upgrading to a big block

[mach3107]

Hey guys. First timer. I just bought my dream car (1973 challenger). It's a 318 car. no motor/ no tranny. I want to make it a big block car.  I've got a 440 out of a 78 dodge 1 ton. What kind of suspension and brake upgrades are recommended when going to a big block? 

[72hemi]

BY the year I would assume it has an 8 3/4 rear end which will work just fine. What kind or brakes are on it now? You really don't need to upgrade anything when switching to a big block. I would run disk brakes (plenty of kits available if car does not already have them), upgrade the shocks, if the car is sitting too low in the back replace the leaf springs, if too low in the front jack up the torsion bars. Sounds like fun, good luck and welcome.

[Bullitt-]

Howdy mr mach3107....1st would be a larger set of torsion bars. Stock 440's came with .96" diameter but most folks choose to go up 1or2 sizes, brake upgrades are kind of up to your pocketbook. There are plenty of threads here on the subject from an econo junk yard Diplomat to adapting Viper calipers.  Depending on what you want or can afford you need to get educated on complete suspension/steering systems on the market, in the end they may cost little more than doing it piecemeal.    Welcome to CC.COM

[mach3107]

The car came with front disc brakes. I know it's a muscle car but I would like to get some handling out of it.

[72hemi]

Handling comes with a price there are many companies offering handling packages, the high end probably being XV Motorsports. The smaller torsion bars would be better for drag racing, because they allow the front to come up quicker and shift the weight over the rear.

[rusty dodge]

Your std disk brakes will be fine. You could go with the 11 3/4 rotor by changing the cliper bracket and getting those rotors (78 cordoba or cop car).

Get the bigger T-bars, get a bigger sway bar.

[wiging19]

Your std disk brakes will be fine. You could go with the 11 3/4 rotor by changing the cliper bracket and getting those rotors (78 cordoba or cop car).

Get the bigger T-bars, get a bigger sway bar.

I did this and recommend it no matter what engine you have in the car. 

[MEK-Dangerfield]

Your std disk brakes will be fine. You could go with the 11 3/4 rotor by changing the cliper bracket and getting those rotors (78 cordoba or cop car).

Get the bigger T-bars, get a bigger sway bar.

I agree with the above, but would say you also need 6-leaf springs in the rear.


  Mike

[mach3107]

Ok, I'm not going to go cheap but I do have a budgit

T-bars, do I need big block T-bars? What about "The smaller torsion bars would be better for drag racing"

Sway bar, I assume the bigger the better, is there a rear sway bar?

Brakes, I'm going to stick with the stock front disc brakes (budgit).

6 - Leaf springs, can you explain?

[cowboy]

-
What they want you to is:

Make it hard as a rock in front, - and back.
Next, they properly try to talk you into 18" rims, with rubberbands around..

 No more comfort..   


 

[73Chally]

For the torsion bars I would go with the Hemi torsion bars.  I believe they are .96" diameter.  The 6-leaf springs are listed as the Extra Heavy Duty springs, which are the stiffest stock springs you can get.  The next step up would be the Super Stock springs, but that gets into a whole lot more than you need.  Next would be the front sway bar (1" I believe).  The final part would be the rear sway bar,  I would go with the Firm Feel model, which mounts just like the original.  I went with an aftermarket from Summit and regret it, because it mounts under the rear axle.  At some point I will ditch it and get the Firm Feel.  If budget prohibits anything, I would pass on the rear sway bar first.  I think it gives the least improvement over the other options.  The T Bars are a must, though, because when I did my swap (340 to 440), my oil pan scraped a couple bumps in the road because of the extra weight before I changed mine.  Stock brakes are fine.  I have the original front disc/rear drum and have never had a problem.  Hope this helps. 

[mach3107]

thanks 73chally. is there a difference between Hemi torsionbars and big block torsion bars? Also can you tell what if any mods you had to do under the hood when you swapped out the small block for the 440

[73Chally]

The standard BB torsion bars I believe are 0.92" diameter, whereas the Hemi and HD torsion bars are 0.96" diameter.  I honestly can't say that you would notice a difference between the two, but since they were the same price I went with the Hemi bars.  As far as changes under the hood, that's the beauty of the E bodies.  All years were built with the same K frame for all V8's, except for the Hemi, so since it was originally a 318, all you need to drop in the 440 is big block motor mounts, which will run anywhere from $50 to $200 depending on the the type of rubber or poly used on the mount.  Other than that, you will want to upgrade to at least a 3/8" fuel line, which will require a 3/8 sending unit, and also you will want to go with a 2-1/2" exhaust.  Other than that, you just need a transmission and you're good to go.

[mach3107]

  thanks for the info. any input on sub-frame connectors?

[mach3107]

how much difference does th HD leaf springs add/ what the advantage?