Brien, as no one has hit on your question (I will put in my two cents, that should get a response to this going) the blocks, cranks, pistons, are basically the same, (last time I used the work "same" I was corrected)The 72 heads should be non-bridged type, the 78s will be bridged, (and as I just learned the hard way) may have aluminum bridges, and if you don't turn the crank to get spring pressure off the rocker before you try and take each pair off, loosen both at the same time or the bridge will break, (any one got two they are not using?) All of the ones I had worked on up to now used steel bridges. If you are lucky and have complete engines the distributor on the 78 may be electronic and the control module for it is a motocraft unit and new one only cost $30, the 72 has points. Other than that the 72 and 73 where set up for unleaded gas, but the 78 should have more emission control junk on the exhaust and intake. I am reworking a 72-360 an 74-401 right now, using a set of 70-71 heads on the 401 and trying to work out the bugs for roller rockers, as the 70-71 heads seem to need the less work. Joe W. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Date: Fri, 06 May 2005 16:15:52 -0400 From: "Brien Tourville" <hh7x@xxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: 1978 -vs- 1972 V8 To: mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx Message-id: <427B9838.15557.802E228@localhost> So I have both a 1972 and a 1978 360 engines. Were the cyl. heads 'Lightened' along with the block during AMCs weight loss period ? Haven't had these apart yet - what if any are the differences ? Any known problems with the later 360s vs the '72 ? I'd read that the weight of the early V8 is 600lbs vs 540 of the later version. Is a '72 the same as a '78 in weight ? Brien. NEW YORK eagle registry #501 eagle kammback registry