All the past posts have said that this can be done... just checking if anybody has actually done it and if it was worth it and any problems that came up... starting my next project a 38 plymouth coupe gasser and wanted to use a 55 324 engine that I've had forever..like the idea of boring it to 4 inches and using 371 pistons, i have a set of #10 heads, just wandering if its worth the 1/4 inch stroke and if its been done and need some tips thanks...
Requires,work to the crank, custom pistons and at that point I use rods also..... Yes Ive done it....Yes its worth it....must sonic ck the block before just running it right out to 4" Tony
IIRC the 371 and 394 engines are externally balanced, where the 303 and 324 engines are internally balanced. I would think this would have to be considered.
Do you use 57 or 58 371 cranks or will the 59 and 60 371 work too,I wish I knew this could be done when I had my 53 since the 59 371 made it hard for a exhaust.
Doesn't matter.... At this point it becomes a custom assembly..... Has to be balanced anyway.... I internally balance all my strokers
Jeff the mains need cut down on either core that we start with,along with stroking it even more,and then it goes to reheat treat
When building a stroker your not going to be using junkyard parts..... No matter which block height or bore and stroke combo we are using ..... It's simple math.... Stroke,rod length,how tall the block is..... Then you can figure compression height(pin location)
A low-buck alternative to custom pistons that may work, is KB124 for 351 Windsors. 1.774 compression height, should land very close to zero deck height once the decks are cleaned up and squared. Not sure if the valve notches are in the right place, you could also look at the KB110 for Clevors and cut your own notches, might be a better bet. You would need to find a pin bushing that would fit the olds rod and a .9122 SBF pin, that should be do-able. I am not in love with hypers, but if you you are ok with them, and not going to beat the motor that hard, it might be worth exploring. Theres also a forged flat-top in the Icon line, IC729, but then the price is getting up to where it may not be worth the trouble, might be easier to just do a custom piston.
The machine work needed ,valve Reliefs are wrong .....a thick wall custom bushing I'm not a fan of...labor in rod work ...in my opinion is not worth it to cut corners for really not much savings....and a finished product that's not not nearly as nice.....
I must be missing something here, what's the advantage of putting a 371 crank in a 324 block verses putting a 371 crank in a 371 block?
No advantage vs 371 .......I've done some 324 strokers for guys who already had a 324 and just wanted more out of what they had. I myself like the 57-58 motors the best....
then it makes sense for someone like xon here, the '55 and earlier cams are a bit easier to find, the lifter bores are a common diameter and the cool guy #10 '56 heads always get attention bit of an investment in dedication but I think it's a fine idea
If interchangeable Pistons are not the way to go, does anyone make custom Pistons that will add compression without having to shave down the heads to gain your desired compression ratio? I have looked for 324 Pistons and 371 without any luck
Custom forgings are available from any of the usual sources. You choose diameter, ring style, pin diameter, pin location, compression ratio, gas ports ......and the list goes on. .
@73RR .... Thanks I'll start looking for custom Pistons. I'm sure they don't come cheap though. I was originally just looking at the basic Pistons offered for the 324.... Most just offered the over sized Pistons but didn't offer anything adding compression.
Will a 56 #10 head bolt up to a stock 55 4barrel intake? I hear the runners are taller on the #10 heads?? Will this cause a problem or can you just blend them together?
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