when you replace the crank its an aftermarket part, it probably assumes internally balanced assembly
if you replace the rods....and i think you are gonna have to, you will need to get it all balanced up anyway
to use standard rods you would have to get some pistons with the pin really quite high with a skirt short enough not to foul the side of the rod or crank web at the bottom of the stroke.
There might be stroker pistons that work with standard rods. there might not. i never looked as i never had a 360
but they will be lighter because they are probably shorter
i.e the lot will need balancing...
So make sure you get it all done as an internal balance assembly.. money now will save grief later.
or you buy a ready "nutted out" package crank rods pistons
external balancing is just something chrysler did, probably to save money on what was intended to be a low RPM truck engine. they will have saved on crank counterweight metal or some such
A 360 doesn't have to be external balance but they are as standard
doesn't matter if it is, as long as you have the right parts BUT you are changing the crank you have an opportunity to make it internally balanced
which opens up options for you on flex plate/converter and harmonic damper. i.e more flex plate options to fit whatever converter you need for whichever transmission you have.
You don't tend to get performance and aftermarket versions of these things for external balance use because that external balance is for a standard set up and by their nature most aftermarket parts are for engines that are not standard, they are not gonna make 15 different weighted versions of each item to cater for standard crank custom rods or standard crank standard rods and light weight pistons etc etc etc not saying you can't. But
then you will need a balancer and a converter and flex plate pair without the offset weights. you current converter will probably work if the balance weights are a flex plate thing
On the balancer its cast in to the hub or outer ring on the converter and flex plate you can probably remove the weights
I think they are on a special flex plate and the converter is probably like all the rest
my problem is i don't know where they put the external balance weights on 360s but the most likely places will be balancer and on the flex plate
i don't know much about converters but its bolted to the crank..so maybe that weight is on one of the lugs where it bolts to the flex plate....dunno but there is an offset weight at that end of the engine to be accounted for.
If manual
a standard small block flywheel without the 3 holes in the back is what you need.
For a standard 360 an external balance engine flywheel will have balance holes drilled in the back of its flywheel
on a modified standard flywheel there are usually 3, drilled in position using a template issued by mopar back in the 70s/80s
on a standard one, if one exists,...... i don't know how they did it
as pete mentioned blue has built a few 360 strokers
which obviously work very well
all i've said is what i found out starting from the same position you are in.. Ohh wouldn't it be nice to have etc
what would i need to do.... how hard would it be.
i think finding a motor for the right price is gonna be the hardest part
the balancing question is sorted when you choose what you need to make it a stroker. that takes you in the direction of an internally balanced motor
here is a spanner in the works
Are you looking for an LA360 or a roller cammed FI magnum....! (which you can caruburettor-ise if you work out ignition)
a 360 magnum with its 4 speed auto and lockup converter well Now there's a thing (floor cutting in a mopar so no idea about a cortina)
and you'd be set up for an upgrade to modern hemi in 5 years time
Dave