I am going to build a 360 for my 85 W350 Crew Cab. It has a 727/np205/dana60 4.10gears and 33" tires. I have 2 complete 360 engines one has a 71 cast date that is a standard bore 2bbl truck engine. The other is an 86 cast date 4bbl truck engine. I plan to build the 71. I have been looking for a reliable combination that produces good power at low RPM and runs on pump gas. I was looking at the 360 torque monster build in the tech archives http://www.moparts.org/Tech/Archive/smallblock/8.html. My question is how would this combination work if I used 360 heads that already have the larger valves? What is the advantage of the 302 heads is it the smaller combustion chambers produce more compression? I have a set of 915 heads on the 71, I'm not sure whats on the 86 and might be able to get a set of 308's. I plan on about 9.1 to 9.5 compression so it will have no problem running on pump gas. If any one has any other good 360 truck builds please post them This is my first engine build and I am trying to learn as much as possible.
Thanks, Brian

The 302s have smaller ports that will help with torque and throttle response but limit the motors rpm range.

I have built several tq oriented 360s if I was doiong another one I would use a 360 with KB107 pistons at zero deck. Get magnum heads with just a touch of port work and a 30 degree back cut on the valves. They will make more hp and tq then even the 302 heads. To get the 302 to the same amount of flow as a magnum they need a ton of work and the chamber is just plain better in the magnum witch helps tq even more. Either have the bolt holes redrilled to use LA intakes or get a RPM air gap intake for the mag heads. Use a comp XE262 cam or a similar Voo-Doo cam. Use a felpro .039 thick head gasket. You will end up around 10 to one compression and it will run fine on pump gas because the magnum chamber is so good.

Thanks for the replys
hotroddave40, I have been thinking about the magnum swap. What exactly needs to be done to get magnum heads to work with my LA block? I am trying to keep this a low cost build but want to do it once and do it right. I have an Edelbrock LD340 but if I bought another intake I would get the RPM air gap. For carbs I have a 600CFM Edelbrock #1406 and a 600CFM Holley #1850. With the magnum heads and an XE262 will either of these carbs work or would I be better off going with something a little bigger? Thanks for the help

Since you have it already I would use the eddy. It is a good carb for that set up. You will need pushrods for the conversion from mopar performance and you will need the rockers and if you want to use your LD340 (good choice) you need to have the intake bolt holes re-drilled.

Thanks again I appreciate the help

I read the article in the tech archives, and they were using the Mopar P4452757 cam that specs out with 248/256 advertised duration and 0.410"/0.425" lift 110 LSA. That is a very mild and nearly stock cam. A stock 360 cam specs are 252/265 duration and 0.410"/0.412" lift.

The stock 318 engine in my 1986 W150 has the MoPar P4452759 cam, 260/268 duration, 0.430"/0.450" lift and it run pretty good.

My first 360 RV engine was built around 1979, and it was a basic 0.030" over with 9:1 compression flat top pistons, reconditioned stock heads, a mild Crower Baja Beast cam (I think it was about 210 duration @ 0.050".) That engine had headers, dual exhaust, a Holley street dominator single plane and a Holly 600 DP carb. That engine performed very good, and it semed to pull well from idle to 5,000 RPM.

I just freshned up another 360 I built a few years back. The engine used the KB232 Quench dome pistons for about 9.5:1 compression, AeroHead 360 heads with the 2.02"/1.60" valves and hardened seats. I did a mild porting job on the heads too. Originally I had a Hughes HE0914AL Cam (I think 208/215 duration @ 0.050?) and the recommended single springs/retainers.
The engine used the standard Edelbrock Performer intake that was gasket matched to the 360 port size, and at the time I was running an Edelbrock 625 cfm AFB carb. This engine ran pretty good too, but I wanted more power so when I fresheded up the engine (re-ring, new bearings, etc.) I installed the Hughes HEH1523AL cam that specs out at 215/223 duration @ 0.050", 112 LSA, and 0.501"/0.539" lift using Crane 1.6:1 rocker arms.
I also installed a Holley 670cfm Truck avenger carb, and Crane HI-6 ignition. Once I got the carb tuned the engine was running very strong.

