Don't have too much experience of the LA family, been only doing lots of 383's and bigger so far. Have, what I believe, some kind of crate 360 in my 'Cuda vert but it's way to revvy for the cruiser. I bought the 360 used and the guy told me he got it with a 70 Challenger he bought. He didn't have any info about it, and I guess he didn't care since he planned a swap to a 6.1 Hemi. Anyway, it seems to be fresh. No rattling or oil burning and the plugs look ok after some thousand miles. But it's very weak in the bottom and comes in hard at maybe 3,000 - 3,500 rpm. I have a 2,200 stall converter and combined with 3.23 it makes power where I'm not interested to be in that car. Very thirsty too.
All I know is that's a 1971 360, it has an Eddy RPM intake, a Holley 750dp, MSD 6AL and MSD billet non vac distributor and headers. That's all I can see but I will lift a head off to measure compression ratio so I know what I have to start with.
I want an engine that matches the converter and gear ratio. It would be nice to get good throttle response and some bottom grunt.
I drive the car a lot so mileage is not completely unforgotten.
I have a 3" tti h-pipe system lying around that I want to use.
I also have A518 46RH tranny on the shelf but I won't get the time to install it for this summer. Maybe, if I can get the motor I wish for, I could swap to a 2.96, keep the 904 and still have a fun 'Cuda..?
Without experience I was thinking a 600 vac carb, dual plane, MP vac distributor and a high lift, short duration cam.
My questions are if I can use the RPM intake and what cam I should use. Would a hydraulic roller take me there?
Thanks in advance folks

Just me I would not pull a head but instead I'd do a cranking compression test. yes vac adv & dial in the dist subsystems in order. 1406 600 cfm eddy would be a good choice & it requires a strip kit. a functioning TQ with 1&3/8 primaries would be good & just needs the flat plate (cheap) to fit the square bore RPM intake or iirc a "street avenger" gets rave reviews but I'm sure is pricey. best is one of those carbs that all systems are adjustable. I ain't a cam or converter guy so get some good advice on them for your gear ratio/tire dia (what you have now not what you MAY do in the future (a common mistake). the RPM is an excellent intake in all areas even being a dual plane (what you need) & it is a square bore & very tall & since it already fits you're good. EDIT When posting I was thinking of the big block "performer RPM" intake, not sure what the SB one is like or even that there was one (for a SB)

I don't have any specific advice, but just want to say that I like your general approach to making this engine more streetable. I have never run an RPM intake, so I'm not sure about that. I would call a couple of cam grinders and get their opinions on a cam.

I run BF's 275/60-15 in the back.
TQ is an interesting idea If I get time and money I will go EFI in next step. Right now I want to find a good cam for my combo and drive this summer.
I will do a compression test before I pull a head, but I still want to pull it to be able get real CR and at the same time see how the bores look like and what pistons I have.

ignition timing is the first spot to get better low end performance.

What is idle timing and where does the engine idle? Does it smell like a fuel truck dumping gas?

The Performer RPM and RPM Air-Gap are the best one size fits all manifold on the market for smallblocks and for most other engines as well. Keep it.

It's a squarebore intake and I'd suggest a Street Demon 650 for it. Looks and works like a T-Quad, but fits on either type of flange. It's good right out of the box, they run around $350 if you shop. Get the space age plastic body.

For a camshaft I'd look at the Voodoo second or third number cam. I'm thinking under 220 intake duration at 0.050 lift. If you're going to run highway gears, then I'd go even smaller.

The distributor would be the last thing I'd change, see how it reacts to the other mods. But the Firecore sold by a member here has gotten rave reviews and is supposedly very easy to change advance curve.

R.

I agree, the 2nd number voodoo hydraulic flat tappet cam will get you where you want to be. If budget is tight, either one of the summit cams will do.