The only factory LA 360 with any compression to speak of was the one-year-only 1971, advertised at "9.2:1" and only available in big cars with a 2bbl. The pistons were flat-top and negative deck, the rest were dished, even the Magnum 5.9L's.

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

Excellent!

Great to know those specs. So looking forward to what you do with it !!

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

Thanks Mike!

NALRETO (National Association of Little Red Exprress Truck Owners) is the place to find a lot of information. John Roberts is our LRT guru.

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

Yes sir. Owner just sent me the certificate

I have only used this on my good friends who got a good break or something else great like that. Looking like you fell into a septic tank and come out with a Rolex. Glad to see you are getting a good and real Red Express Motor. God bless you and I hope you have the exact real thing that you need for a real matching block and intake.

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

Thanks John

@johnelliott7375

11 ай бұрын

@@JustMoparJoe you are welcome as always Joe and family!

Cam is a TRW replacement, love the autopsy!! "actual" compression and cam will really wake it up

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

Thanks Greg!

I used to work for a guy in my hometown years ago that has a little red express. It’s been rotting in his driveway for the last 35+ years. He daily drove it in high school. All original and complete. It’s sad it’s still sitting there today.

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

Wow man!

My favorite truck/vehicle of all time - these videos are like discovering the holy grail LOL Thank you Joe!

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

Thanks, Josh!

Thanks Joe I needed this info.

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

Thanks brother

Now the value just went up significantly after being JMJ verified! You da man Joe!

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

Haha! It’ll be a hum singer when done!

Always love your videos. When I was young (18) I had a 65 barracuda. The 273 blew up so it was off to the wrecker for a motor. I found a 360 in a mid to late 70s 1 ton truck. On the valve cover sticker it said 360 4 barrel 225h.p. I thought it had the same motor as a lil red express truck because I thought they were rated at 225. I guess I was wrong but it is strange that the 1 ton 360 had the same power rating as the lil red motor knowing now what the lil red had for cam they were probably way under rated. My Dads brother had a 78 lil red express new and since muscle cars were gone for a while dad said at the time it was the fastest vehicle he had been in in years do to smog era.

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

Yea sir. I got a similar engine from a 79 Air Force club cab truck. Thanks for the support, Nolan!

@wildrosegarage4208

11 ай бұрын

@@JustMoparJoe You make real videos with dyno numbers and 1/8th times the proof is in the pudding so to speak. My favorite was your intake manifold dyno I was impressed with that street dominator. My buddy Mike with the 360 powered Lark is a fan of you to and we both appreciate your buddy Ed's advice great guy. Question for you though. The Lark on a 100shot from the hole hits the tire way to hard on the drivers side. It has a leaf spring setup like a mopar. We want to keep it a antisquat car but would like it to rise slower. It has slapper bars and want to keep running those instead of caltracs due to period correct look/type of car. We are thinking a adjustable rebound Calvert shock may help this so it rises slower whats your thoughts? May go to a ladder bar setup down the road. best 60' is only 1.66 it just hits the tire to hard then unloads and grabs again. We cant spray it any more until we get the launch dialed in. Since your a 1/8 guy our best is 7.26 94.8mph. Not bad in my opinion for a stock bottom end other than cam and 3.73 gears. And thats at over 4000'. Let me know your thoughts. Nolan.

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

@@wildrosegarage4208 that’s awesome buddy. I watched your short several times. It almost looked like the car jumped off the ground when it left. Good shocks front and rear are definitely a help. Does it have90/10’s in front? I can’t remember if it was rising in front. I don’t mind the slapper bars at all. I see a lot of guys who leave the snubber about 1”-2” away from the spring eye. I never had luck with that. I liked mine to 1/4” or less from touching when the driver is in the car. Then when it’s being footbraked, the rubber is actually pushing against the spring. It’s no good for street driving, but cured my traction issues in a previous car. I believe I have an article somewhere that said to preload them 1/2” before takeoff. Maybe this stuff can help

@wildrosegarage4208

11 ай бұрын

@@JustMoparJoe It has front shocks from 1959 lol. It will get 90/10 Calverts up front. It does pull the drivers front tire about 4'' and your right its like the whole car jumps off the ground. The bars are about 3/8'' from the spring eye and touch when loaded on the brake. We are going to run it again on Sept 15th and it will have different shocks in the rear. Over winter it will get 6cyl front coils and 90/10. The front end sits high and has little travel before lifting the tire. Thanks for your wisdom Joe.

