AMC V8 Stroker Combinations (using 304 and 360 blocks)

[amundaza]

Wow, That is a lot of brain power right there

Gigabytes of space there, just sometimes lacking in processing power, depending on time of day. It's like having a CAD tube right there inside my head!


Sincerely,
GregTaylor
Oxford, MI
1989 Grand Wagoneer : Water/Hydrogen Injection 360-V8. 4.5" lift 31" BFG A/T's. Killer32 front bumper

[jeepsr4ever]

Their are those that make the I and H beam rods for a 401 and you can get bushings pressed in and try some stock pistons (with locks of course). I think currently Cat-pep are theonly ones making those rods.

[amundaza]

Good morning all,
Well, I have redone my calculations and come up with a nice 383" stroker, using the stock 390 crank (3.574") in my 360 block, bored for 400 SBC pistons (4.125" ... AMC 0.045" overbore) and a SBC 5.85" rod.

The 390 rod journals would simply need to be turned down and widened a bit for the SBC 2.100 rod, the stroke would be left at 3.574".

This combo with a 12 cc D-shaped dish piston, nets a 0.010" deck clearance and yeilds 10.0:1 compression. This is using my current 304 heads that have been opened up to roughly 62 cc's, mildly ported/polished and bowls opened up for 1.94"/1.50" SBC valves.

I would probably run the current 1.94" intake and open up the exhaust valve to a 1.625" (currently at 1.50").

I would also considering taking my stock 360 heads (1989 360) and opening up the bowls and porting polishing them, then running stainless AMC valves at 2.02/1.68". Either way, I would groove the cylinder heads, for the compression bump, so that 87 octane pump gas can be run.

Should I need to mill the block a bit, I'd open up the combustion chambers beyond 62 cc's to keep compression at 10.0:1.

If the block does not need to be milled, then 401 H-beam rods at 5.858" length could be run. They would get bushed for SBC 0.927" pins ... and the virgin crank would not need to be ground.

This seems like a more feasible stroker to build. What do you all think about this combo? Any ideas on HP/Torque for this? It will reside in my Jeep Grand Wagoneer.

Now to sell of the 304 race block, 390 rods, Fischer balancer, turbo camshaft and Venolia pistons.

Sincerely,
GregTaylor
Oxford, MI
1989 Grand Wagoneer : Water/Hydrogen Injection 360-V8. 4.5" lift 31" BFG A/T's. Killer32 front bumper

[amundaza]

Good morning all,
Here is the final build-up breakdown for my stroker 304… the reason it has taken me SOOOOOO long to come to a decision (304 vs. 360), is that I really wanted to find a build that would utilize most of my existing turbo v8 parts, converting them to naturally aspirated street-use and not cost a ton more money. This 327 build fits the bill and will make decent power on the street. The big set back with the AMC turbo parts were the Venolia pistons being built for turbo use at 7.78:1 compression with 62cc ported heads.

BLOCK: 1979 304 V8 - 2 bolt mains with 4140 Moly main cap support straps (center 3 mains). O-ringed deck surface milled 0.010”
CRANK: NOS 390 crank - cross drilled & Auto tranny adapter machined into place (Perf. AM Style mod)
RODS: '68-69 390 rods - resized, shotpeened, deburred and polished, full floating piston pins (bushed for Ford Pinto 2300cc pins 0.9122”), ARP bolts
PISTONS: Keith Black Ford 2300cc pistons 1.59 c/d flat top, at 3.82” bore (0.040” over Pinto … 0.070” over AMC 304)
HEADS: 1979 304 V8 - ported/polished and enlarged combustion chambers (~62 cc) (porting/polishing via Perf. American Style specs)
VALVES: Small Block Chevy 1.94 intake/1.50 exhaust : stainless steel with undercut stems (will use SBC springs,etc.)
VLVTRN: SB Chevy springs, retainers, guides, keepers, locks
CAM : 0.488” lift AMC cam 218-degrees at 0.050” lift
LIFTERS: Rhodes anti pump-up hydraulic lifters
ROCKERS: 1.6:1 aluminum Roller rockers
OILING: Stock Oil pan. External valley oil supply line for rear mains. New timing cover with Nickle-plated Bulltear Oilpump cover at Hydro-relief gears
HEADERS: Edelbrock TES Headers for the Jeep Grand Cherokee/Wagoneer into 2.5” single exhaust Dynomax muffler
BOLTS: Milodon Main & Head studs
INTAKE: Offy Dual-Port 360 intake manifold. 1” Poweraid helical bore spacer. Torque-Plus intake gaskets.
CARB: Holley 670-cfm Street Avenger with quick-change jet bowls
CLD AIR: Aluminum 3.5” Cold Air intake for Dodge Dakota with GIGANTIC Cone filter
IGNTN: GM HEI distributor. Bosch Super CU 3-prong plugs (W7DTC). HEI wires

