Hey Guys,

I'm considering building a 360 stroker out of a LA block. All I have is the block. I'd like to get about 500 HP out of it on pump gas and keep it a low maintenance reliable engine. Too much to ask? I'd appreciate your thoughts on what kits/parts to buy to achieve this. I'd like to know what parts/kits to stay away from as well as what you've had good luck with. I'm wide open on options in building this, and would appreciate some rough cost figures with your suggestions as well as the HP/Torque you got out of the combination. The car in question is a 71 Demon currently running a 3.23 gear, currently has a built 904 trans, could change that if needed.

Thanks !

My 408 cost me about 8 gs. Made 504 hp at 5700 with an airgap intake, EQ heads with 202/160 valves, a hyd roller of 235/249/107 @ .050 dur .560 lift, 850 quickfuel carb 10/1 compression. It only wanted 30 degrees total timing.

I’ll jump in the pool. I’m sure my list will get picked apart. That’s fine.

Question for original poster. For “easy maintenance”, must it be a Hydraulic cam

Scat forged crank I-beam rotating kit

• Scat forged crank I-beam rotating kit 10:1 compression max
• trick flow heads
• RPM dual plane intake or maybe single plane
• flat tappet cam in 250-260 deg range @0.050 , 110 centerline for drivability (call Bullet)
• TTI or Dougs 1 5/8 headers
• ”750” double pump carb with adjustability (Quick Fuel, etc)
• Comp Cam steel rocker arm (hope they are same quality as I bought 10 yrs ago )
• Smith Bros or Manton pushrods after you correctly measure.

So many flat tappet cam failures anymore I dunno if they are still a good choice? I'd be half tempted to just start with a 5.9 magnum block that is already roller cam ready.

Edelbrock heads cleaned up.

Performer RPM intake.

750 min carb.

Pro Gear timing chain.

Hydraulic or roller maybe.

I'm doing a 408 stroker build right now, here are the parts:

1) '74 360 block, 0.030" over
2) Eagle forged crank
3) Eagle H-beam rods
4) W2 Econo Race heads (cast-in rocker shaft pedestal, but using the long valves)
5) Mahle PowerPak pistons (4032 alloy), should give me a 10.5 static CR
6) Edelbrock Victor 2920 single plane intake
7) Comp Cams Hudraulic Roller XR292HR-12, so actually a 112 LSA since car is about 95% streeet ride
8) TTI 1-7/8" headers (these go into a full lenght 3" X-pipe setup)
9) Harland Sharp roller rockers, 1.6 ratio

That is going into my coupe, 3600 lbs, 4K stall converter, 4.10 gear out back. Would love that combo to dip into the 11s, but I have no traction, so low 12s will make me happy.

Leaving out a pile of normal parts such as gaskets, timing chains, bolts, etc. I am about $8.5K total spend, with $3K in machining costs and the rest being the parts.

The big cost NEW parts for me where:
1) roller setup => cam and lifters
2) W2 stuff => rocker arms, intake and headers

...so that's a good chunk of money right there that I had to spend because I couldn't re-use my old LA stuff.

So there is a ballpark figure of what that costs may be like for you. If you are not departing the factor-like setup, so no W2, etc. you will save a pile there!

There are big advantages of going to a 5.9 magnum. I posted above about my 408 but would change a few things. The 5.9 base with roller cam and stock rockers were used in the 380 hp crate 360. A 408 version with a cam similar could use stock rockers and lifters if there are new stock replacement head castings are available. Some minor bowl work in the ports, topped off by a fuel injection system would be my choice now. Should still make 450 hp or more and be a lot more budget friendly.

My 408: R3 block, Scat 4 inch stroker kit, Indy 360-1 heads and intake, 600 lift mech.cam, 9.8 to 1 compression for pump gas 1 7/8 headers, AED 750 HP carb, 539 hp / 502 tq. not cheap though including block and head/ intake kit around 10g . The 5.9 Magnum block is good my old combo was a: 360 crate short block , W2 heads, Victor 340 intake, 11 1/2 to 1 compression made 549 hp / 450 tq but it was 30 over and not a stroker. I am presently redoing it for pump gas / lower compression still expect 500-520 hp.

I’d do the scat cast rotating assembly. It’s fine for more than 500hp. Trickflow would be my first choice.
I’d run a 245-250@050 solid with 108-110lsa. Rpm or standard Victor intake, at least a 750 Holley, and at least a 1 5/8 headers and you’re there. It’s pretty easy to do.

Cost will be anywhere from $5k-$9k for that, depending on the shop costs, what parts you buy, where you buy them, and if you do any of the assembly work yourself. Starting with only a block you can figure a higher number because all the little parts really add up. Might be better off just dropping in a BluePrint stroker motor with 50k warranty, unless you are looking forward to the experience/process.