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

@@wildrosegarage4208 oh man! I’d go front shocks before going rears. We used to run dodge d150 shocks in rear that’s were straight parts store Monroe brand. Not even adjustable. I think your limited front travel may be the smoking gun. Car is definitely punching up!

It has a 79 front end and had cats tells me a 79

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

Yes sir. Verified

That chain isn't lose , that is first gen VVT !

@MidnightOilsRestoration

11 ай бұрын

😅

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

😂😂😂 nailed it

Yup I want to see a stout 360 build. Maybe when I win the lotto I’d have a formula to follow!

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

Thanks Stan!

I appreciate you sharing that above average chilton information!! I have several manuals none on trucks.

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

You bet! I have a collection of older mopar mags to dive into and go over the old tech stuff.

In 1968 the 340 engine could be had with two different cams. A 4sp cam and an automatic cam. The 4sp cam was only available in 1968. After that, the automatic cam was the only cam available in the 340 including the 340 T/A motor as well. The gentleman gave specs for the 4sp cam which is incorrect. The 360 used in the Little Red Express truck in 1978 had the 340 Automatic cam which has less duration and lift.

Thank you for sharing this with us, I wish you a happy evening as always, thank you from Pennsylvania

That's great info! Thanks for sharing!

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful! Thanks Cley!

Though low compression isn't desirable, they can and will still perform, make no mistake about! Also, the end of the video showing the headlights and grill and the pose looks like we painted DT red .. Ha !!

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

Love the 360!

Cool video Joe, great information.

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

Thanks Clint!

Great information!👍

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

Thanks brother

Really a neat video with the history to back up what you have there. I don't understand why when it was rebuilt that they just didn't replicate what came from the factory. This is really going to be fun to follow. I live through you vicariously Joe.

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

Thanks Mike!

That little red express is so killer!

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

Absolutely!

Tearing an engine apart and finding all kinds of great stuff is the icing on cake sorta 😂. 12.5 to 1 pistons, solid roller and old school fuel injection stacks.😅

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

Man that’d be nice! 😂

Great video Joe! I love a mystery, and it's cool to know that it's the right motor. I've got a lot of books but not the one Shane has. I'm going to look for that one now. I'll be following along brother 😁

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

Thanks Ryan! Check out his channel. He’s got some sweet mopars and lots of knowledge

Really great information thanks for the video take care.

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

Thanks brother

I went to school in the 80s with a friend who had one of these trucks. It was a cool truck.

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

I had a 77 that had a 360 in high school. I graduated in 2006. It was the fastest truck in the parking lot. We made sure of it.

👍🏻💯good info Joe love the 360 . 🇦🇺

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

Thanks brother

Very interesting Joe. Make a guy wonder what happened to the original engine and why it had to be worked on or why it was rebuilt? Certainly looks like a good core to be rebuilt. I like Mopar small blocks, great potential in them. Thanks for sharing. Have a great day.

@JustMoparJoe

10 ай бұрын

One of the many mystery’s of he Mopar universe!

Such a sweet truck.

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

Yes sir! Going to be a beast when done

1978 LRE - the fastest production 1/4 mile time of any American made vehicle in 1978. Now, let me finish watching the video !

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

Wouldn’t that feel good to a corvette owner 😂

@user-zq4vy1ix7o

11 ай бұрын

quickest 0 - 100 mph

@shawnbins203

11 ай бұрын

As the owner of a 78 Vette…. I’m deeply offended 😂…. Mine was definitely a turd until I built it. What did “they” say the LRE would do in the quarter??

