Recently, Mopar Connection Magazine featured BluePrint Engines’ catalog of Hemi-compatible engines, a testament to the in-house team’s expertise and dedication to the engine. For more details about these high-quality Hemi-compatible engines, refer to the article “In-House Developed Hemi-Compatible Engines from BluePrint Engines.” In addition to these, BluePrint Engines also offers a range of stoker 408 cubic inch small-block engine options.

Above: BluePrint Engines offers a 408 stroker based on a 360 Magnum V8 engine. The long block version of the 465-horsepower, 494 lb-ft engine comes with a 4-inch crankshaft, 10:1 compression ratio, aluminum heads, roller cam, and forged pistons. The timing cover, oil pan, and valve covers are also included. 

The factory-built Chrysler’s small-block 360 Magnum V8 engine was solid, incredibly robust, and capable of handling significant power increases. With thicker castings in vital areas around the cylinder walls, main bearing webbing, and lifter valley (also extended tappet bore height for roller lifters), its design ensures its strength and longevity, making it more than capable of withstanding the added stresses of stroker applications.

The Chrysler 360 Magnum’s healthy displacement provides a strong foundation for further modification. Stroking it into larger displacements (408 cubic inches) is possible and relatively easy, which delivers substantial performance gains. This ease of modification, coupled with the considerable performance gains, will surely excite any Mopar enthusiast.

Above: BluePrint Engines offers a Chrysler small-block compatible 465 horsepower 408 engine as a base-dressed engine. The engine includes the long block parts and a 750cfm carburetor, distributor, intake manifold, and harmonic balancer. 

Chrysler small blocks are well-suited to stroking because of their large crankcase, good clearance in the bottom end, and the raised camshaft location. These benefits allow for the installation of longer-stroke crankshafts without extensive block modifications or clearance issues. Additionally, the 360’s larger bore diameter (compared to engines like the 318) allows for greater airflow without valve shrouding, which is essential when increasing displacement.

Above: The engine block is a seasoned factory block that is extensively tested and checked to BluePrint Engines’ highest standards. The block and main caps are the only previously used parts. The rest of the engine is composed of new parts.

One of the primary benefits of stroking an engine is increased torque, especially in the low and mid-RPM ranges. Chrysler’s small blocks, particularly the 360 Magnum, are known for producing strong low-end torque, even in stock form. Stroking the engine enhances this characteristic further, making the engine well-suited for applications that require substantial torque, such as muscle cars, towing trucks, and rock-crawling off-road vehicles.

BluePrint Engines Director of Product Management, Johnny McDevitt, stated, “I have a 408 in my Dart that we talked about in the last story, so this one holds a special place in my heart.” Accordingly, BluePrint Engines offers two horsepower versions of its 408 compatible engines.

Above: BluePrint Engines offers a Chrysler small-block compatible 465 horsepower 408 engine as a deluxe-dressed engine. The engine includes the base-dressed components and the addition of the water neck, thermostat housing, thermostat, fuel pump and line, air cleaner, and water pump. 

One version of the 408 has cast iron heads, which produces 375 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, while the other version has aluminum heads slipped onto the block. It pumps out 465 horsepower and 494 lb-ft of torque. The engines can be ordered as a long block, which includes valve covers, oil pan, and timing cover, or components such as an Edelbrock Performer Air-Gap dual plane intake manifold, 750 cfm 4-bbl carburetor, distributor, and harmonic balancer can be added (the base dressed version of the engine).

The engines also have options that include a timing cover, spark plugs and wires, a water neck, a thermostat, a fuel pump and fuel line, and an air cleaner. The BluePrint Engines’ higher horsepower engine can be purchased as a Builder Series engine with all the previously listed components and a front accessory drive with an alternator, air conditioning (AC) compressor, power steering, and a water pump. Non-AC front accessories drives are available. Additionally, the builder series includes a performance 727 transmission with a 2200-2600 stall 10-inch torque converter.

Above: The camshaft used in the 465 horsepower 408 is a roller design with a 0.544-inch intake and 0.541-inch exhaust lift. At the 0.050-inch lift, the intake duration is 236°, and the exhaust is 242°. The camshaft has a 110° lobe separation. 

