Author Topic: 360 engine from a 72-78 B-series van into a 74 challenger  (Read 3970 times)

Offline 74 challenge

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Re: 360 engine from a 72-78 B-series van into a 74 challenger
« Reply #15 on: September 14, 2011 - 12:58:25 PM »
The 360 uses a different engine mount on the left side from the 318 . The van mounts are totally different .
The 904 can easily be built to take the 360 , many use the 904 over the 727 for racing because it is lighter internally & uses less power but for street use I would try to use the 727  if it can be used from the van .
You will have to swap the tailhousing so you have the shifter mount  & cut the driveshaft to fit the longer 727 . You can use the 904 as is until it fails & have the 727 ready to go in when needed .
  the only way to get OD is to use a newer trans like the 518 or various other Chrysler or GM trans but this requires reworking the floor for clearance where the tosion bar crossmember is to tight

Since you got nominated as the transmission pro.

You say i will have to swap the tailhousing, from what to what? from the 904 to the 727? I have done lots of work on cars and engines but never really got into the world of tranmsissions other then straight replacement. Since i am using the engine and transmission from the same application (b-series van) i will not need to worry about the kickdown cable or anything.

the oil pan, i assume it is jsut as simple as getting one made for the 360 motor that would be used in a challenger, I assume the issue with the truck oil pan is clearance.
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Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: 360 engine from a 72-78 B-series van into a 74 challenger
« Reply #16 on: September 14, 2011 - 05:14:30 PM »
Mancini or Roseville can get you a 360 car pan & pick up tube
 Terry will know about the trans length but you can use the kick down from the 360 or the 318 , , you will need a passenger car tailhousing with the provision for the shifter support mount , it is an easy swap IF the trans is the same length , if not the main shaft would have to be swapped as well , big job . Terry will know

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Offline 74 challenge

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Re: 360 engine from a 72-78 B-series van into a 74 challenger
« Reply #17 on: September 15, 2011 - 07:45:51 AM »
Mancini or Roseville can get you a 360 car pan & pick up tube
 Terry will know about the trans length but you can use the kick down from the 360 or the 318 , , you will need a passenger car tailhousing with the provision for the shifter support mount , it is an easy swap IF the trans is the same length , if not the main shaft would have to be swapped as well , big job . Terry will know

Thanks man!

I have been posting this around the internet and seeing what people are saying. Your the first to say anything about the tailhousing. I have got a few people tell me about the 727 yoke i will need for the driveshaft.
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Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: 360 engine from a 72-78 B-series van into a 74 challenger
« Reply #18 on: September 15, 2011 - 11:22:49 AM »
true , the 904 & 727 use a different slip yolk but it will be on the van driveshaft , just take a few minutes to remove it from the vans shaft

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Offline 74 challenge

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Re: 360 engine from a 72-78 B-series van into a 74 challenger
« Reply #19 on: September 15, 2011 - 11:39:22 AM »
So what i have learnt is:

1. The engine is basically a drop in I need to remember to bring along the harmonic balencer from the 360 and the torque converter from the 727, if the 727 trans dosen't work out i can bolt this engine to the existing a904, but not a really good idea. 
2. I will need to swap the truck oil pan for a small block used on an e-body to adress clearance issues
3. Need to take the yoke from the driveshaft of the 727 trans.
4. use the kickdown linkages from the 360, shouldn;t be an issue
5. Need the 727 trans mount for an e-body
6. will need to shorten the driveshaft
7. potential that I need a tailhousing waiting for the response to that.

Since i am gonig to be replacing the trans do you guys think it would just be plain easier to find a SB 727 trans from an e-body car? the one from the b-series in the junkyard still needs to be rebuilt plus the cost of buying it, might be better to pay a few extra bucks and get one that i know for sure is from an e-body? They are hard to source around this part of Canada.
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Offline GranCuda1970

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Re: 360 engine from a 72-78 B-series van into a 74 challenger
« Reply #20 on: September 15, 2011 - 11:42:16 AM »
You forgot the engine mount.

