Small BLock To Big Block Swap

[Risko1]

Can you guys tell me what is essential to change or upgrade for a small block to big block 383 motor conversion in a 73 Barracuda Automatic aside from the motor mounts? The current radiator in the car is BIG and might have been changed already.

Thanks
Rich

[hemiken]

Hey Rich-O,

Does the radiator measure 26" across the top buddy.

[ChallengerHK]

You'll need a big block transmission.  If you have a 904 trans now, you'll need a shorter 727 driveshaft, or you'll need to have your driveshaft shortened. Both of those assume that you want to stay with an automatic.

[73Chally]

  In addition to the motor mounts, you will also need BB pulleys and brackets (water pump, power steering, etc).  Other than that, there's really not that much else outside of the engine parts themselves, like the ignition system, that you need to change.  That's the beauty of the E-body.  I just did this to my Challenger a couple years ago, and it was very easy.

[72hemi]

You will need a new radiator. The inlet and outlet are on the opposite sides for the bigblock than the smallblock. However I have seen a couple of bigblock water pump housings that allow the use of a smallblock radiator.

[cowboy]

-
I know I'm ending there to...

Lets sum up..  Asuming we all know the tranny follows the engine...

We need:

Motor mounts.
Drive shaft.
Radiator.
BB pulleys and brackets (water pump, power steering, etc).
And..

[73Chally]

If you already have a SB 727, you will still need the BB tranny, but you can still use the original driveshaft.  You only need to replace the driveshaft if it has a 904.

Cowboy - Other than the 440 engine build itself, I do believe you have pretty much everything covered (simple, isn't it?).  The only follow-on question could be hood clearance if you have a flat hood, depending on what type of intake you will use.

One side note - I did the engine swap with a 73 Challenger, so I can't be 100% sure if the procedure is the same with the Cuda, but I don't see why anything would be different.

[Risko1]

Thanks All!

Trans is a 727, posi, 355 gears. I have the rally hood so better not be a clearence issue. I love the Rally Hood Design!
Radiator measures 25w x 23h #3574626.

[Risko1]

I knew I should have checked things out on this board first!!!
I didn't know there were two versions of the 727 I thought the 727 WAS the heavy duty trans and the 907 the lessor. Geez 
Can someone give me a rough figure for what a swap will cost used parts wise?

thanks

[Risko1]

Could I even use my power steering with a 1967 383?

[Moparal]

You will need bb power steering pump and the matching bracket for you pulley system. If no a/c it is pretty easy to set up. 50 bucks for brackets, under 150 for good or new pulleys and the pump usually has the brackets on it from around 1968 to 1972.

Also the bell housing pattern is larger on the bb 727. the trans are the same internals just a bigger bolt pattern

[73EStroker]

And ........ if you are a 318 car with the smaller 8-1/4 diff you will most likely need a complete 8-3/4 suregrip diff other wise the first few of these  will cause the diff guts to depart the car.

[Risko1]

Anyone looking for a really nice 67 performance 383?

[Chryco Psycho]

it will not cost a lot to sdwap the guts of the 727 into another case , you will need headers  manifolds for the big block , bigger T bars would be a good idea too 

[ViperMan]

Yeah I was going to say - you'll probably want to beef up the suspension a bit.  I doubt the 383 is much lighter than a 440 and I can promise for a fact that 440's are one heavy A$$ engine!!

Jeff

P.S.  Know what's sad guys?  I haven't even done this yet and I pretty much knew the answer to his question already.    This board is great.