Is a ’86 360 truck block a good core for a street performance rebuild?

I can get a 360 out of a '86 Ramcharger. I want to put it in a Plymouth Duster or maybe even a Dodge Dart to make a nice little street car. It will see a 1320 pass or two a few times a year, but it's going to be a driver not a racer. The engine is a complete from air cleaner to oil pan 360 4 bbl with a NP435 manual tranny.

I'm going to have the block completely machined. I want to make either a 365 or a 408 stroker using a Eagle or Scat rotating assembly kit with a cast crank, forged pistons and 4340 steel I beam rods. I want to go with 9.5:1 to 10.0:1 compression and be able to run 92 or 93 octane fuel. I like the Edelbrock Performer RPM heads, intake and maybe even the matching camshaft. I've had really good luck with Holley's #3310 750 vacuum secondary carb in the past and will probably run it or something similar to it. I'd like to get 350 to 400 reliable horsepower with really good torque for street use.

A guy I work with has a NP A-833 4 spd out of a "A" body. He has the blow proof bell housing to go with it. I'm pretty sure I'm going to buy it off of him. I'll go with 3.55 to 3.90 or so gears, headers with full length exhaust with mufflers that aren't to loud but flow good, radial tires, regular suspension with a full interior.

I have a lot of experience with small block Chevy's (especially the 406's) and a little bit of experience with small block Fords. This will be my first Mopar. I'll take all the advise I can get.

Thanks, NYH1! 8)
Author: admin