@318willrun

11 ай бұрын

@@shawnbins203 😄 I believe the LRE turned as good as high 14's - low 15's off the dealer lot. Depends on who tested it.

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

@@shawnbins203 Barrett Jackson says 14.71 seconds at 93mph

I hope you have had a great afternoon and I hope you are having a great evening. I will wish you a happy and restful or productive day at home during this Labor Day weekend.

Check the main bolts... If those bolt have hole... The engine has windage tray... Cheers from Venezuela

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

Thanks brother. There was no tray and and no provisions for any. It will get one when it goes back!

@user-zq4vy1ix7o

11 ай бұрын

@@JustMoparJoe the windage tray was apparently a last minute scratch. I know the mopar book lists them and mopar advertising lists them but nobody has ever found one when they took the engine apart.

As far as I know, trucks weren’t required to have emissions components until ‘79. That’s what made the ‘78 LRE the fastest production vehicle that year. I noticed your engine had an egr valve. Tells me it’s a ‘79 intake or engine. Also ‘79 trucks had catalytic converters. Originally Chrysler wanted to put iron w2 heads on the LRE. That would have been badass.

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

Thanks brother. I’ve heard that about the w2’s, but never could confirm it

@braswilliams6301

11 ай бұрын

That was the loophole they found in 78 which made it the fastest American production vehicle that year...the 79s had the Holley carb...non lock up trans

@user-zq4vy1ix7o

11 ай бұрын

@@braswilliams6301 no they didn't. They had the same drivetrain as the 78's. 79's had cats and a few other small things that didn't make any difference in performance.

@braswilliams6301

11 ай бұрын

@user-zq4vy1ix7o well I have a 727 nonlockup in my garage out of one. But ok

Definitely want to see the fully assembled engine when it's done 👍.

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

Absolutely will! I’m doing a series on it!

Thanks for this video and all the nice info you packed in it....I wonder if I could transfer some of those parts over to a 1989 318cid...🤔🤔

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

Yes you can! The cam and intake would wake it right up.

If you want to do a rebuild of the original converter, I will make a video to show the internals.

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

Thanks Mike! I’ll let him know

cool stuff Joe . Mr. Gasket makes a special 1-1/2 tall plastic 4 hole spacer plate for the Qjet/ thermoquad to fit that intake . you still have the thermoquad for that motor ? I have two 360 Thermoquads one is a late 70s and the other is a 80s thermoquad . if you need a good carb . I'm still waiting to build a stout 360 for my dart . it's going to take money to be saved up . I think my 360 block is a 78 ?

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

Thanks Jer

Is the Mopar engines book still available?

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

That’s a superb question! It’ll be on my Christmas list

The TQ's used on small blocks were rated 750 to 800 cfm and the big block TQ's were rated 800 to 850 cfm the air valve secondary is why there is a variable in the cfm rating. Great carbs by the way also the 68 340 x-heads were the only ones with 340 cast on the runners basically all 340/360 heads are the same the difference was that the 340 heads up to 71 had 2.02 intake valves and all 340's had the red valve springs however any 360 head could be made to perform as well as the 340 heads.

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

Excellent. These heads will get a full port job, valves, and great valve job. I know there’s power to be had in the heads.

Good thing to know, wonder how much more power it would make with better pistons to get the compression up

@JustMoparJoe

10 ай бұрын

They say 4% per full point of compression, with diminishing returns. So a 300 horse engine at 8:1 may climb to 320-330 with 10/1, but that’s carried through the entire rpm range. Also let’s add torque!

I want updates on this project I like the info I didn't know they had a good cam n those truck or a 360

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

Thanks brother. I know many guys who swap them into 318’s and really wake them up.