Offline 74 challenge

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Re: 360 engine from a 72-78 B-series van into a 74 challenger
« Reply #21 on: September 15, 2011 - 12:11:54 PM »
You forgot the engine mount.

Yessir I forgot it on the list but it's on the list on my desk at work.

I even wrote down the website to get it from. I was just re-reading my Mopar Nuscle magazine and realise they have an ad in there.
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Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: 360 engine from a 72-78 B-series van into a 74 challenger
« Reply #22 on: September 15, 2011 - 12:16:16 PM »
the trans mount on the 904 will fit the 727
left side engine mount is a problem as well
bolting it to the 904 is fine as long as the converter is balanced for now anyway .
You need to talk to terry on the trans tailshaft issue to clear that up
You may have to use the van pulley set , the damper may be too thick to use the 318 pulley & line up correctly.
if you can locate a set of the Magnum exhaust manifolds they flow far better , unless you are using headers

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Offline 74 challenge

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Re: 360 engine from a 72-78 B-series van into a 74 challenger
« Reply #23 on: September 15, 2011 - 12:40:31 PM »
the trans mount on the 904 will fit the 727
left side engine mount is a problem as well
bolting it to the 904 is fine as long as the converter is balanced for now anyway .
You need to talk to terry on the trans tailshaft issue to clear that up
You may have to use the van pulley set , the damper may be too thick to use the 318 pulley & line up correctly.
if you can locate a set of the Magnum exhaust manifolds they flow far better , unless you are using headers

you say use the Van pulley set, i plan on using everything from the van i am getting the engine comlpete from air cleaner to oil pan, fan to flywheel.

I have a set of headers in the car now that need to be replcaed because the monkey that owned the car before me cut off the flange at the base of the headers and welded it straight to the exhaust system so it is one piece from the headers all the way to the tail pipes.
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Offline ChallengerHK

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Re: 360 engine from a 72-78 B-series van into a 74 challenger
« Reply #24 on: September 15, 2011 - 01:38:39 PM »
If he has to switch oil pan for sump location, does that mean he has to switch the pickup as well?


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Offline tactransman

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Re: 360 engine from a 72-78 B-series van into a 74 challenger
« Reply #25 on: September 15, 2011 - 01:42:04 PM »
You need to make sure that your 727 extension housing has these two bosses on it for the slap stick bracket. The van housing should not have them. I have a thread on changing the housing some where on the forum if I or any one else can find it.


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Give a man a fish and he eats for a day,teach him to fish and he eats for a lifetime.

Offline tactransman

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Re: 360 engine from a 72-78 B-series van into a 74 challenger
« Reply #26 on: September 15, 2011 - 01:42:24 PM »
If he has to switch oil pan for sump location, does that mean he has to switch the pickup as well?
Yes
Terry-tactransman 
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Give a man a fish and he eats for a day,teach him to fish and he eats for a lifetime.

Offline 74 challenge

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Re: 360 engine from a 72-78 B-series van into a 74 challenger
« Reply #27 on: September 15, 2011 - 03:22:22 PM »
1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2

Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: 360 engine from a 72-78 B-series van into a 74 challenger
« Reply #28 on: September 15, 2011 - 03:24:25 PM »

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Offline 74 challenge

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Re: 360 engine from a 72-78 B-series van into a 74 challenger
« Reply #29 on: September 16, 2011 - 07:58:46 AM »
Yes

Awesome, I am pretty sure i am going to scoop up the engine.

I have done some searching around about the trans and I am not sure if it is worth it. By the time I rebuild it, swap the tail housing and buy the damn thing I am not saving myself enough money to offset buying a rebuilt 727 from an e-body. What other body styles use the 727 that would be a direct bolt into the challenger? perhaps I can source one of those locally and have it rebuilt.
1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2