i.e.:1971 car built 11/1970
 
^^And remember since it was "new" it had to have some development time. I would not be surprised if somebody found a 360 with a 68 or 9 block date
 
If I remember correct, the 70 TA heads were 360 heads. So it appears the 360 was in the works a while before it officially came out.
 
So June of 70 wouldn’t necessarily be all that early....
 
the 360 was first available in 1971 vehicles - which were at the dealers in September 1970. the 360 was not a vastly different animal than a 318 or 340. J heads, same rockers, oil pump , cams interchange etc. etc. Differences only crank, pistons, main bearings, external balnance. blocks were first cast in 1970. The 340 TA used J head 3418915 castings, same casting as some 1970 340s and 1971 and 1972 340s and 360s
 
I had a 71 Fury that the 360 in it was a 70 casting. I also have a 67 cast 340. They were available in 68 cars.
 
Here is a 4/27/70 casting 360 after sonic testing I bored it .070

30CC6288-31FF-4E4F-BC75-82B36C52D3B0.jpeg
 
I have an early 360 bored to .070 over also...
 
70aarcuda said:
I have an early 360 bored to .070 over also...
Click to expand...
It was a cheap way to build a 372-373
I had so much good luck with a .060 over 340 which comes to a 4.100 bore I felt a .070 over 360 at 4.070 was possible after sonic testing it.
Did you have any sign of it trying to overheat ever?
 
There was an article in the mid(?)-'70's called "Hoover's Mover. Tom Hoover (Father of the Hemi.) Put together the original version of a "big bore" 360. Using much machined OEM low compression 340+.020" pistons, He put the budget combo into a notchback Barracuda that ran very well before the aftermarket had performance 360 pistons.

I gotta do some digging to find it and refresh my memory on more of the details.
 
Locomotion said:
There was an article in the mid(?)-'70's called "Hoover's Mover. Tom Hoover (Father of the Hemi.) Put together the original version of a "big bore" 360. Using much machined OEM low compression 340+.020" pistons, He put the budget combo into a notchback Barracuda that ran very well before the aftermarket had performance 360 pistons.

I gotta do some digging to find it and refresh my memory on more of the details.
Click to expand...


I wish I had enough $$ to play with a poly 360 concept ...

I mean I see w2/w5 heads and alot of work
 
Locomotion said:
There was an article in the mid(?)-'70's called "Hoover's Mover. Tom Hoover (Father of the Hemi.) Put together the original version of a "big bore" 360. Using much machined OEM low compression 340+.020" pistons, He put the budget combo into a notchback Barracuda that ran very well before the aftermarket had performance 360 pistons.

I gotta do some digging to find it and refresh my memory on more of the details.
Click to expand...
a 360 with the 1972-3 340 +.020" piston was a way back in the day to get a 10.5 low budget piston. 360 +.060" = 370 - not exactly big bore.
 
360 +60 without a sonic test can be a too big bore
especially late blocks
early blocks could have used 340 sand cores
don't know when they "lightened up" but some had trouble
and water jacket rust
 
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