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360 build

318 heads fresh run them
do not spend money on parts that will be replaced
stock 360 cam is not my favorite but makes sense here w/ new timing chain
use the mr gasket head gaskets if cr is less than 9
enjoy
 
You could also look for a set of 360 heads from the last 3 or 4 years of LA production. The part # ends in 308. Probably a lot cheaper than a set of used Magnums. Also, LA intakes also bolt right up.

If you go to https://www.car-part.com/ and enter 1974 Charger 5.9L it'll give you every compatible 360 head at salvage yards around your area. Around me I can see a set of heads from an 1980 Dodge Truck for fitty bux each. If you're not that strapped on cash you can hunt for part grade "A" (low milage) and around here those heads are about $100 ea.
 
ill just run stock 360 cam if i have to run the 318 heads..

What intake set up on it?

Stock 360 cam and 318 heads will have it breathless at 4k, but will make strong torque low. i.e tyre fryer

Save some coin, port a set of iron 360 heads or go aluminium, pick your cam well to suit CR, good dp intake, carb and headers and you'll love it.
 
What intake set up on it?

Stock 360 cam and 318 heads will have it breathless at 4k, but will make strong torque low. i.e tyre fryer

Save some coin, port a set of iron 360 heads or go aluminium, pick your cam well to suit CR, good dp intake, carb and headers and you'll love it.
The only cam I have currently is the stocker and a comp xe274h. I was thinking I might need something with a shorter duration, but I also want a choppy idle. I'll be running either a Weiand stealth or yank the eddy performer rpm off my 318. Carb is a Edelbrock 600. I don't really know what other cams would be good in my price range cause I would obviously need a kit with springs, locks and retainers because stock springs aren't good for alot of lift
 
What intake set up on it?

Stock 360 cam and 318 heads will have it breathless at 4k, but will make strong torque low. i.e tyre fryer

Save some coin, port a set of iron 360 heads or go aluminium, pick your cam well to suit CR, good dp intake, carb and headers and you'll love it.
My 360 came with the 402 heads. Is it reasonable to port and increase the intake valve to 2.02 ? How will they flow?
 
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The only cam I have currently is the stocker and a comp xe274h. I was thinking I might need something with a shorter duration, but I also want a choppy idle. I'll be running either a Weiand stealth or yank the eddy performer rpm off my 318. Carb is a Edelbrock 600. I don't really know what other cams would be good in my price range cause I would obviously need a kit with springs, locks and retainers because stock springs aren't good for alot of lift

Either intake would work OK for now with stock cam, certainly wouldn't bother with XE274 in 360 with 318 heads for now. Like I said, plan your next stage of heads and cam/valvetrain upgrade. I like Lunati Voodoo series, but opinions are like... well, you know..
 
My 360 came with the 402 heads. Is it reasonable to port and increase the intake valve to 2.02 ? How will they flow?
Hopefully a smallblock head expert will chime in. I have heard that 2.02 upgrade is mostly pointless and way better flow improvements to be had just in porting.
 
Either intake would work OK for now with stock cam, certainly wouldn't bother with XE274 in 360 with 318 heads for now. Like I said, plan your next stage of heads and cam/valvetrain upgrade. I like Lunati Voodoo series, but opinions are like... well, you know..
My plan is to go with the speedmaster heads and this comp 274 cam at some point. But for kow probably just throw 318 heads in, stock cam and go.
 
Either intake would work OK for now with stock cam, certainly wouldn't bother with XE274 in 360 with 318 heads for now. Like I said, plan your next stage of heads and cam/valvetrain upgrade. I like Lunati Voodoo series, but opinions are like... well, you know..
Here is my opinion, FWIW....

Run the 360 w/the 318 heads for now but do use the XR274 cam and RPM-AG intake. The engine will like a 750 cfm carb when your done.

Option #1
Purchase that promo head and intake and sell the intake as to lower the over all cost.

