406 stroker or 451 stroker???

[IBsmokin]

Ok after sitting in my yard for a year, I decided its time to start building my dream car.

I am starting off with a 1973 Barn find.
 
quick hystory update:   
over a year ago I lucked out and found this 1973 dodge charger sitting in a barn in Texas where it sat for 19 years.
the car was all original, even the tires that were on it were the original tires that came with the car when it was first rolled off the lot.
I flew to texas and jerry-rigged what need to be jerry-rigged, then fired up the original 318 and drove this car all the way to my home in Nova Scotia, Canada.  Now after babying the car for a year, its time for my re-build.

what I have to work with:
well i have the original 318 but I want to dump it for real muscle
I have a 360 block that came out of a 1972 dodge charger
I also have a 400 block and tranny that came out of a 76 chrysler 4 door.

I like to build a 451 stroker out of the 400 block,  but everyone keeps telling me I will get more from a 406 stoker out of the 360.

so i like to ask the opinions of the folks on here, which engine will push my Charger from point A to point B the fastest?

[firefighter3931]

The 451 is a killer combination. There's no replacement for displacement....especially in a heavy car. 


Ron

[Steve P.]

Yup...  The only thing I really like about the small block is the diet your front end gets.. That and you HAVE the small block everything you need to finish it off... BUT,,,,,,,  like Ron said, there is no replacement for displacement!!!!

[IBsmokin]

thanks so much guys, you just re-inforced what i already felt and thought. 

I am gonna go with the 451 stroker

[Nacho-RT74]

360 and 400 are similars powerplants talking about HPs, however IMHO, 400 has more juice to get, specially about torque.

[andyf]

The 400 block will go a lot larger than a 451.  The 470 combo is a very nice setup and is perfectly streetable.  I had a 470 in my B body for a couple of years then sold it to make way for my 512.  The 512 is a 400 block with a 4.250 stroke crankshaft.  I used a Callies crankshaft with Crower big block Chevy rods and custom Diamond pistons with a dish in them to keep the compression down for pump gas.  I also used Eddy heads and a Performer RPM manifold and I'll run the 512 with HP exhaust manifolds.  It should be a nice torque monster but I haven't fired it up yet so no field report yet.

The 512 might be a tad much for a street car but the point is that you do have more options than just a 451.

[dodge freak]

The 400 block is most likely stronger and less likely to break with the same amount of HP.

[Steve P.]

That sounds like a hell of a set up, Andy. 400" mopars are still cheep. Saves on some weight. Drops the intake about an inch. When you're all done with it in your 65' we can drop it right into mine!! 

[Chryco Psycho]

I agree
BBlock
the Only reason to consider the small block is it is an easier swap being a small block car now

[deputycrawford]

I have a quick question. Is the rod ratio of the B deck 512 easy enough on the cylinder walls to run on the street? The 512 sounds like a killer combo. Any stroker will need a new crank and rods. It's close to the same money to make it bigger.

[firefighter3931]

I have a quick question. Is the rod ratio of the B deck 512 easy enough on the cylinder walls to run on the street? The 512 sounds like a killer combo. Any stroker will need a new crank and rods. It's close to the same money to make it bigger.

A good thread on lowdeck strokers :


http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,427.0.html



Ron

[Chryco Psycho]

I would not use a 512 ci low deck combo for a long term durability street engine

[deputycrawford]

I believe that I would go with the 470 for a low deck and the 493 for an RB deck. There seem to be complete kits for the two mentioned. It just gets too complicated after that.