When discussing the 408 compatible engine, McDevitt affirmed,

“There were times in the not too distant past where we had to discuss how we (BluePrint Engines) could continue this engine, being literally the only one that uses a seasoned block, vs the rest of the lineup (Ford and Chevrolet engine blocks). I took that as a challenge to where we give this engine some special attention and treatment to ensure that we can still build them to our BluePrint quality standards by hand inspecting them, hand disassembling and assembling the blocks, and replacing literally everything but the block, main caps, and a few other small fasteners.”

Above: BluePrint Engines added a polished pulley kit to its deluxe dressed 465 horsepower engine. The front accessory drive comes with an AC compressor, power steering pump, water pump, and alternator. 

Each seasoned block is magnafluxed for cracks and sonic tested for thickness. If the block passes BluePrint Engines’ in-depth evaluation, it is square decked and the mains line honed. Each cylinder is honed to a 0.0002” tolerance for straightness and roundness. The engines receive new bolts for the two-bolt mains and a two-piece rear main seal.

The rotating assembly includes a new steel 4.00-inch stroke crankshaft. The connecting rods are forged Magnum 6.123-inch units fitted with 150,000 PSI bolts. Each piston is a new forged design, and they are fitted to each cylinder. Finally, the engine is externally balanced at the flex plate and the harmonic balancer.

Above: Just add a pair of engine mounts and go. A deluxe-dressed BluePrint Engines 408 will quickly propel any muscle car era Mopar and look good whenever the hood is popped. 

The cylinder heads are Edelbrock castings (part no. 61769), which BluePrint purchases bare, and then hand assembles at its facility in Kearney, Nebraska. The aluminum heads have a 58cc combustion chamber fitted with 2.02-inch intake and 1.60-inch exhaust valves. The intake runners measure 176cc, and the exhaust is 75cc. The combination of the combustion chamber volume, the piston design, and the head gasket puts the compression ratio at 10:1.

The camshaft is a custom design. It is a roller-type camshaft with a 0.544-inch intake and a 0.541-inch exhaust lift. At 0.050 (lift), the intake duration is 236°, and the exhaust duration is 242°. The lobe separation angle is 110°. A set of stainless roller tip rocker arms actuate the valves.

Above: If chrome pulleys aren’t your style, BluePrint Engines also offers a black pulley kit. All the 408 BluePrint Engines require a recommended pilot bearing part number FC-69907 for all manual transmissions with a 0.750-inch input shaft. Also, the recommended pilot OD is 1.81-inches.

Customer satisfaction is the highest priority for all BluePrint Engines components and engines. To that point, each engine’s rotating assembly is balanced within two grams of specification. That is precisely why its engines sound and run better than the competition. BluePrint Engines offers the industry’s best-in-class 30-month/50,000-mile warranty, which applies to individual or professional installations and is fully transferable.

Lastly, the delivered engine will be accompanied by a comprehensive engine dyno-generated printout displaying the critical specifics. With the dynamometer sheet, customers can rest assured that their engine meets (or exceeds) the horsepower and torque numbers advertised by BluePrint Engines.

Above: The aluminum headed 408 develops 465 horsepower at 5800 rpm and 494 lb-ft of torque at 4300 rpm. 

Instead of putting this engine out to pasture, BluePrint Engines continued searching for ways to improve it. By adding a stroker crankshaft, roller rockers, a custom roller cam, and a pro-billet distributor, BluePrint intends to move this platform into the future, like its other offerings. Also, with time, more in-house BluePrint Engines designed and branded items will adorn these engines.

For more information about the 408 or Hemi-compatible engines, contact its sales or technical support team. Below is an example of a 408 BluePrint Engines Builder Series engine that includes an automatic transmission:

• Part Number: BC408KB727
• Fuel Delivery Type: Carbureted
• Spark Plug: BPP7938 NGK 7938 BKR5E (0.750-inch reach, 14mm thread, 5/8 hex, plug)
• Spark Plug Gap: 0.035″
• Harmonic Balancer: 360 externally balanced – 1993 to 1997 7.25-inch Diameter
• Flexplate/Flywheel: Pre-Magnum, Weighed 360
• Stall Converter: 2200 – 2600 rpm
• Intake Manifold: Dual plane, satin aluminum
• Fuel Recommendation: 91 Octane
• Timing (Initial/Total Advance): initial timing – 10-16° and total timing 32-34°
• Firing Order: 1,8,4,3,6,5,7,2
• Recommended Break in Oil: BPP710
• Recommended Service Oil: BPP10W30
• Recommended Oil Filter: BPP51515
• Total Oil capacity with production oil pan, and correct BPP51515 Filter: 5 Quarts

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