Hi guys. I am going to put a 360/727 transmission combo in my 48 plymouth. I have a couple of actual "engine questions" .
The motor came out of a 65,000 mile Dodge Motorhome. It is a 1978 model. The 727 has been rebuilt about 1500 miles ago. I will put a shift improver kit in it. AllI want is this coupe to be able to light the tires up here and there. It isn't going to be raced, just driven in a fun manner.
#1. Does the motorhome motor have any more compression than a standard car 360?
#2. I will be buying a dual plane intake for it and a 4 bbl carb. What cam should I get to achieve my performance goal and drivability. (gearing of the car will be around 3:55)
#3. The motor is really quiet. It has no smoke when running. With close to 70k on it, whould you do a complete rebuild or just a gasket kit, valve job, etc.

I know compression is important in making power. My question is how much more does my stocker need to be a fun tire fryer? Thanks,Jason

motor home cams where some of the best cams going with a stock converter..they make tons of torque.
motor homes are however hard on exhaust valves and exhaust manifolds...
i bet the motor as is with the aluminum intake will boil the tires off...fwiw..
any more cam and your gonna need more stall converter..my

fwiw..a motor home 360 in a 70 dart went 13.38 et 1/4 mile..

So, a carb and intake only change would be good? Would you bump a higher stall in it while they were out of the car? not opposed to it, just wondering. I am not looking for a drag car by any means, just something that will roast the tires easily.( probably going with a 275-60-15 tire on rear.)

If you had a higher stall conv it would allow the
enine to be up at torque which would spin the tires
much easier... say 3000 stall

Here is another dumb question.... Will the motorhome 727 work in a car? I don't mean shifter wise, I mean with the short tailshaft? It looks different than other 727s. Thanks again, Jason

A 1978 360 has no compression and is a pig. Get the compression up or just leave it alone.

I just put together an 85 360 motor with stock pistons, Sealed Power cam, 214/224 degrees @.050 .444/.467 lift, 69 340 intake, headers, 727 with a factory 360 convertor marked "hi stall". In a 68 Dart with 3.23 sure grip, it'll boil the hides at will. Doesn't take much to get a 360 to run hard.

The engine is going in a 48 which isn't too heavy. I don't believe it's going to be a drag racer. I suggest it doesn't need to be anything more than an honest 300hp engine, which is pretty easy. I'd use a Voodoo cam one step up from their smallest.

I'd not pull the heads, they have hardened seats and are probably good for 30,000 more miles, after which you'll know how much engine you want.

I'd suggest what others are suggesting, a dual plane Edelbrock, either one of the older ones or else a Performer RPM Air Gap. If you are buying an intake new the Air Gap is the obvious choice.

For a carb I'd use a Holley 570 Street Avenger. It's way ahead of older Holleys. It will give you great performance and mileage good enough that you can actually drive the car. I have one on my daily driver and it rocks.

IF the transmission you have is what I think it is, it has a yoke bolted to the output shaft. You either have to disassemble the transmission and replace tailshaft and housing, or you get someone to build you a driveshaft that has a slip joint in it. You will have to have a new driveshaft anyway, so this is just something a little extra. I'd say it sure beats having to completely strip your housing and finding parts.

The rear crossmember? It's a hot rod, you build it and put it where you need it.

I'd use an 8 3/4 rear from a B-body, should be about the right width.

Good luck! I have a lot of experience starting projects so I say this from personal knowledge: The most important thing you can do is get the car on the road. If you get caught up building engines it's a cycle that won't quit. Use what you have with minor bolt-ons and get the engine in the car and on the road! ON THE ROAD! Then when you go to the next step in engine or chassis or whatever you will have the motivation of remembering how much fun it was to drive.

R.

if the tranny and converter are from the motor home..then you have the high stall converter already...
if you dont use that converter...then call me i would like to purchase it..
its one of the best stock converters as you can get ..for a warmed up dart..like im building for my sons car..
...fwiw..