After a failed 340 Im back to the drawing board with my 70 cuda. My goals for this car are to be able to knock down some 12 second times yet it still be mild enough to be a daily driver and also be able to cruise the interstate fine. I am open to either a big or small block. I definitely want an overdrive transmission to lower my rpm on the interstate. I have some of the stuff to put an a833 od transmission (iron case) in and would like to go that route if you all think it will hold up. When i can afford a 5/6 speed I will go that route. What I currently have for engines are a 360 block thats already bored and has 2.02 valve J heads. I have a 1969 383 truck engine that was rebuilt stock. Also I have a Late 70s 440 that needs rebuilt. So I can rebuild or mod any of these engines that you think would be best for my goals. So to sum it up... Im looking for recommendations on engine, if the 833 OD will work and gear ratio. Thanks!

I think the 440 would be the easiest build. You could achieve 12,s and still run a relatively mild hydraulic cam and dual plane intake to keep street manners. No replacement for displacement.

I have a 408 aluminum head small block. Its best is 12.74 at 108 with 3.23 rear gear auto. turns about 3000 rpm at 75 mph. I drive the car everywhere not the daily driver but will drive it 3 hrs to Atco or Engilshtown race and drive it home. I think most people would think it is on the edge of streetable. Fine for me

i would go with the 360, get a scat 4" stroker kit, have the heads checked with some bowl blend rpm manifold and a cam in the 226 to 230 2.050 range, it will weigh less than the 440 and you won't have to worry about wiring, mounts, and it will handle better. even a stock stroke 360 will get you hi 12's if done right

Stroke the 440 out to 493. With 9:1 compression and a set of Eddies it will make an easy 500 hp @ 5000rpm on regular gas without any daily driver compromises like big duration cams and hi stall converters or steep gears. You could likely run deep in the 12's with no more than a 3.23 gear and a Hemi type converter (2800 stall). My 4800 lb C-body ran 13.90's with a 2.76 and no traction with that combo. Subtract at least 1000lbs for an E-body and add some traction and you're there.

A mild 440 will do that with no problem. I can't see going to a stroker to just turn 12's. Find a good used 440 for a decent price, good exhaust, maybe cam, and 12s will be easy.

The 440 will do it absolutely. What the stroker brings to the table is the ability to do it on regular gas with a mild cam that will get something resembling fuel economy as he wanted it to be a daily driver with freeway ability. For that application, displacement wins every time plus it leaves room to grow.

Kevin

9.5:1 440 520's split duration cam w/ a 112 centerline, a little port work on 906/452 heads, headers, RPM intake and a holley 750DP, use a 2800-3000 tight converter and 3.73-3.91 gears and you'll be in the 12's easy. HOWEVER if the car is currently a SB set-up I'd stroke the 360, you might need more cam and some extra head work but w/ the OD you can still use 3.73's and be close.

how about a 360, use 273 rods, kb 10 to 1's, 508 hydraulic cam, adjustable rockers, windage tray, single plane intake, holley 750 with bigger jets and squirters. I had this in my 68 dart GTS with a 904, shiftkit, stock convertor, 3.91's. It would run 12.40's all day in 90+ degree heat. 32 degrees total timing. I had a full bodied car with full exhaust and street tires. Very simple to build, cost less than 2k in parts, and never lost 1 lb of oil pressure and I rode it very hard. It seen many 7k plus revs. Keep it simple and it will scream. Those stroker 408's are over rated and cost way to much for the power they make. Mine was well over 435 hp. Do the math. The best was 12.40 at 112mph. with zero traction and a 1.95 60 ft. time. With a stall and 4.30's and a small set of slicks it would have gone 11's all day.

I would prefer 360 if it can be done since I have more small block parts. But really either one is fine. Should the overdrive 4 speed be stout enough for either big or small block?

It just kills me with alot of folks building these 408's and spending tons of money when they don't run any better than a properly built 360 at a lot less $$$. I'm not impressed with a 408 at all. If I wanted all those cubes I'd just go with a 440. I do like the 500's though. I like the idea of useing the lowdeck 400 block.

360+supercharger and then dial in whatever boost you need.

Go as big as you possibly can to begin with.

The 440 is the perfect platform to start from and with a VERY mild (read small cam, low compression) build it will go 12's with ease.

On the other hand, if handling will be considered go with the 360.

A stock-stroke 440 will be able to turn easy 12s w/ no more than 3.55 gears. However, a small-block E-body will always handle better (more balanced overall) than a big-block version. I've owned both, so these are comments from first-hand experience. Figure out what's your priority and go from there.

EDIT: A stroker small-block could be the best of both worlds.

The thing I like about a 406-408 SB vs 440 is less weight & easier to service. Also less fooling around with mounts, accessories, and possibly cooling. Pretty easy 12s, with enough torque that it doesn't need a bunch of gear. The 360 might be cheaper to build but will be a higher-strung setup for the same ET than a 406-408; but 12s are relatively easy. A 440 would require less modification for the same 12s. Either one would make a nice highway car, though the 406-408 will get better mileage, about 4-5MPG from my experience. The OD ratios are not an optimum "split" for drag racing, but building for torque would help there.
There's no wrong answer, really, depending on how you want it to drive on the street, but I really liked my 406 Duster street car a lot.

What happened to the 340? If you still have a good 340 block then just put a stroker crank in it and you should be good to go. Some Edelbrock heads (Magnum or LA) and normal cam, carb, intake upgrades and you should easily be in the 12's or faster.

A later model Magnum motor is also a good choice, especially with a stroker kit in it. The Magnum has some nice design features that the LA motors don't have.

remember the 340 with the 4.125 stroke crank is about 427" this is what i plan on a F.A.S.T. type Demon 340 build. but my hands will be tied with the stock intake and exhaust manifold probably only running high 11's. but then again i don't want to run a roll bar

Stroke the 360, eddy heads, 12’s….no problem…The best of both worlds, small block weight with big block torque.

Over square stroking with over +4" limits the rpm for max torque production. Even with a hot setup. A 4.12 stroke will shift around well around 4500,4800rpm. The awesome part is that strokers do not need a lot of gearing, the longer crank throw advantages the torque, in a similar manner as the mechanical advantage gearing. 3.08-3.23 gears are fine. It fits a road car up for highway driving and enough torque to pull stumps out. Not to mention, you , rapidly through the gears. Carb choice progressive go AVS 800cfm, or standard QJet.

The 440 engine is your best choice cause you say it is there, and the engine with the most potential for EASY power. Big Bore and stroke in a heavy duty package.

The 360 can do great things if build with in reason. For highest performance road driveability, the most recomendable way is the complete Edelbrock RPM 360 mopar package heads/cam/intake/headers/3.91's. It may get you to the actual 12's, but not much fun at 65mph.