hot rod 361?

[hacksaw]

I have been toying with this idea also as a buddy picked up a low mile 62 Chrysler that had a 361 2V and there was also a 361 4V HP outside the garage. The intake and exhaust don't seem hard to find, but the correct 62 carb and dual point distributor and a few brackets were. There is also 2 versions of the air cleaner and early and the later small unsilenced that weren't bad either. Have fun.

There's not to many closed chamber iron heads out there. Stainless valves and polished chambers will easily handle 10-1 with 91 octane. A set of aluminums would be fun and gives you a point or so cushion of compression. It all depends on what you want to build. (how radical you want to go)

cruzer .. tire fryer ... i got a set of 516/ 906/ and a set of closed chamber heads that were on a 400 and a set i want to say are a 952? that are said to be a good unleaded head. but id have to go up and look. cam will probly be a stock 440 6pack hydro grind ... nothing to narly.

 

[hacksaw]

I have been toying with this idea also as a buddy picked up a low mile 62 Chrysler that had a 361 2V and there was also a 361 4V HP outside the garage. The intake and exhaust don't seem hard to find, but the correct 62 carb and dual point distributor and a few brackets were. There is also 2 versions of the air cleaner and early and the later small unsilenced that weren't bad either. Have fun.

if it fits im going with the duial 4bbl intake i got. and the only brackets im missing are the alt. i have all the pullys and power stearing pump and brackets. if ya got an extra alt bracket ... lol

 

[toolmanmike]

if it fits im going with the duial 4bbl intake i got. and the only brackets im missing are the alt. i have all the pullys and power stearing pump and brackets. if ya got an extra alt bracket ... lol

Need some brackets? start a wanted thread. Someone has some lying around I bet.

 

[Lefty71]

or i could realy go big and hard to find ..... LOL

Just saw parts like this early inline dual quad with carbs (and at least two complete 361's) go at the auction I attended on Friday in Indiana.

 

[hacksaw]

Just saw parts like this early inline dual quad with carbs (and at least two complete 361's) go at the auction I attended on Friday in Indiana.

did you buy them??? lol

 

[67charger383]

Put the original block in storage and get a 400. Then you won't have to worry about blowing up the original block and will make more power.

 

[hacksaw]

Put the original block in storage and get a 400. Then you won't have to worry about blowing up the original block and will make more power.

if i was going to use my 400 block id build a 512 .... lol

 

[67charger383]

if i was going to use my 400 block id build a 512 .... lol

Do it

 

[hacksaw]

Do it

naw ..... just building a cruzer that will smoke the hides if i want .... i can do that with a strong 361 ..... and look cool doing it....

 

[Dave6T4]

I think the 361 4-barrel motors had 10.0 : 1 compression, but they are likely quite rare. They were the standard motor on 1962 Polara 500's. After Mopar started putting 383's in B-bodies, I think 361's came only as low compression 2-barrel motors. A good closed chamber head that would keep compression up would be the big valve/port "915" heads that came on 1967 440 Magnum engines. Again, these are getting hard to find. That 2 X 4 intake from a 350 will bolt right on a 361, just don't try to run too big carbs. Something like Edelbrock 500's would be good. The factory setups ran about 1/2" spacer under the carbs to keep throttle linkage from hitting intake runners. Classic Industries sells a repro carb linkage/kickdown bracket for 2 X 4 setup. The repro RoadRunner cam would be good at around .470" lift and 280 degree duration, with a nice rumble. Smaller motors like a 361 don't need as much cam as a 440. A 361 (and 383 and 400, for that matter) has a shorter stroke than a 350 Chev and will really rev with the proper breathing system.
My vote would be for the 2 X 4 intake, just because it is nice eye candy. I ran one on a 426 Street Wedge in a 1964 Polara 500 convertible I had. Whenever I opened the hood, it drew a crowd. I found a guy in Arizona or New Mexico that reproduced the "Football" air cleaners in fiberglass. Good luck with your project.