Option #2

Go here to purchase a set of reasonably priced ported heads for $1952.00. Same head as the Speedmaster with upgraded valves. Work performed in the USA.
https://promaxxperformance.com/product/shocker-185-mopar-cnc/
Flow data available at there site, just scroll down.


Hopefully a smallblock head expert will chime in. I have heard that 2.02 upgrade is mostly pointless and way better flow improvements to be had just in porting.
True. Reason? The increased valve size still breaths through a small bowl and port.
Is there a gain?
Yes, very small. VERY

My plan is to go with the speedmaster heads and this comp 274 cam at some point. But for kow probably just throw 318 heads in, stock cam and go.

Use the XE274 and cut down on work later. Don’t worry on how well it performs when your done, because your not done, your half way there and just waiting on the head funds, which will be an easy & quick swap to do without adding to the down time of a cam and to degree it. You may, may, need new pushrods at the head swap time.
But at the very least, you’ll be up and running and enjoying the car with a lot less work later.

This I suggest, recommend and what I am doing RIGHT NOW. I’m just waiting on the TF heads & RPM-AG intake to arrive.

810AB675-DD6D-4BE7-A62A-AE8A247CC2E5.jpeg
 
Here is my opinion, FWIW....

Run the 360 w/the 318 heads for now but do use the XR274 cam and RPM-AG intake. The engine will like a 750 cfm carb when your done.

Option #1
Purchase that promo head and intake and sell the intake as to lower the over all cost.

Option #2

Go here to purchase a set of reasonably priced ported heads for $1952.00. Same head as the Speedmaster with upgraded valves. Work performed in the USA.
https://promaxxperformance.com/product/shocker-185-mopar-cnc/
Flow data available at there site, just scroll down.



True. Reason? The increased valve size still breaths through a small bowl and port.
Is there a gain?
Yes, very small. VERY



Use the XE274 and cut down on work later. Don’t worry on how well it performs when your done, because your not done, your half way there and just waiting on the head funds, which will be an easy & quick swap to do without adding to the down time of a cam and to degree it. You may, may, need new pushrods at the head swap time.
But at the very least, you’ll be up and running and enjoying the car with a lot less work later.

This I suggest, recommend and what I am doing RIGHT NOW. I’m just waiting on the TF heads & RPM-AG intake to arrive.

View attachment 970027
I called promaxx and they said they only sold magnum small block heads. They said they don't offer an LA style head.
 
Also if I ever plan to spend upwards of $1900 on heads I'll just buy them from Bruce Toth.
 
Hopefully a smallblock head expert will chime in. I have heard that 2.02 upgrade is mostly pointless and way better flow improvements to be had just in porting.
I read an article by Hot Rod magazine where they ported the heads and added 2.02 intake valves. Just wondering if anyone here has done it.
 
the heads will limit but not as much as some think for a daily driver
what do you figure yur cr is with the 369-318 combo?
choppy idle will hurt your low end and you will not have low end or high end
save your money for your next build
 
I called promaxx and they said they only sold magnum small block heads. They said they don't offer an LA style head.
Really? Hummmm, was to me. The heads at the site are LA.
Also if I ever plan to spend upwards of $1900 on heads I'll just buy them from Bruce Toth.
Heard bad things about him. I’m sure there is someone out there happy with his work. I have nothing to say about him. Don’t know him or his work. Just other peoples word. With a grain of salt....

What heads would you be sending to Toth?
What is he charging to port heads? At what level?
 
the heads will limit but not as much as some think for a daily driver
what do you figure yur cr is with the 369-318 combo?
choppy idle will hurt your low end and you will not have low end or high end
save your money for your next build
i bet its probably 8-8.3-1
 
could be but if the cc's on the 318 heads are smaller than the 360's it could be up a bit
thin head gasket
even so something with stock duration with more area/ lift works, or 250-256 @.006 works
340 size cam it dies
 
So took a pair of 587 heads i had on shelf to machine shop this weekend and no go..
yalls opinions please

Hey mate, why 587's no go? If they aren't cracked (as they have been crack tested) this is what I'd do.

