1961 Dodge Dart

I am in the process of getting a 1961 Dodge Dart 4dr. It has a 361 V8 2bbl punched to 383 and only has 50 miles on a complete engine rebuild. Guy said every internal part is new.

I am curious what you guys think its power rating might be? I'm thinking in the 330-350 hp area and somewhere around 450-500 lb-ft since a stock 361 did about 305hp and 395 lb-ft.


Also what do you guys think the car will be worth when its done? All I basicly need to do to it is paint it and some good old TLC here and there.

No I do not plan on rodding it out or anything. I'm just curious. I think it will make a really good sleeper.

I question the statement "punched to 383". I doubt there's enough "meat" in the bores for a .125" overbore. .060", I'll "buy". I also believe the numbers you quote for power are for the 4-bbl. version. 325 isn't out of the question, though, with some mild mods.

A few years ago, we built a 361 for a '66 Coronet 500 (GORGEOUS CAR!!!). We took the 2-bbl. off and put a 750 Holley with the AFB intake from a 383. Changed the cam to a larger version and advanced the cam timing 4 degrees. It will now run neck-and-neck with his '70 SuperBee 383 car, for 1/4 mile and about 20 feet. The 383 legs him out from there. Still, very good power from a "red headed step-child" engine. Tough stuff, too.

4-door Darts aren't exactly the most popular of the early big Dodges, but they're pretty rare, and might surprise you , the value.

Jim

I was just quoting the power on one of the few site I could find that had some info on the 61 dart but it did not say 2bbl or 4bbl...

I wasn't sure about the 361 big block thing either.... He said it has 383 pistons and everything in it now even the heads.

The heads for the later 361 and earlier 383 are the same casting numbers. That may be why he said "383 heads". 361 is a "B" block ("short deck big block"), so it shares many parts with 383 (and 400). But .125" is pretty far. Maybe another more familiar with the wall thickness can chime in here. We always limit MOPEs to .060 over without a sonic test.

Jim

Actually I was just reading on Enforcer engines and they were just a 361 big block punched to 383 for the cop cars.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v153/Cobra427/My%20Junk/100_0997.jpg

thats the engine if it helps.

The car is in my driveway now so ... YAY! lol....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v153/Cobra427/My%20Junk/100_0995.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v153/Cobra427/My%20Junk/100_0993.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v153/Cobra427/My%20Junk/DSCF0172.jpg

Got the beast running today

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tm0cFDqRzWo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqK_4fC1n8U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQI0Arf_BD0