Where Are the 361 Owners?

[dvw]

Pistons are available easily from several sources. Heads are the same as a 383. Definitely not "scrap metal". Everything that fits a 383 will fit in a 361. (Except pistons, obviously). A 361 is a 383 with 22 few cubic inches, is the only difference, overall. My '66 Coronet 500 has its original 361, rebuilt in 1984, and I'll put it up against any street-build 383 out there. I've added 1969 440 exhaust manifolds, an MP aluminum intake, Carter AVS carb, Direct Connection cam, and a shift kit. It sure acts, feels and performs like a 383 that's built identically. Why would I change to a 383??? I rather doubt you've ever owned or driven a car with a 361 to know.

The heads may fit. But no way are they even close to a later 383/440 head in flow. Like I said if you own an existing good motor or it's a numbers match that is desired. Then it makes sense. Anything else why would you not start with a later 383 or 400? More power potential due to the larger bore and valves. After you figure in machine work and parts, a core engine doesn't add much to the cost. Tell everyone it's a 361. Unless performance isn't important. Which is fine as well Does anyone here have a currently owned 361 that can show a 14 second time slip? It's like doing a Poly 318. Like banging your head against the wall. At least the Poly looks different so there is something there.
Doug

 

[Dave6T4]

Throw a set of "452" heads on it for better breathing. The downside to this is losing a full point of compression due to open chamber versus closed chamber of 361 heads. The newer "452" heads have hardened valve seats, and the drop to 9.0 compression works well with today's gas. I have used them on all my big block builds.

 

[mtbase]

There is such a thing as "361 heads", that are not 383 heads.

I'm not sure why, but my 66 Coronet 500 came through with 383 heads, the forged crank and the 402 oil pan.

My local Mopar Guru says that this was not the norm. Perhaps it was part of a "performance package", or something...I'm certain that I was first to open this engine up.

I have no idea of how fast mine is...it starts up, runs smooth, looks great and sounds great. Nobody is kidding ourselves here, these 60's era Mopars didn't exactly impress anyone when it came to cornering. Speed is not my thing, but it will get out of it's own way.

 

[toolmanmike]

There is such a thing as "361 heads", that are not 383 heads.

I'm not sure why, but my 66 Coronet 500 came through with 383 heads, the forged crank and the 402 oil pan.

My local Mopar Guru says that this was not the norm. Perhaps it was part of a "performance package", or something...I'm certain that I was first to open this engine up.

I have no idea of how fast mine is...it starts up, runs smooth, looks great and sounds great. Nobody is kidding ourselves here, these 60's era Mopars didn't exactly impress anyone when it came to cornering. Speed is not my thing, but it will get out of it's own way.

I don't see any separate 361 heads listed in my part number book. Most of the 361,383, and 413 heads are grouped together.

 

[Fran Blacker]

Any Mopar 361 Fans on the forum? Let's see your vehicles and hear your stories. Should be a good opportunity for us to expand our knowledge of Mopar history. I hope to read some interesting responses. Thank you.

What about the poor 350cid B guys, there's a very lonely lot! Rattling your cage.

 

[RemCharger]

Yup nothing magical here, just good ol 516 heads.

 

[patrick66]

The heads may fit. But no way are they even close to a later 383/440 head in flow. Like I said if you own an existing good motor or it's a numbers match that is desired. Then it makes sense. Anything else why would you not start with a later 383 or 400? More power potential due to the larger bore and valves. After you figure in machine work and parts, a core engine doesn't add much to the cost. Tell everyone it's a 361. Unless performance isn't important. Which is fine as well Does anyone here have a currently owned 361 that can show a 14 second time slip? It's like doing a Poly 318. Like banging your head against the wall. At least the Poly looks different so there is something there.
Doug

13.88 (1/4-mile) on several occasions w/3.23 gearing, thank you. The 383 and 361 heads are exactly the same. Exactly. The. Same. The difference later on is that the '68-up heads are open-chambered, versus the earlier heads which are closed-chambered heads, which had better number than the open-chambered heads. Later heads had the same 2.08 intake valves as the closed-chambered heads, but the early (1.60") versus later (1.74") exhaust valves wee the only real, physical difference. So yeah, they ARE close in flow.

