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I recently bought 71 cuda, originally 340 (unfortunattely lost 20+ years ago), not running since. It is 4 speed car, transmission still there. Because of 340 engines are expensive (12k for crate engine), I`m considering to use 408 stroker (360) engine instead, which are around 7k, and they shoudl have more HP. It is my first E-body, have no experience, so here are my questions?
1. will 360 (408) fit without any frame adjustments or adapters to 340 car?
2. will it fit to original 4 speed?
3. any recommendation, where to buy 408 (engine builders, etc...- I found it on Summit and Ebay from ATK)
4. in general, is it smart to use this type of engine? Or would you recommed something totally different?

The reason why I want to keep it small block is because of weight and easy handling.

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If you want to find an inexpensive engine, I would go with a 360 magnum from a truck/dakota. If you have a decent budget, I would go with Gen 3 Hemi and transmission. If you can buy a wreck in your country to transplant everything, that would save you quite a bit of money. A Gen 3 hemi will get you quite a bit of power for the buck plus mileage.

Welcome to the board. Please start a post with your build and post lots of pictures!

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"best" is subjective and depends on your needs/wants/useage and how close to stock you intend the car to be.

I have zero interest in having a modern hemi in a classic car, so "best" for me would be a 340, followed closely by a 360 (likely stroked).


Dave

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You might have a balance problem with the 360. They are externally balanced. You need to know if your current flywheel is for an internal or external balanced engine. If internal. Then use a 318 block and a 4" stroke crank. But on second thought. It might require either combo to be internally balanced.

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another 340 is the answer...hell of a better motor than a 360

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If built the same,part for part, the 360 would be the stronger of the two right? Unless the larger bore size of the 340 would make a huge difference.

And when both get a 4" crank then you'd have a 408 and a 416 that should run pretty evenly. If thats true then the 360 woukd look better to me simply because of the lower initial purchase price.

Add in the ability to go magnum based stroker with the better heads and roller cam (no worry of wiped lobes), then I'd really lean 360.

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The 340 and 360 are the same engine on the outside.

The original 4-speed will mate to the 360, they were available that way when new. The bellhousing (part that goes between the engine and the transmission) is the same for both.

Make sure that you get a flywheel that matches the engine. By that I mean the flywheel will have 130 tooth ring gear, and have the normal MOPAR 6-bolt flange. But 340s and 360s had different balance. And who knows how a stroker is balanced. So, you need to make sure that WHATEVER engine you buy has a harmonic damper and a flywheel that are balanced to the particular engine you are getting.

For a clutch the flywheel will have a 10.5" pressure plate bolt pattern, and you can use the bigger clutch, they called it 10.95" to differentiate it from the larger flywheel that took either an 11" or 12" clutch. Centerforce Dual Friction would be my choice.

If you can afford aluminum heads they would help take weight off the front end, that would be good. Then also you could run 10.5:1 compression with your available pump gasoline. It should be very easy to make 500 hp with such an engine, if you want that much. If you wanted only 400hp, a 360 would do quite well.

I would suggest finding a builder on the East Coast to build an engine for you. I am suspicious of mass-produced high performance engines.

I hope someone here can give a reference or two.

Whatever you do, ask here before you buy. Or send me a pm, I love to spend other people's money.

Good Luck!

R.

The good news is that you only have to sort this out once.

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