@thomaslockley945

11 ай бұрын

@@JustMoparJoe yeah but to be a la with a cam like that is way better than a318 throw some magnum heads on it probably a beast wonder how much lift the springs r rated for? An that much lift is pretty rowdy lol I have magnum 360 carb swapped almost same specs

People are going to laugh but you might wanna think about getting the owner to put it in a registry of some sort. Get a verified cert and all that from the big name guys like bloomington. So far its got 'most' of the right parts in the right places. You did a visual on the passenger side frame rail bottom? The other was the tag on the drivers side firewall, that little dimple should be drilled n tapped with a screw holding it. This is a pretty damned rare rig, especially with the A/C. Going with factory replacement NOS rebuild parts would be the tits!

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

Thanks brother. He has the registration papers to certify it. I may can get them for a video follow up before it’s all over

Lil Red engines didn't have a vin on the oil pan rail.

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

Yes sir. I mentioned that one

@johnmullins2798

11 ай бұрын

Yeah I typed it before I got thru the whole video lol Good info in there!

Were there any stampings on the front of the block, drivers side by the head gasket? Something that would verify "numbers matching" ?

@user-zq4vy1ix7o

11 ай бұрын

no such thing as numbers matching. truck engines had blank pads so the best you can do is period correct engine.

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

I put those stampings in the thumbnail of this video

Joe I watched a video about little red express and they said some vin # don't match from the factory cause when one was ordered they just pulled a 360 interceptor off the line and threw it in

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

I’ve heard that. I think that’s why the pad is blank on the passenger side

@user-zq4vy1ix7o

11 ай бұрын

truck engines were not stamped with a vin. The only vehicles that got this engine were the LRE's so they didn't just pull an interceptor off the line.

Front mopars too

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

Indeed sir

But Joe you don't understand, If a little bit of RTV if good, than more is more better. LOL

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

I’m an rtv Man! 😂

Reminds me of a police investigation

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

Thanks brother!

Interesting,Joe. Down the hole and it ain’t no woodchuck.

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

😂

E58 with a dress-up kit and truck pan. LOL

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

Lipstick applied! 😂

@user-zq4vy1ix7o

11 ай бұрын

and an additional 30 horses.

If I remember correctly the Lil Red Express was the fastest production vehicle of 1979

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

Someone chimes in and said 1978. I think 79 started cats and a few other things

@user-zq4vy1ix7o

11 ай бұрын

@@JustMoparJoe they weren't tested as they were in 78. 79 likely would have produced the same results as there weren't any improvements in performance from the competition.

You have some incorrect info. I'm not convinced your engine is from a lil red although it certainly could be and as you suggest been rebuilt. The engine pad was blank on truck engines, not just LRE engines. The cam used was from the 68 340 auto. There was another cam for the 340 manual. These trucks did not have a windage tray as the mopar book shows it does. Good luck with the rebuild!

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing. I need to find a bonified lre expert to interview.

If one could find those heads reckon how they would do on a 318 with boost

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

They’re pretty common heads I believe. I had a set on a 79 Air Force truck that came with the 4 barrel. I would almost guarantee that an X or J head would flow better.

Incorrect information here. There were TWO camshafts for the 68 340, one for automatics and one for 4-speeds.

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

I need some sources to be able to have reputable information. Currently I have to go with the Engine Bible

@georgewetzel4380

11 ай бұрын

@JustMoparJoe This is common knowledge; the specs of the two camshafts were published by Chrysler in numerous places, including print advertisements, which you should be able to locate on the internet. BTW, if you had heard each of them in original motors, you would immediately know they were different.

@VOETOM

11 ай бұрын

I run the 2899205 four speed cam and to my knowledge, no LRE ever had the P3690213 purple shaft. Stock 340 converters were nit loose enough and a low compression 360 would have really needed a better converter. The factory pilot truck had the big cam with lots of other goodies.

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

@@VOETOM I noticed a pilot bushing in this crank as well 🤷🏻‍♂️

Put a Hemi in it!

@parrishpatterson6780

11 ай бұрын

Especially one of yours Rick!

@rickseeman5679

11 ай бұрын

@@parrishpatterson6780 Thank you

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

No problem! 😂

Does It have a Windage Tray ?

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

No sir, it did not have the tray. But had definitely been rebuilt.

