Does anyone have hands-on experience stroking a 360 to a 390 using the longer 360 rods instead of the shorter 390 rods? Is there machine work involved in doing this? If so, can you describe?

The search for info continues....:-)

 

Special pistons (can you say very big bucks) with really high wrist pins and it will be cheaper getting rebuilt 390 rods.

 

Stronger too. The 360 rods are weak sisters compared to the 390/410/428 rod.

 

Stroking a 360 to a 390 involves a 390 crankshaft, 390 rods, and 390 pistons.

Are you confusing "360 rods" with "360 pistons"?

Because using 360 pistons on a 390 crank and rods will get you higher compression, right Bear?

 

Yep, kerwat; That's the word on the 360 pistons.

 

I did it lasted 7000 miles ruined block crank and a cpl rods and broke cam into 3 pieces

 

But ya proved it can be done.
Why go thru the trouble of only adding .278"
more stroke if your looking for more torque,
go for adding .480" with a 428 arm.
Take a look at Scat's 3.98", 4.125" or the 4.250" arms.

 

I did it when I was a lot younger and didn't know any better

 

Those 360 rods can be used with 390(truck)/410 pistions Instead of 8.1:1 you end up with 9.6:1.

 

yes thats right because the compression hieght of the piston is so much less

 

With all the other possibilities out there, why use a wimpy 360 rod?

 

If it were me I would use KB 150 pistons with the quench top.

 

Just have to match the heavy wrist pins(360) with the light rods(360). Otherwise bal issues come into play. Heavy rod goes with light wrist pins.

Well the reason for the use of the 360 rod is two fold. one they are laying around for nill price wise. Two they offer a higher quench by .060 witch is effective for a wedge engine. Not to mention if you use the light weight pins you could reduce rotating mass, but at a price. Your not going to spin a 360 rod over 6k for too long

 

I would like to see a 390 with 360 rods spinning over 6K but from a safe distance.

 

You can get max quench using 390 rods, you just have to do your homework and do it right. I'd rather spend time doing it this way AND have stronger rods than build one with 352/360 rods.