A-BODY ENGINE CONVERSION, FROM A SLANT 6 TO EITHER A SMALL BLOCK or BIG BLOCK FROM 1967-1976
THERE IS A LOT OF CONFUSION ON THIS VERY TOPIC, HERE IS THE CORRECT FACTS THAT WILL AID YOU COMPLETE YOUR PROJECT CORRECTLY, AND SAFELY MANOR. I HAVE PERFORMED THIS CONVERSION IN MANY CARS OVER MY FORTY YEARS OF WORKING ON THESE CARS. THIS IS THE MOST UP TO DATE INFORMATION AND MANY PARTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN TODAYS MARKET PLACE
THIS ENGINE SWAP ARE FOR THE FOLLOWING YEARS AND CARS, AND BODY STYLES 1967-1976 DODGE DART, PLYMOUTH BARRACUDA, VALIANT, DART SPORT, DEMON, SCAMP, PLYMOUTH BARRACUDA, HANG TEN. IN 1967-1976 MOPAR MADE THE ENGINE WIDER TO ACCEPT A HOST OF ENGINES FROM THE SMALL BLOCK ALL THE WAY TO THE 426 HEMI ENGINE. HERE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE ENGINES THAT MOST OWNERS COULD AFFORD TO OWN AND MAINTAIN, AND SIMPLY ENJOY THEIR CARS
SLANT SIX CYLINDER TO THE SMALL BLOCK ENGINES ( 273 - 318 - 340 - 360 )
PARTS NEEDED:
YOU CAN KEEP YOUR SLANT SIX K-MEMBER, AND STILL USE A SMALL BLOCK ENGINE.
A FEW YEARS AGO, A COMPANY CALLED SCHUMACHER CREATIVE SERVICES, IN SEATTLE, WASHINGTON STATE, DEVELOPED A SET OF MOTOR MOUNTS, THAT WILL ALLOW YOU TO RETAIN YOUR STOCK SIX CYLINDER K-MEMBER 1-206-364-7151 PACIFIC TIME, ALSO YEAR-ONE HAS BECOME A DEALER FOR THEM, THEY CAN BE REACHED @ 1-800-950-9503 OR www.year-one.com
1. YOU WILL NEED A SMALL BLOCK RADIATOR, AND FAN SHROUD.
2. 318 TORSION BARS, FOR THE ADDED 120 POUNDS, FOR THE V8
3. EITHER A SMALL BLOCK 904 OR A SMALL BLOCK 727 TRANNY
4. A V8 ENGINE WIRING HARNESS ( YEAR-ONE )
5. A SMALL BLOCK TRANNY CROSS-MEMBER ( Doror Car )
6. USE STOCK KICK-DOWN ASSEMBLY, FROM THE DONOR CAR, if there isn't one of the car, BOUCHILLON PERFORMANCE SELLS A GREAT CABLE KICKDOWN ASSEMBLY FOR ALL REAR WHEEL DRIVE MOPARS, EITHER SLANT SIX ALL THE WAY UP TO THE 440 & HEMI 1-800-962-1268 www.bouchillonperformance.com PLEASE DON'T EVER RUN A TORQUEFLITE TRANNY WITHOUT THE KICKDOWN LINKAGE
7. NEW DRIVESHAFT.
8. UPGRADE BRAKING SYSTEM, TO EITHER FRONT DISC BRAKES, OR AT LEAST 10" FRONT & REAR BRAKES.
9. PLEASE EXPECT, THE EXTIRE BRAKING SYSTEM, YOU WILL NEED TO STOP SOMETIME.
10. YOU WILL NEED A "DROP CENTER STEERING LINK", FROM THE DONOR CAR, SO THE OIL PAN WILL CLEAR THE FRONT STEERING FROM A 64-72 A-BODY. THE SLANT SIX, DOES NOT HAVE THE "DROP" AND IS STRAIGHT.
11. THE USE OF ALUMINUM TALL VALVE COVERS WILL INTERFERE WITH THE HEATER OR A/C BLOWER MOTOR
12. IF YOU ARE USING A SMALL BLOCK, THEN THE 7.25 REAR END, WILL WORK OK, BUT IF YOU ARE GOING TO A BIG BLOCK, I SUGGEST USING A A-BODY 8.75 ONLY. DON'T BE FULLED, A 8.75 FROM EITHER A B OR E BODY REAR WILL NOT FIT, WITH OUT A LOT OF MODIFICATIONS. THE A-BODY 8.75 MEASURES 51" BACKING PLATE TO BACKING PLATE, AND THE B-E BODY MEASURES 53" BACKING PLATE TO BACKING PLATE.
13. YOU CAN USE STOCK EXHAUST MANIFOLDS, AND I WOULD SUGGEST USING DUAL EXHAUST( SMALL BLOCKS ), OR HEADERS, IF YOU USE HEADERS, PLACE THE HEADERS IN THE ENGINE BAY, AND TIE THEM UP, WITH A BUNGIE CORD, AND AS YOU LOWER THE ENGINE, THE HEADERS WILL BE ABLE TO FIT. I STRONGLY SUGGEST USING A MOPAR PERFORMANCE "MINI STARTER" WITH EITHER HEADERS, OR STOCK EXHAUST, THEY ARE SMALL, LIGHTER, AND YOU WILL HAVE LESS CUSS WORDS, COMING OUT OF YOUR MOUTH, WHEN YOU HAVE TO CHANGE THE OLDER STYLE STARTER lol.
MOPAR CHARLIE hemidart@hotmail.com 1-727-842-9803 evenings after 8PM, Florida time
PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO READ, AND UNDERSTAND, THE ABOVE INSTRUCTIONS, THUS YOU WILL NOT HAVE ANY TROUBLE WITH THIS CONVERSION
BIG BLOCK SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS
**** NOTE **** THE USE OF A BIG BLOCK, IN THE A-BODY, THE STOCK EXHAUST MANIFOLDS WILL NOT WORK. HEADERS ARE THE ONLY CHOICE, AND AGAIN SCHUMAKER SELLS THESE PRODUCTS. ALSO IF YOU ARE USING A BIG BLOCK IN YOUR A-BODY, YOU WILL NEED A SET OF BIG BLOCK TORSION BARS ( "383 GTS DART "or "FORMULA S 383 BARRACUDA". YOU CAN PURCHASE THEM FROM WESTOAKS CHRYSLER PLYMOUTH FOR $118.00 FOR THE SET ( 2 ) + SHIPPING 1-800748-6118 ext 255 IN THOUSAND OAKS, CALIFORNIA PACIFIC TIME
IF YOU ARE USING A BIG BLOCK, YOU WILL NEED A BIG BLOCK 727 TRANNY OR 4 SPEED, YOU WILL NEED A 22" WIDE RADIATOR, AND I WOULD SUGGEST PUTTING A AUTOMATIC TRANNY COOLER INLINE WITH THE RADIATOR COOLER. DO NOT USE JUST A TRANNY COOLER.
ON 413-440 A-BODYS, YOU CAN NOT USUALLY USE USE POWER STEERING, DUE TO THE SIZE OF THE EXHAUST.
ALSO IF YOU ARE USING THE SLANT SIX K-MEMBER, YOU WILL HAVE TO NOTCH THE K-MEMBER, YOU WILL HAVE TO TAKE OUT ABOUT 1" TO CLEAR THE OIL PUMP HOUSING
I ALSO WOULD SUGGEST CALLING SCHUMAKER, AND GET ONE OF THEIR CATALOGS FROM THEM
Thanks: Mopar Charlie I can be reached @ 727-271-5068 after 7 PM evenings please E-Mail moparcharlie9@aol.com
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