Time to choose engine parts...

[alfanta]

Ok so im building a 360 LA motor. I have the block and it is getting bored .030 over. The heads will be stock (for the time being, but I plan on getting either new heads or getting them ported and the whole dilly. The engine will be getting balanced at the machine shop. He is putting the crank bearings in, and putting in new soft plugs.

I first have two questions the first of which I have not been able to find any info on.
If the internals are goign to be balanced, do I need the harmonic balancer from the 360. If so do I need to send that to the shop with the other parts? I am assuming that I would need SOMETHING there, but this question is bewildering me. 

2nd. Ive done some research on the components that I am goign to put into it. I dont want anything Crazy horsepower wise, something that is usable on the street, but still can haul ass when i want it to (seems to be what everyone wants)

Let me know if anything here looks like it would be dumb. The cam is the real thing I dont know about. I have kinda through other peoples cam threads picked up some info on cams, but for the most part they are still greek to me.

Edelbrock Performer RPM intake (I have a Performer right now, and depeding on when the engine is getting assembled, that may go on for the time being.)
Edelbrock 650 CFM carb (I have it already, may upgrade to a 750, but at this point it will stay a 650
Flat top pistons-http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=UEM%2DKB107030%2D8&autoview=sku
Connectin Rods-http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=ESP%2D6123CB&autoview=sku
Cam-http://cranecams.com/?show=browseParts&lvl=2&prt=5&Vehicle_Type=Auto&Cylinders=8&Engine_Make=PLYMOUTH-DODGE-CHRYSLER&Year=1978&Engine_Size=273-360%20C.I.&partNumber=693801&partType=camshaft

would I be able to use roller lifters with that cam?

I will also be running headers, but I havent really looked at which ones yet.

Thanks 

[alfanta]

I think i found the answer to my question, No i cannot use roller lifters. I would need to get a cam designed for roller lifters such as this one: http://cranecams.com/?show=browseParts&lvl=2&prt=5&action=partSpec&partNumber=699611

How would that fair?

[SeattleCharger]

   I am guessing that someone is going to ask you some other questions for figuring the cam selection.  What size stall converter?  What is the rear end gearing?   Do you want to have the cam be a size that will still match up for future head upgrades?   headers and rpm intake and 650 carb will go well with a bigger cam, but you may need at least a 2500 stall converter for it to work well, those aren't that much dough.   

[alfanta]

I havent bought a new converter. The car originally had a 318 so I will need to get a new one anyways. The rear end is 8 3/4 and when I changed out the gasket on it b/c it was leaking i think i remember figuring the gearing at 3.44? does that sound like it might be right?

The torqueconverter I was thinking was a 1500 stall. Will that not work at all?

[Purple440]

The torqueconverter I was thinking was a 1500 stall. Will that not work at all?

You probably won't like it if you want to smoke the tires, or just take off quick. 

[alfanta]

ok, well ill look at getting a different converter, but like I said I really havent looked at it TOO much. Right now im more concerned with my cam choice.

[Purple440]

I said that because I had a mismatched converter with my cam (230/230@.050) in my 440...stock converter, about 1800RPM.  It was really disappointing and I had to put in a converter that stalls around 2800 at W.O.T. to get it to go fast in first and second gear. 

Look at the operating range of that cam...it's 2200-5800.  It seems too big if you want a stock stall speed of around 1500-1800.  My cam is rated from 2500-6000 and a 2800rpm stall is just enough to get it going fast.  I'm happy, but I wished I had a smaller cam so I didn't have to stall so damn high to make power.  I'm looking at a Crower for my 440 that has the same duration as the one you picked, to lower my power band.  On a 360 I'm guessing that you'll need something smaller to get good low to mid torque.

Have you looked at the Engle or Lunati Voodoo?  They look great, maybe a k54 would work with a normal stall.  Ron or Chryco would have to chime in.

[alfanta]

So is anyone able to answer my question about the harmonic balancer? I could probably just ask the machinist, and probably will anyways, but I would like to know what other people do as well.