AMC 360 Stroker project: Need Advice

[TWIKEL]

Ok, here what I have:

AMC 360 block punched .60 over that was short blocked 18k ago. (assuming GEN 3 Tall Deck) with a rod knocking.
Cylinders still have hash marks showing
Heads (assuming Gen 3, 58cc)
Rods have to be replaced

I'm wanting to add a little more to the bottom end and HP so this is my proposed build:

The above listed 360 block honed with
401 Crank
401 Rods
Stock, Rebuilt Heads
343 Gen 2 .60 pistons with 8.5:1
Melling MTA-1 Cam
Edelbrock 3121 Performer Intake
Holly Truck Avenger 470

Can one of the building gods let me know if:
1) The block needs to be modified for the 401 Crank?
2) The 343 Gen 2 .60 pistons have the correct deck height?
3) what the actual compression would be?
4) Estimated Toque and HP
5) Any comments, this is my first AMC build.

Thanks
Todd W
Plano, TX

[SC/397]

I would answer but I am not a Building God.
You will need to do something about the .927 piston pin in the 343 piston and the 1" hole in the 401 connecting rod.
Look in here, this should help a little:
http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showthread.php?t=141096

[TWIKEL]

Suggestions?

[SC/397]

What was the cause of the rod-nock?

[TWIKEL]

It appears to be improper rod sizing on the crank. But the machinist has not taken a look yet.

How bad is it to punch a 360 block to .85 over? That wouod make thinks so much easier.

[DieselSJ]

While SC/397 thinks that he isn't a Building God, I will respectfully disagree. Go read his threads and you will learn a ton about how to properly build an engine. I know some engine builders that could learn a few things from him.

Also go read the thread on the 406 stroker project. http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showt...hlight=stroker

[Ghinmi]

Originally Posted by TWIKEL

It appears to be improper rod sizing on the crank. But the machinist has not taken a look yet.

How bad is it to punch a 360 block to .85 over? That wouod make thinks so much easier.

You'd want to sonic check the block first. It's a definite possibility though.

[jcisworthy]

You cant run that piston with a 401 crank it will stick out of the hole around .090.

The 401 rod journal is larger than the 360 so you will either have to run a 70 390 rod or a 401 rod or turn the crank journal down to use a 360 rod. A 360 rod does not make sense. You may have to get into custom pistons. You may have to notch the bores for clearance using a 401 crank. You want at least .060 between the rods and the bottom of the bores. There is a lot involved in a build like this.

For your first build you may want to stick to a more basic combo.

[jeepsr4ever]

Be careful with budget pistons. The budget pistons available 15 years ago are superior to those pistons today (old cast versus new cast).

[TWIKEL]

Block had to be replaced due guaded #6 piston and cylinder. So took replacement block to an amc specialist in sherman tx (Bill Spence Engines). Should be completed next week and installed in the black beast. None to soon....missing some good mudding because of all the rain. Everyone, thanks for the advice.

[BA_051]

Ahh I missed this thread somehow... I built a 360 stroked to 406 a few months ago. The build thread is on the site in the build threads... The 401 crank will bolt into a 360 block with no mods to either... The issue is the 401 rods are a bit bigger and that is why the block needs to be modified. I turned down the 401 rod journals to 360 size and offset ground them as well giving it a 3.8" stroke. The forged 360 rods had to have the big end narrowed by 0.065in to fit in the narrower 401 journals. I did have to run a custom piston with 1.433" compression height.

Putting the 401 rods on the 360 pistons is the easy part, most shops should be able to bush the wrist pin end down making them floating wrist pins... Then just need custom pistons... the 343 and 360 pistons compression height is 1.601" and the 401 is 1.508"...
If you run a 401 crank (3.68 stroke), with 401 rods (5.858") you will need a compression height of 9.208-3.68/2-5.858=1.510. So you would have to have the tops of the 343 or 360 pistons milled by .093"... Cant do that with the 343 pistons, but certainly can on the 360 dish pistons making them almost flat tops... Or bore the 360 out .085 and just run the 401 piston if the block will allow...

Either way, a 360 stroker can be done easily, and doesn't need $5000 to do it... I did it for around $2500...

360, .060 overbore = 4.140 bore
401 stroke = 3.68
total cubes would be 396.30ci

now a 401 stroked out would be awesome... I looked into that with a Scat 4" stroke crank... .020 overbore... that would have been a 440ci and nearly $5000

[Ghinmi]

I've never heard of Scat making an AMC crank? That would be awesome.