Some might say I have a plethora of parts in my garage (well, all but the parts I actually need …).
When I got my ’86 Fifth Ave, I started to look at what I wanted to do with that car.
First thought was 4-bbl, camshaft and so forth for the original 318.
A few weeks labor, a 360 was on the brain with a few more parts added to the mix.
About a month later, it was a built 340 (even had a 340 in the garage at the time).
About 2 months after that, was a stroked 360 (410 ci or so) with even more money projected.
I then had to think what my purpose for the car was, what is my goal, did I have any parts already in garage and how much money to spend.
I can’t remember that far back (when decision was made on which direction as what I had to work with), but currently, in my garage, is a ’84 318 police engine, ’79 360, ’84 360, ’70 V-code 440 (from my ’70 300/H), 440 motorhome engine (which was bought for its transmission), a NOS 440 short block (now sold) and two (2) NOS 400 short blocks with about a dozen transmissions of various types.
What I finally settled on, for my daily driven cars, was a pair of stroked 400 big blocks. An A727 (or A518, not decided yet) for the ’86 Fifth Ave. The other 400 will be mated behind a 5 (or 6) speed standard for my ’77 wagon. I highly prefer manual transmissions – but leaving the Fifth Ave an auto so wife can drive it.
Currently, I’m still in part procurement mode (and gathering more $$$ mode).
So far, the stroker kits, stealth heads, coated custom pistons, aluminum water pump housings, intakes, and tons of other parts are in garage and ready for assembly. I also made a decision not to go into debt for this, so getting parts as I can afford 'em.
BudW