So the engine is branded as a 1978 even though it came out of a 79 lil red express? Or they replaced the 79 engine with a 78?

@JustMoparJoe

2 ай бұрын

Early 79’s could have had a 78. The owner was able to supply the paperwork to authenticate the truck after this video. I’ll get that truck back soon enough and get a stout engine in it

Did it have the wind age tray

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

No sir

@DirectConnect420

11 ай бұрын

Thanks for the great video as always wish I could make it to no names

Did it have a windage tray

@JustMoparJoe

Ай бұрын

No Sir it did not

You didn't clean and show the numbers on the left front of block, should be stamped as a truck block and Windsor built if its right

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

Look at the thumbnail for the video. I realized I didn’t show it after the film was cut. Lol

looks like u did your homework on it and my point is i think its org engine going by the numbers and like you it has been built good truck to build

Those motors are basically a e58 police intercepter motor with the 340 cam. They always had 8 to 1 compression and the regular 2 bbl 360 had 8.5 to 1. 3.55 ratio was standard but not with a sure grip. They didn't have much traction as it was.

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

Yes sir. I will look into this rear once the engine gets in place

@user-zq4vy1ix7o

11 ай бұрын

the e58's had the 340 cam every year they made them. The LRE engines coded as EH1 were a modified E58. What those mods were is a mystery but they accounted for 30 hp somehow.

Joe!?!? You didn’t show if it had the windage tray?

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

She didn’t have the tray. I realized that after the video. I can definitely tell it’s been rebuilt and didn’t have the main bolts with the holes for them

Tall John has one...

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

The Tall John! He’s my amigo. I’m only 6’5”. I gotta look up to him!

mr goodwrench "rebuilt" that engine .....79s had cats too....

@terryboothe2309

11 ай бұрын

Lots of them got cut off

That 360 would have HP staed on the front

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

Thanks Bras. Most guys have told me it would have a W as this one does. The owner alerted me that the truck has been verified with documentation.

@braswilliams6301

11 ай бұрын

This truck made power because of the weight of the truck, so they were allowed to delete some emissions regulations

@user-zq4vy1ix7o

11 ай бұрын

@@braswilliams6301 not the weight of the truck but rather the GVWR

Mopar Joe; I was wondering if you know any trust worth Mopar guys around the Bay Area of Oakland CA: Because my two female friends are in Walnut Creek have a 1967 383 Polara 2BBL Station wagon. They have the desire to do all the work 100% and just a pointer and advice would be nice from a guy in the Mopar Community with the know how for BB Mopars. It would be nice if they could have a guy they could trust to help them upgrade the brakes to power brakes, ignition to electronic since they have extremely limited skills and have been taken advantage of over the years by mechanics. They own a music school and willing to trade lessons for technical advice and guidance as well.

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

Check out Jonny Mopar or Sorta Stock Mopars on KZread. They’re good guys that are in the state. I realize they may not be too close, but they’re liable to know exactly who you need to contact.

@kelly-anngregersen3369

11 ай бұрын

Thank you@@JustMoparJoe

Cam is older TRW #

@JustMoparJoe

10 ай бұрын

Ed says he has an old trw book to help me figure it out

i own a 79 little red, and what these guys are talking about is a 78. in 79 in the little red had less horse power and not the 340 cam . Mr Joe that is a 79 your working on, on the little red 78 and 79 there is no such thing as a number matching little red, 79 has stock 360 cam

@JustMoparJoe

11 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing. I found out today this one has been verified by the source.

@bulldoggarageapparel7511

11 ай бұрын

@@JustMoparJoe cool buddy

@user-zq4vy1ix7o

11 ай бұрын

not sure where you got your info from but its wrong. The 79's were rated the same hp as the 78's. They had the same drivetrain both years including the cam. The 79's had cats and a couple other minor emission controls that apparently made no difference in performance.

@bulldoggarageapparel7511

11 ай бұрын

@@user-zq4vy1ix7o not according to dodge and i have the books from dodge, and in 79 the little red lost 25hp , dodge wrote this not eye