Notice there are NO "361" heads listed, just "361/383" which says the two are the same.

​

Big Block Cylinder Heads

Since 1958 there have been 14 different head castings. All B/RB heads interchange which makes swapping easy. However, swapping the '62 to '64 Max Wedge heads onto a "B" engine isn't recommended because there are no intake manifolds available for that combination. The '67 440 and '68 to '70 383 and 440 4-barrel heads are considered the best factory heads. The '67 heads have a smaller "closed" combustion chamber and can be used to increase the compression ratio on later model low compression engines. Care must also be taken when swapping the '67 heads onto the '68-'69 383 due to the lack of piston to chamber clearance. The 383 has a positive deck height. (the piston protrudes above the block deck surface) The deck height has to be at or below the deck surface to provide the necessary clearance.​ Location of Cylinder Head Casting #'s​ ​ The casting numbers for Mopar Big Block cylinder heads can be found on the underside of the head on an intake runner. (upper photo) The casting number can also be found under the valve cover on an intake runner. (lower photo)

Big Block Cylinder Head Part #'s
Casting#​	​ Part#​	Engine	Chamber	In	Ex
1737637 1944705​	​ 2128533​	58-59 361	Closed	1.94	1.60​
1737637	2448752​	60 361/383	Closed	1.94	1.60
2206324 2206924	2128589	61-62 361/383/413	Closed	2.08	1.60
2402286	2402358	62 413 Max Wedge	Closed	2.08	1.88
2463209	2406754	63 426 Max Wedge	Closed	2.08	1.88
2463200	2448752	63 361/383/413	Closed	2.08	1.60
2406518	2406736	64 426 Max Wedge	Closed	2.08	1.88
2406516	2406732	64-67 361/383	Closed	2.08	1.60
2406158	2806019	67 440	Closed	2.08	1.60
2780915	2800762	67 440 HP	Closed	2.08	1.74
2843906	2843904	68-70 383/440	Open	2.08	1.74
2951250	2843904	68 440	Open	2.08	1.74
3462346	3462344	71-72 383/400/440	Open	2.08	1.74
3462346	3671640	73 400/440	Open	2.08	1.74
3751213​	3751218	73 400/440 Motor Home	Open	2.08	1.74
3769902​	​ 3769910​	74 400/440	Open	2.08	1.74
3769975​	​ 3769954​	75 400/440	Open	2.08	1.74
4006452​	​ 3769954​	76-78 400/440	Open	2.08	1.74

Pre '64 heads are easily identify because they use only 4 valvecover bolts.​

 

[RemCharger]

13.88 (1/4-mile) on several occasions w/3.23 gearing, thank you.

VERY STOUT.
What mph?

 

[patrick66]

VERY STOUT.
What mph?

93.54 mph.

 

[Darter6]

Some times you gotta use what ya got.

 

[Cheapsunglasses]

What about the poor 350cid B guys, there's a very lonely lot! Rattling your cage.

Well start a 350 B owners thread

 

[Cranky]

Well start a 350 B owners thread

 

[dvw]

Nice run, especialy with a 3.23. But the early heads and late heads ports are nowhere near the same. My Quote: {But no way are they even close to a later 383/440 head in flow.} Maybe some head guys will chime in with the numbers. A early 383 head is not great either. A good mild late 383 is an easy high 12 second car in a B body.
Doug

 

[toolmanmike]

Damn I thought this one had a 361 but no it's a 383.
383 343 hp re-rated by NHRA to 320 with iron heads or 325 with aluminum heads . Usually runs 10.90. Best time is 10.46 in D and 10.49 in E.

 

[sixtiesmuscle]

The 361 that was originally in my Convertible with a push button Auto , It went to another local Mopar guy who wanted to go Original.

