engine suggestions? • The Dodge Challenger Message Board

by **Neb** » 21 Apr 2006 4:07

Hello out there,
Finally gonna start on my 70. Will either be re-building my existing engine or may be interested in a crate motor. Car is far from original. Motor in it now is a 1974 360. Kinda wore out and not ever too quick. Want a reliable, streetable car to have fun with. I do want it to be pretty quick though. Any suggestions on the 74 360? Or maybe one of Mopar's crate engines? Anybody out there have any experiences with a crate 360? 380hp or 395 hp 0r 435hp? Really would like some opinions. Please help a poor confused Okie. :s008:

by **Christer** » 21 Apr 2006 4:49

Hi there! Welcome to the board!

More hp is something all of us need, isn´t i`t? :wink:

This message board is getting more and more loaded with information for every day, so much of the knowledge is already here....I did a keyword search using the word "crate" and got 48 hits. Below are the four of the hits. Good luck! :s017:

http://challenger.mpoli.fi/forum/viewto ... 8103#18103

http://challenger.mpoli.fi/forum/viewto ... 1795#11795

http://challenger.mpoli.fi/forum/viewto ... =5505#5505

http://challenger.mpoli.fi/forum/viewto ... 3569#13569

by **dave-r** » 21 Apr 2006 7:50

Why not fit a stroker kit to the 360? You can get kits for 408,416,426 cubic inches for example. This would make a lot of torque and the car would feel great to drive.

by **Christer** » 21 Apr 2006 8:56

dave-r wrote:Why not fit a stroker kit to the 360?

....or why don´t you build a de-stroker instead? It would rev like hell and probably crack the needle in your 8K tach? :twisted:

(Sorry, I am in the friday-and-spring mood at the moment.... :blushes:

)

by **Neb** » 23 Apr 2006 4:07

Hello,
Christer, I took your advice and looked around the site quite a bit. Sounds like the crate idea is more expensive and gives everyone problems to boot. Stroker small blocks seem to be all the rage now. Sounds pretty cool!! Will probably go that route. Went to the Hughes engines website. Just checking everything out there gives ya a bit of wood! :oops:

Sorry, got a bit carried away. Dave, from looking around on this site I noticed that you are a big fan of Hughes. Thinking about the 408KSTREET-C with maybe the 4600-P heads(prepped edelbrocks). Hughes says they will support 525 HP. That would be more than enough for my needs. The 408 stroker kit comes with 9.9 to 1 compression. Sound OK with the aluminum heads? What do yall think? Good, bad, or ugly? (love them Eastwood westerns). Challenger has 3.91 ratio, 4-speed,
235/60R14 rubber. Advice anyone? By the way, this forum is super cool. Anything dedicated to Challengers!! Man, what can I say. Got hooked on Challengers back in 71, when I saw Vanishing Point at the drive-in movies with my parents at the tender age of 9. Swore I would own one one day. There really is no other car, is there? Sorry to ramble, but I get kinda worked up about Challys. Future posts will be shorter. I promise!! Thanks for the welcome!! Glad to be here!! Yall be cool now, ya hear!
Thanks, Neb

by **dave-r** » 23 Apr 2006 9:59

I wouldn't say I was a big fan of Hughes engines. Although you might think so.

It is just that their products work well and are good value for money.

The company has several drawbacks. Payment (esp. for overseas customers) is not very convenient. They say the bank will not let them take credit card payments. Now why is that then?

Plus contacting them by email is a waste of time. There is only the three of them (Dave Hughes and two sons??) and Dave seems to do EVERYTHING. You will be lucky to get a reply to an email within three weeks if ever.

But the parts work well so usually it is worth the slight hassle.

I don't have time to look into this stroker small block thing just now. But look for an engine combo that gives you peak power around 5000-5500 rpm if you want to rev it to around 6000-6500rpm.

by **Neb** » 24 Apr 2006 19:26

Anybody ever deal with muscle motors? Good rep? Still throwing around options as money ain't growin' on trees here in OK. (anybody know where the money tree is so I can pick some bucks)? Any other advice or info from anyone would be great!!
Thanks, Neb

by **dave-r** » 24 Apr 2006 19:37

I understand they are very good as well.

by **ianandjess** » 25 Apr 2006 4:36

gday has anyone read this book is it any good i was thinking of getting a copy even if its only got a few good ideas its probably worth while any comments?
cheers ian

by **Neb** » 26 Apr 2006 3:27

Hello Ian,
I haven't read the book, but Hughes engines did a book review on it. They gave it 41/2 stars out of 5. David Hughes did the review. Go to Hughes engines inc. web site and look under tech articles to read the review. Hope this helps.
Have a good one!!
Sincerely, Neb