327 V8 STROKER SPECS: 3.82” x 3.82” x 3.574” x .7854 x 8 = 327.7 cid (bore x bore x stroke x percent x #cylinders = cid)

I found a near perfect piston for use in my stroker build up, as well as for use in a stock 304 build-up, should someone want to use a stock crank/rods (not 390 parts). It's for a Ford Pinto 2300cc that has a stock bore is 3.78". Cost runs $111 for FOUR Keith Black pistons at Summit Racing in any size. They have 4.5cc opposing valve reliefs, come with floating pins, spiro-locks and are weight-matched. Here's a couple of links :


http://kb-silvolite.com/performance....tails&P_id=241 (piston details)

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...4&autoview=sku (3.78" bore x 4 ea)

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...4&autoview=sku (3.82" bore x 4 ea)


Two things are needed to make the Ford Pinto pistons work:
1) Bush rods for Ford 0.912 wrist pins (can fit on 390 and 304 rods)
2) Possibly have to re-cut 1 or 2 valve reliefs in pistons.

Since my 304 block is currently at 3.78" (0.030" overbore 304), if I run the STD bore 3.78" Pinto pistons, I don't have to bore (or deck) my 304 block, as it's at 3.78" now and decked 0.010" for O-rings. Likewise, I don't have to turn my 390 crank and buy different rod bearings.

However, I want to have the block bored to a 3.82" bore (0.040" Pinto oversize ... 0.070" AMC 304 oversize), since it would make an AMC 327(.69") and I could then it would be fitting to run Rambler or Jeep 327 emblems on the sides of my Grand Wagoneer, LOL!

Since my block is decked 0.010" already, the stock 390 rod at 5.79" = 0.031 to deck and yields 8.76:1 (62cc) or 9.04:1 (59cc). Because the 390 rods must be bushed for the smaller Ford wrist pin, I can use my current 62cc heads and get 9.21:1 at 0.005" deck or 9.31:1 at Zero-deck, by offset bushing the rods. I have to measure my exact deck height to know how far to offset bush the rods. Initial cost estimates for having this done range from $240-$280 at the cheapest place recommended, so far.

If someone wanted to build a stock 304 build, with the stock 9.208" block height, a stock 304 crank/rod combo yields a 0.023" deck clearance and 9.0:1 compression, with the .045" thick ROL gasket and a 59cc stock 304 head. If the H-beam 5.885" AMC 360 rods are run (re-bushed to Ford pin) and the deck is milled 0.010", then it would yield a 0.003" clearance and net 9.4:1 compression with a stock 304 59cc head. Of course, the 52.2 cc 1970/71 early 304 heads could be run to raise compression another 0.50, to 9.9:1.

Also, if someone wanted to build a stroker 304 with 390 crank and 68/69 390 rods (like I am), they could also mill their block to get the correct height and not offset bush the 390 rods. The rods still have to be bushed for ford wrist pins, though.

331-cid is the largest the 304 stroker build can go, with the stock 390 crank 3.574" stroke. This is with a 3.84" Pinto piston (0.060" over Pinto 2300cc).

Now, to start gather needed parts for the final build!

Sincerely,
GregTaylor
Oxford, MI
1989 Grand Wagoneer : Water/Hydrogen Injection 360-V8. 4.5" lift 31" BFG A/T's. Killer32 front bumper