 

[Big Bad Dad]

The 361 that was originally in my Convertible with a push button Auto , It went to another local Mopar guy who wanted to go Original.

View attachment 1420993View attachment 1420994

Did your car come from Virginia? Used to be one around here that looked like it. Except stock wheel covers. The blue 'vert.

 

[440 4 speed]

13.88 (1/4-mile) on several occasions w/3.23 gearing, thank you. The 383 and 361 heads are exactly the same. Exactly. The. Same. The difference later on is that the '68-up heads are open-chambered, versus the earlier heads which are closed-chambered heads, which had better number than the open-chambered heads. Later heads had the same 2.08 intake valves as the closed-chambered heads, but the early (1.60") versus later (1.74") exhaust valves wee the only real, physical difference. So yeah, they ARE close in flow.

Notice there are NO "361" heads listed, just "361/383" which says the two are the same.

​

Big Block Cylinder Heads

Since 1958 there have been 14 different head castings. All B/RB heads interchange which makes swapping easy. However, swapping the '62 to '64 Max Wedge heads onto a "B" engine isn't recommended because there are no intake manifolds available for that combination. The '67 440 and '68 to '70 383 and 440 4-barrel heads are considered the best factory heads. The '67 heads have a smaller "closed" combustion chamber and can be used to increase the compression ratio on later model low compression engines. Care must also be taken when swapping the '67 heads onto the '68-'69 383 due to the lack of piston to chamber clearance. The 383 has a positive deck height. (the piston protrudes above the block deck surface) The deck height has to be at or below the deck surface to provide the necessary clearance.​ Location of Cylinder Head Casting #'s​ ​ The casting numbers for Mopar Big Block cylinder heads can be found on the underside of the head on an intake runner. (upper photo) The casting number can also be found under the valve cover on an intake runner. (lower photo)

Big Block Cylinder Head Part #'s
Casting#​	​ Part#​	Engine	Chamber	In	Ex
1737637 1944705​	​ 2128533​	58-59 361	Closed	1.94	1.60​
1737637	2448752​	60 361/383	Closed	1.94	1.60
2206324 2206924	2128589	61-62 361/383/413	Closed	2.08	1.60
2402286	2402358	62 413 Max Wedge	Closed	2.08	1.88
2463209	2406754	63 426 Max Wedge	Closed	2.08	1.88
2463200	2448752	63 361/383/413	Closed	2.08	1.60
2406518	2406736	64 426 Max Wedge	Closed	2.08	1.88
2406516	2406732	64-67 361/383	Closed	2.08	1.60
2406158	2806019	67 440	Closed	2.08	1.60
2780915	2800762	67 440 HP	Closed	2.08	1.74
2843906	2843904	68-70 383/440	Open	2.08	1.74
2951250	2843904	68 440	Open	2.08	1.74
3462346	3462344	71-72 383/400/440	Open	2.08	1.74
3462346	3671640	73 400/440	Open	2.08	1.74
3751213​	3751218	73 400/440 Motor Home	Open	2.08	1.74
3769902​	​ 3769910​	74 400/440	Open	2.08	1.74
3769975​	​ 3769954​	75 400/440	Open	2.08	1.74
4006452​	​ 3769954​	76-78 400/440	Open	2.08	1.74

Pre '64 heads are easily identify because they use only 4 valvecover bolts.​

Both 66 440’s aren’t on the list for some reason.

 

[patrick66]

Both 66 440’s aren’t on the list for some reason.

Good catch, I hadn't noticed that.

 

[440 4 speed]

Good catch, I hadn't noticed that.

The 66 440 365 HP had 516’s and probably the 350 HP.

 

[6PKRTSE]

I have had a couple of cars with 361's. They don't get the respect they deserve. I understand not a desirable engine for a performance build. I had a 361 4 bbl in a 68 Polara that would run right with a 68 New Port with a 383 4 bbl. Dead heat no matter how many times we ran them for any roll or dead dig.