 

[toolmanmike]

Other than the Cool Factor the dual quad intake is very unnecessary. They and the oval air cleaners are a good look though.

 

[hacksaw]

I think the 361 4-barrel motors had 10.0 : 1 compression, but they are likely quite rare. They were the standard motor on 1962 Polara 500's. After Mopar started putting 383's in B-bodies, I think 361's came only as low compression 2-barrel motors. A good closed chamber head that would keep compression up would be the big valve/port "915" heads that came on 1967 440 Magnum engines. Again, these are getting hard to find. That 2 X 4 intake from a 350 will bolt right on a 361, just don't try to run too big carbs. Something like Edelbrock 500's would be good. The factory setups ran about 1/2" spacer under the carbs to keep throttle linkage from hitting intake runners. Classic Industries sells a repro carb linkage/kickdown bracket for 2 X 4 setup. The repro RoadRunner cam would be good at around .470" lift and 280 degree duration, with a nice rumble. Smaller motors like a 361 don't need as much cam as a 440. A 361 (and 383 and 400, for that matter) has a shorter stroke than a 350 Chev and will really rev with the proper breathing system.
My vote would be for the 2 X 4 intake, just because it is nice eye candy. I ran one on a 426 Street Wedge in a 1964 Polara 500 convertible I had. Whenever I opened the hood, it drew a crowd. I found a guy in Arizona or New Mexico that reproduced the "Football" air cleaners in fiberglass. Good luck with your project.

View attachment 1191185 View attachment 1191186 View attachment 1191187 View attachment 1191188

thanks .... nice drop top. and ya i was retinking the cam .... i think the ol purple shaft 292 mite be a bit much ... will sound good but. i have the spacers for the carbs. but thay like an inch thick someone may have swaped them out. thay are plastic-ish thing. and a 361 could be had as a HP i think it came in at 330 horse. im sure some one will correct me if im wrong. i have a bunch of AMC stuff and have 3 old carters from a 343. i think thay were 475-ish. that should work with what im planning. .... thanks for the input tho. always good to get a second look at things

 

[hacksaw]

Other than the Cool Factor the dual quad intake is very unnecessary. They and the oval air cleaners are a good look though.

ya ... i don't think it makes that much if any more power on a mild mill. but kinda going with what i got laying around. and the cool factor is just that .... and as ya can see from my under hood pic. im into the stock-ish look. btw .. thats a 68 X head 340 under all that 273 bling.

 

[Darter6]

My brother had a 62 Sport Fury convert,361 with dealer installed 2-4's he bought from the original owner.
I remember him saying you had to get up to about 50 mph before kicking in the 2-4's.

 

[toolmanmike]

ya ... i don't think it makes that much if any more power on a mild mill. but kinda going with what i got laying around. and the cool factor is just that .... and as ya can see from my under hood pic. im into the stock-ish look. btw .. thats a 68 X head 340 under all that 273 bling.

I have been on the lookout for a 64 Dodge and wouldn't mind a 273. I would dress it up Charger style. I think I have all the pieces. A Poly would be just fine as well.

 

[hacksaw]

I have been on the lookout for a 64 Dodge and wouldn't mind a 273. I would dress it up Charger style. I think I have all the pieces. A Poly would be just fine as well.

i like poly's ... made good power good on gas. i had one in a 59 dodge 100 2 wheel drive with the farm box... she would pull anything and still cruz at 70-75 with no hint of being upset about it..... maw mopar realy should have stayed with that program a bit longer .... jmo

 

[toolmanmike]

i like poly's ... made good power good on gas. i had one in a 59 dodge 100 2 wheel drive with the farm box... she would pull anything and still cruz at 70-75 with no hint of being upset about it..... maw mopar realy should have stayed with that program a bit longer .... jmo

Plus you put a little lipstick on them and they look pretty!

 

[Darter6]

Plus you put a little lipstick on them and they look pretty!

Yep !

 

[toolmanmike]

Yep !View attachment 1191605

Very nice!

 

[Mopar Man 73]

I think it would be cool to build a current NHRA super stock 4bbl 361.