Forget hardened seats unless this is a daily driven car. I did 45,000 miles with a 360 on LPG before ex valves sunk enough to let me know. Unleaded with a little additive will probably outlast both of us in a weekend cruiser.

Shop around for competent but well priced machine shop. Have them magnaflux and clean them first and hog out intake mouth IF you wanna go 2.02" intake.
Read up on basic porting and gasket/port matching and then you get to work with a die grinder. It is not hard work and there is tons of info out there on the do's and don'ts of porting LA heads. Well worth your time and effort as a port match, bowl/pocket port and will deliver results.

Buy new guides and valves.
Rockauto prices -
1.88" Intake valve (Melling V1180) = $7.03 ea
or
2.02" Intake valve (Enginetek V1716) = $15.62 ea (I would not bother, but 2.02" just sounds appealing doesn't it...)

1.60" Exhaust valve (Enginetek V1721) = $4.77 ea
or
1.60" Exhaust valve (Sealed Power Chrome plated stem) = $12.33 ea

Valve guides - Iron $1.25 ea (or go k-line bronze if you'd rather)

Spring and retainer kit of choice to suit your cam.

Have machine shop install/ream guides, re-cut seats 3/4/5 or 17 angle valve job, check/adjust seat spring pressures, mill face (a bit more for compression), clean and assemble.
Not strictly necessary, but I'd top it off (even on a hyd cam) with adjustable rockers. Nothing wrong with 273 rockers if still good, or Crane/Isky ductile iron set 2nd hand. Measure for new ball/cup pushrods.
(I actually made my first set of LA ball/cup pushrods - I cut down 16 slant six pushrods in a lathe - easy.)
Degree the cam before you bolt heads on. Low bucks and plenty performance.

Somebody posted this in another thread -
 
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Hey mate, why 587's no go? If they aren't cracked (as they have been crack tested) this is what I'd do.

Forget hardened seats unless this is a daily driven car. I did 45,000 miles with a 360 on LPG before ex valves sunk enough to let me know. Unleaded with a little additive will probably outlast both of us in a weekend cruiser.

Shop around for competent but well priced machine shop. Have them magnaflux and clean them first and hog out intake mouth IF you wanna go 2.02" intake.
Read up on basic porting and gasket/port matching and then you get to work with a die grinder. It is not hard work and there is tons of info out there on the do's and don'ts of porting LA heads. Well worth your time and effort as a port match, bowl/pocket port and will deliver results.

Buy new guides and valves.
Rockauto prices -
1.88" Intake valve (Melling V1180) = $7.03 ea
or
2.02" Intake valve (Enginetek V1716) = $15.62 ea (I would not bother, but 2.02" just sounds appealing doesn't it...)

1.60" Exhaust valve (Enginetek V1721) = $4.77 ea
or
1.60" Exhaust valve (Sealed Power Chrome plated stem) = $12.33 ea

Valve guides - Iron $1.25 ea (or go k-line bronze if you'd rather)

Spring and retainer kit of choice to suit your cam.

Have machine shop install/ream guides, re-cut seats 3/4/5 or 17 angle valve job, check/adjust seat spring pressures, mill face (a bit more for compression), clean and assemble.
Not strictly necessary, but I'd top it off (even on a hyd cam) with adjustable rockers. Nothing wrong with 273 rockers if still good, or Crane/Isky ductile iron set 2nd hand. Measure for new ball/cup pushrods.
(I actually made my first set of LA ball/cup pushrods - I cut down 16 slant six pushrods in a lathe - easy.)
Degree the cam before you bolt heads on. Low bucks and plenty performance.

Somebody posted this in another thread -

i actually got a lead on good set of used ready to heads already, just waiting on him to ship
 
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