Dodge 360 ~ The Other Small Block

Not a Ford, Not a Chevy. It’s a Dodge! A Dodge 360 (LA) small block V8 engine.

Richard Holdener subjects this Dodge 360 (LA) to a whole series of modifications, including long-tube headers, a pair of cams, ported heads, and two different intakes…

About the Dodge 360 (LA) V8 Engine

Chrysler introduced the Dodge 360-cubic-inch V8 engine towards the end of the muscle car era in 1971 and production ended in 2002.

The 360 V8 was part of Chrysler’s “LA” family of engines. In addition to powering Dodge Chargers, the 360 was also found in the Plymouth Duster and Roadrunner and the Chrysler LeBaron among other Chrysler vehicles.

The 360 was a standard engine for Dodge trucks.

The basic design of the Dodge 360 V8 engine remained unchanged for more than 30 years and served as a template for the high performance Dodge Viper V10 engine.

Its architecture was timeless, fuel-efficient, and durable for the era it was produced in. The “L” in “LA” stood for Lightweight. Chrysler used a thin-walled block and a smaller wedge configured combustion chamber to reduce the engine’s weight by 50 lbs.

The 360 ultimately replaced the 1968 to 1973 340-cubic-inch V8 with a slightly smaller cylinder bore of 4 inches compared to the 340’s 4.04 inches.

The 360’s stroke, however, was longer at 3.58 inches, while the 340 featured a 3.31-inch stroke. The standard 360 was equipped with a two-barrel carburetor. A four-barrel version became available in 1973. When Chrysler dropped the 340 in 1973, the 360 was the automaker’s most powerful engine.