My first Mopar what should I do to increase performance

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    Author Topic: My first Mopar what should I do to increase performance  (Read 2368 times)

    Offline Jonny Vette

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    My first Mopar what should I do to increase performance
    « on: July 26, 2012 - 02:07:51 AM »
    Hello all,
    I have just bought my first Mopar a 1971 Doge Challenger and can’t stop smiling when I look at it. :bigsmile:
     I have been reading previous post to learn as much as I can; but not everything answers my concerns.
    The car: I have a 71 Challenger with a 318, power steering, AC and power brakes with and front disks conversation already done, 741 rear not sure of the gears.
    What I want to do with this car is to upgrade the overall performance.  Not sure to what a 360 or the 440. Cost is defiantly a factor in this build. I have found some 360’s with a 727 and some 70’s RV 440’s with a 727 and their prices are comparable. I need to know what each one would need to work in my car and a guess on the cost of each build. My main goal is to make sure any stock mustang couldn’t t touch this car. :grinyes:
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    Offline TinCuda

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    Re: My first Mopar what should I do to increase performance
    « Reply #1 on: July 26, 2012 - 09:25:26 AM »
    Johnny Vette?  As in corvette?


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    Offline Killer_Mopar

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    Re: My first Mopar what should I do to increase performance
    « Reply #2 on: July 26, 2012 - 10:35:24 AM »
    Quote from: Jonny Vette on July 26, 2012 - 02:07:51 AM
    My main goal is to make sure any stock mustang couldn’t t touch this car. :grinyes:

    ANY stock mustang? including the new GT500? IF that is the case you are going to need to spend some serious $$$$$ If you are looking at 'just' a new GT, you still will need to spend a good amount of cash. Assuming the latter, you will need a mid to low 12 second car.

    What has been done to the 318? is it built up at all? The 440 will make more horsepower for sure, but if you can reuse some of your parts than the 360 might be a better choice. Either engine can meet your goals, but there are more variables that need to be answered before recommending anything. You will have to be more specific about what you are starting with, what your goal is, how streetable you want it, budget, and how mechanically inclined you are....
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    70 Challenger R/T SE - The never-ending project........

    Offline burdar

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    Re: My first Mopar what should I do to increase performance
    « Reply #3 on: July 26, 2012 - 11:04:40 AM »
    If cost is a factor I'd stay with a small block.  All of your accesories will fit a 340 or 360.  360's are cheap to buy from a salvage yard and have a 20 cube advantage over a 340.   A 360 can easily get a Challenger into the low 12's.  You just have to pick the right parts.  Price out a stroker kit for the 360 if you really want to make it run.  You'll probably be into BB money with a stroker kit though.

    Also by going SB, you can add a few performance pieces to the 318 right now and save up for the 360 build.  When you do get around to building the bigger engine, your performace parts on the 318 can just be swapped over.
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    Offline Jonny Vette

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    Re: My first Mopar what should I do to increase performance
    « Reply #4 on: July 26, 2012 - 03:19:47 PM »
    Quote from: TinCuda on July 26, 2012 - 09:25:26 AM
    Johnny Vette?  As in corvette?


    .,


    Yeah, I had the conversation on another Mopar forum.
    Jonny Vette is a nick name my friends gave me. I have owned Corvettes since I was 16 and I still love them. But when I decided I wanted a muscle car and after doing some research the Challenger just seemed to be the epitome of muscle.
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    Offline Jonny Vette

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    Re: My first Mopar what should I do to increase performance
    « Reply #5 on: July 26, 2012 - 03:25:38 PM »
    Quote from: Killer_Mopar on July 26, 2012 - 10:35:24 AM
    ANY stock mustang? including the new GT500? IF that is the case you are going to need to spend some serious $$$$$ If you are looking at 'just' a new GT, you still will need to spend a good amount of cash. Assuming the latter, you will need a mid to low 12 second car.

    What has been done to the 318? is it built up at all? The 440 will make more horsepower for sure, but if you can reuse some of your parts than the 360 might be a better choice. Either engine can meet your goals, but there are more variables that need to be answered before recommending anything. You will have to be more specific about what you are starting with, what your goal is, how streetable you want it, budget, and how mechanically inclined you are....

    A mid to low 12’s is what I’m searching for. The 318 I think is stock and I am a armature mechanic I can do the swap but when it comes to the build on the engine I will need advice.  And it will be on the street more than the strip.
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    Offline brads70

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    Re: My first Mopar what should I do to increase performance
    « Reply #6 on: July 26, 2012 - 04:07:39 PM »
    CID...512 from a 440 block
    Speed costs money...how fast do you want to go?  What's your budget?
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    Brad
    1970 Challenger 451stroker/4L60 auto OD
    Barrie,Ontario,Canada
    Proud to own one of the best cars ever made!!!!!

    My restoration thread 
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     My handling upgrade post
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    Offline jimynick

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    Re: My first Mopar what should I do to increase performance
    « Reply #7 on: July 26, 2012 - 05:05:38 PM »
    Jonny, talk nice to Brad, because he just pulled his 440/727 setup out for a stroker and O/D auto and I can't see it getting a whole lot easier than dropping in that nice 440 to get you close to your goals. You'll have to convince him that it's an old piece of junk and that you're doing him a favour by taking it off his hands. He's from Barrie, he'll go for it.  :smilielol:
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    Offline Chryco Psycho

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    Re: My first Mopar what should I do to increase performance
    « Reply #8 on: July 26, 2012 - 09:27:20 PM »
    If you are going to build the engine the cost will be similar no matter what engine you build so I would do a 440 stroker or 400 stroker , the extra cost comes in having to use a bigger rad [you may have to anyway] , different mounts , bigger torsion bars again I would do that anyway , & a big block trans but if you have a 904 now you will have to do that as well .
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    Challenger - You`ll wish You Hadn`t

    Offline challengerx

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    Re: My first Mopar what should I do to increase performance
    « Reply #9 on: July 26, 2012 - 10:11:01 PM »
    Big or small block, whatever you decide to do I would go with a crate motor. After building one and blowing it up it is cheaper to buy them done, you can can get all kinds of different combos and most come with dyno sheets and warranty.
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