If I built another 360, I would probbably just use a flat top piston like the Speed-Pro H116CP.
The KB232 takes too much machine work, having to narrow pin width on the rods to 1", and mill the block and heads to get the correct quench.
I think I would also use the magnum style heads.
The magnum heads require rocker arm oiling through the pushrods, but that is no a big deal.
That Hughes HEH1523AL cam is really nice for torque and performance, but if you want torque and economy you may want a slightly smaller cam.

How about an easy bolt on for an otherwise stock motor, an Edelbrock SP2P intake, pencil sized runners, will pull a trailer at idle and will never see the sunny side of 4000 RPM.

Thanks for the replys I am starting to lean towards the magnum head swap. Are all the magnum heads from 93-03 the same? Is there any difference between the 360 and 318 magnum heads. I have a quite few junkyards around that have trucks with magnum engines.
Thans, Brian

or you could buy my 360 listed in the small block for sale section that would work great for your application and the price i am asking you can't build the motor for that and it is fresh never fired yet!! just a thought brett

Besides when you by the heads off you get to see the cracks and then you wonder if you should by new heads. Put a 4" stoke crank in with no more than 9to1 comp and go,don't get too caught up in the hype of quench or trying to run more comp than what will work in the REAL world.

I was thinking I might be better off buying a whole magnum engine but was leaning towards the head swap because I already have 2 360 LA engines
Thanks, Brian

if you don't plan on revving much past 4000 RPM either the mag or 302 heads will fit the bill...both will make about the same torque, the mags will pull to 5k-5500 RPM with a decent cam to make more HP.

for pistons, I'd use KB107's or sealed power H116CP's at 0 deck...with the closed chambered heads, you're looking at ~10.6:1 comp. I'd polish the chambers and knock off any sharp corners on the piston face to reduce the chance of hot spots/detonation. 302 heads, I'd just get a good 5 angle VJ, if you get into swapping valves out, I'd just go magnums.

if you go magnums, check out the enginequest mag heads from CMEngines.com. they quoted me a good price earlier this year. I'd have them set them up with OEM valves, 5 angfle valve job with the throat of the bowl 80-85% the valve diameter, and OEM GM 3.1/3.4/3.5L springs/retainers set up at about 1.67" IH. the 318B's are drilled with an LA intake pattern, I'd get those, and use an eddie performer intake and a tquad or Qjet.

for a cam, I'd look at the voodoo 60401 (302 head w/1.5 rockers)) or comp XE256 (mag head with 1.6's) with that amount of compression. I think you'd be fine on pump 93, maybe even pump 89 with one of these cams and have a boat load of torque & great throttle response.

one advantage of the mag engine is you get the ability to use a hydraulic roller cheaply.

I guess on a "tight budget" means different things to different people. Does not head porting- even in the mild form add $$$$? To me a nice torquey truck engine on my budget would be good round cyl bores and a piston to give a true 9- 9.5:1 comp. A short block like this with some sound 1.88int 1.60 exh LA heads (hardened seat era) a modern mild Comp extreme energy cam, a Performer (not RPM) or action plus intake, 600cfm carb and dual exhaust w/cheapie headers or even manifolds would be much much better than an oem smog 360 that originally came in that truck- and would not be expensive. The LD340 and Perf RPM would be a waste to use on a truck. These are 6000rpm plus manifolds and would be better suited to hot street/strip rather than towing. Especially considering the rarity and value of the LD340.

Everyones budget and results they would be happy with are different. For a torque engine that WILL run on pump gas 10to 1 comp isn't going to work, a dual pattern cam is a poor idea and more cubes is the best choice if you really want torque and pump gas in a truck. Magnum heads on a stock LA 360 is fine,if you don't waste lots of time finding a set that are usable,a stock or 252 high energy cam is a fine choice.

I've seen 10:1 work on pump gas but the quench was correct(.035-040)

I've seen 10 to 1 work fine on pump gas without quench,whats the point? Without all the details it has no point.