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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1150
  
Location: Southern California | anyone here running 361 engines? how are they ? your thoughts? are they reliable with decent power?
Having my engine rebuilt at the moment, when I bought the car(60 chrysler) the guy said it was a 413, then i found out it was a 383. But later the shop realized it was a 361.
anyhow the shop is having some new pistons made since apparently you cannot get them for 361's
my combo will be 361 engine with A488 torqueflight.
whos running this setup and how do you like it.
thanks
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Expert
Posts: 3575
 
Location: Netherlands | I had a 361 in my '64 Newport years ago.
It's just a small 383 engine.
Heck, I think you could have located an empty 383 block and get new off the shelve pistons easier than having pistons made for the 361.
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 7393
Location: northern germany | its a great very reliable setup, just not quite the power of the 383. 361s either have smaller valves (up to 60) or share the heads with the 383/413 (61) with a drop in compression (9:1) |
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 6498
Location: Newark, Texas (Fort Worth) | Are the pistons .030" over? Who is making yours? What is the cost? I am building an L-350 @ 4.155" bore. (a 361 30 over) Marc. |
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Expert
Posts: 1740
Location: Alaska | I owned a 60 Plymouth w/ the 305 HP 361 and it was a very good performer, later I put this engine in my 57 Fury. Of course the Plymouths are much lighter than the big Chryslers. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1150
Location: Southern California | I see good to know 
Marc, I'm having it bored 0.30 over and silvolite is making my pistons. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1150
Location: Southern California | Sorry meant .030 over |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1150
Location: Southern California | Not sure of the actual cost for the piston, the motor rebuild to long block will be approx $2,200 |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1150
Location: Southern California | Pistons |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 636
| Mike you have the earlier high compression 361, so my comments don't apply directly to your application.
I think the later ('61 and up) Regular gas, "Firebolt" 361 is the greatest bargain in Mopar land. When you consider what you can spend to get that last extra 10 ft-lbs of torque out of a "B" rebuild, a good original user 361 looks even better. I think the guy/gal looking at a $5000 build/upgrade should borrow a stock/base 361 Newport, get it up to normal operating temp, and then push the pedal to the floor on a freeway ramp. Then decide if the extra $$$$ is worth it, or if the money is better spent elsewhere on the car. You'll have money left over to upgrade the cam and intake/carb.
I guess I'm biased since as a kid I learned what a "passing gear" was watching mom get up to speed on that ramp, in a base Newport. My neighbor's sister started a drive from Bay City, MI to college in Ohio, in a 65 Fury with a 361 . . . in gear "2". She didn't drive fast enough to over-ride to "3" and after an hour of very noisy running, figured it out. The car didn't overheat and ran for years afterwards.
Plus, at the car show nobody can tell the difference.
I'm always looking for a good '62 361 with the Aluminum TF, the ultimate "spare part".
Sparky
Edited by sparky7 2015-04-22 11:50 AM
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Expert
Posts: 3776
Location: NorCal | bad58mike - 2015-04-21 8:44 PM
Not sure of the actual cost for the piston, the motor rebuild to long block will be approx $2,200
Gasp!!! Choke!!! Gold plated parts?
Edited by 57chizler 2015-04-22 1:45 PM
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 7393
Location: northern germany | i forgot, i hotroded my girlfriends 61 desoto coupe (low compression 361) years ago. i went to 133mph easily and still pedal left. these are really nice engines. |
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Expert
Posts: 1497
Location: Fairfax, Minnesota | There is a set of new flat top pistons and rings for a 361 on ebay right now. 2.5 days left. $330 buy it now I have no idea as to quality. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1150
Location: Southern California | Glad to hear these engines are good. Looking forward to see how the motor comes out.
We are going to spiffy it up a bit, going to be bored .030 over with a better cam , valves , forged custom made silvolite pistons, edelbrock intake, demon 4 barrel carb, headers, and 40 series flowmasters exhaust.
Should be cool |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1150
Location: Southern California | I saw the set on ebay, would be cool but already vested in the build, pistons are being made as we speak.
Thanks anyways |
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361 engine?
