Author Topic: Engine Swap  (Read 2858 times)

Offline money pit

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Engine Swap
« on: April 15, 2018 - 12:09:20 PM »
I bought a 70 Barracuda with a slant six with an auto trans. The engine runs great but I would like to get a little more power. I don't plan on racing it, just a daily driver. Can I install a 318 or 360 without changing the K member? I know they make conversion motor mounts for A bodies but not the E body. I know I will need to get a new trans but can I use the same drive shaft and rear end? Thanks




Offline 70chall440

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Re: Engine Swap
« Reply #1 on: April 15, 2018 - 02:10:48 PM »
Yes you can easily swap in a small block. If course you will need motor mounts, but you will should change the torsion bars as well (a lot of drag racers back in the day left the slant 6 bars in, but not overly recommended for street/driver use). You should be able to reuse the drive shaft but you might have to change the yoke (I don't think you will, but you might). You can use the rear end you have.

This is a pretty common conversion. Depending on how original your car is now, you would be smart to keep everything you remove as the slant 6 cars are becoming more popular.
Current Mopar
70 Challenger RT 440-6 EFI, 73 Cuda 416-6 EFI
05 Hemi Durango, 01 Ram 4x4, 14 Ram 2500 4X4, 10 PCP Challenger 6 spd RT, 01 Viper GTS ACR, 52 B3B w/330 Desoto Hemi, 70 Hemi RR (under const)
Past Mopars
9 x Challengers. AAR Cuda, 4 RR, 2 GTX, 4 Chargers, etc... (too many to list)

Offline 1 Wild R/T

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Re: Engine Swap
« Reply #2 on: April 15, 2018 - 03:30:41 PM »
K member is different...
JS27N0B 70 Challenger R/T Convertible  FJ5 Sublime, Show Poodle w/90,000 miles since resto
WS27L8G 68 Coronet R/T Convertible  PP1 Bright Red, Project
RM21H9E 69 Road Runner Coupe R4 Performance Red, Sold...
5H21C  65 Falcon 2 dr Wagon... Dog Hauler...

Offline 70chall440

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Re: Engine Swap
« Reply #3 on: April 15, 2018 - 04:01:43 PM »
True but I know you can put a SB in there, we used to fab the mounts and weld them in, now you don't have to.

http://www.engine-swaps.com/Pages/ProductsType/EngConvKits.html
Current Mopar
70 Challenger RT 440-6 EFI, 73 Cuda 416-6 EFI
05 Hemi Durango, 01 Ram 4x4, 14 Ram 2500 4X4, 10 PCP Challenger 6 spd RT, 01 Viper GTS ACR, 52 B3B w/330 Desoto Hemi, 70 Hemi RR (under const)
Past Mopars
9 x Challengers. AAR Cuda, 4 RR, 2 GTX, 4 Chargers, etc... (too many to list)

Offline 1 Wild R/T

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Re: Engine Swap
« Reply #4 on: April 15, 2018 - 05:37:29 PM »
True but I know you can put a SB in there, we used to fab the mounts and weld them in, now you don't have to.

http://www.engine-swaps.com/Pages/ProductsType/EngConvKits.html


As the O/P already stated, they make mounts for a V8 on an A body \6 K but not for a E body \6 K...

So yeah, he can cut & weld... Or he can bolt in the V8 K an set the original \6 K aside since many these days will cry foul when there's one less \6 E body driving around.... 

Sorry I drove a \6 E body for a couple years, I was gathering parts for a 340 swap within the first three months.....  Runs better, sounds better...
JS27N0B 70 Challenger R/T Convertible  FJ5 Sublime, Show Poodle w/90,000 miles since resto
WS27L8G 68 Coronet R/T Convertible  PP1 Bright Red, Project
RM21H9E 69 Road Runner Coupe R4 Performance Red, Sold...
5H21C  65 Falcon 2 dr Wagon... Dog Hauler...

Offline money pit

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Re: Engine Swap
« Reply #5 on: April 15, 2018 - 06:08:12 PM »
I checked on line again and checked the website 70Chall440 mentioned. It looks like I will need tp change the K member since there aren't any conversion kits.  Thanks everyone.

Offline 70chall440

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Re: Engine Swap
« Reply #6 on: April 15, 2018 - 07:50:04 PM »
My bad, I didn't read it through, just saw the "slant 6 to SB". I have done it but as I said, we fabricated the mounts. All that said, just replace the K frame, it isnt that hard and gives you a chance to rebuild the front end. Or you can work on the /6 and get more power out of it, or just change the rear gears and make it more snappy.
Current Mopar
70 Challenger RT 440-6 EFI, 73 Cuda 416-6 EFI
05 Hemi Durango, 01 Ram 4x4, 14 Ram 2500 4X4, 10 PCP Challenger 6 spd RT, 01 Viper GTS ACR, 52 B3B w/330 Desoto Hemi, 70 Hemi RR (under const)
Past Mopars
9 x Challengers. AAR Cuda, 4 RR, 2 GTX, 4 Chargers, etc... (too many to list)

Offline money pit

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Re: Engine Swap
« Reply #7 on: April 15, 2018 - 09:47:42 PM »
Thanks for the info.