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  #1  
Old 01-10-2005, 05:45 PM
avenger kid avenger kid is offline
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Default v8 1972 plymouth cricket

hello enthusiasts

i am from the uk and i am in the process of putting a 318 into a 1972 hillman avenger also sold in the usa as a plymouth cricket has anyone done this conversion and if so could they give me some tips
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  #2  
Old 01-10-2005, 06:22 PM
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rumblefish360 rumblefish360 is offline
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Welcome aboard the site. I hate to say this, but whats a cricket. Wasn't this a Mitsu/Chrysler thing back in the day. I remember back when a dude put in a 318 in a Challenger from the 80's or something.
I think your up to a total fab yourself deal. I'd like to see this done myself. Got a picture?
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Old 01-10-2005, 07:51 PM
avenger kid avenger kid is offline
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Default v8 cricket

to rumble fish dude and others
there were two types of plymouth crickets there was a misubishi based saloon/hatchback thingy and then there was my type mines a english based hillman saloon built by rootes group who were owned by chrysler corporation from the early sixties to around 1980 . my cricket was only sold in the us between 70 and 73 after 73 the mitsubishi thing took over any way thats the history lesson over with . my plan is to give it the engine it deserves i bought a 78 dodge van in rough condition but a sweet motor its only a single barrel 318 at the moment but once the engines in the tuning comes next the van was plenty fast enough its got a 4 speed plymouth cuda box dont know if the gearing is different to a standard van box but this power and torque in a light weight car like a cricket it will certainly fly sorry i have no pictures as of yet to post but i will . i am new to yank mopars but have had avengers/ crickets for the last 13 years ive always wanted a sublime coloured cuda or challenger but i cant fit one in my drive so a v8 sublime cricket is the next best thing
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  #4  
Old 01-10-2005, 11:48 PM
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racintracy racintracy is offline
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I only ever remember seeing one Cricket. Back when I was a kid a family that went to our local church had one. I have always been interested in cars, expecially Mopars since my dad bought a 69 Charger new. This little toy thing caught my eye (even though I was only about 6-7 yrs. old). I had never seen a car this small. It seems like they had alot of problems with it if memory serves me correct.

Good luck with your engine swap. It should be plenty fast with all those cubes and very little weight.

This summer we might be coming over to visit my uncle in Poole and mum in Herefordshire. Hope to see you screeming around in it. A sublime cricket sure would be easily seen.
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Old 01-11-2005, 12:30 AM
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Jacksdad Jacksdad is offline
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I seem to remember reading a story about Sox and Martin having a Cricket as their pit car and loving it. They only came with four bangers, but my Dad had a 1600cc twin carb estate (station wagon) that would surprise a lot of people by virtue of it's weight (or lack of). I'd like to see pics of that thing when you get it done. What axle are you thinking of using? If you get the traction that you'll need to have the most fun with this thing, then expect the original Avenger rear end to get all twisted up from the torque you'll get just from a stock 318, not to mention the Hillman drum brakes would be totally inadequate. I doubt you can get aftermarket axles strong enough or a limited slip differential for them either, so look into getting a narrowed rear end like a Mopar 8 3/4, Chevy 10/12 bolt, or Ford 8.8/9". The custom car mags over there often have them in the classifieds. I remember how badly those things used to rust out (I spent too many hours under an assortment of Avengers welding them up for the MOT test at my Dad's garage) so make sure you've got a good solid chassis, floorpan and sills to start with, and a roll cage really wouldn't be a bad idea to stiffen up the shell. You might be able to beef up the strut towers and uprate the front struts to take the extra weight (try Demon Tweeks or any of the rally suppliers - they might be able to help with the uprated strut inserts, stiffer springs, thicker anti-roll bar, and bigger front brakes you'll definitely need) and a brace across the engine compartment to stop front end flex is definitely called for. You'll undoubtedly need to have headers made to your specs, or see if the stock manifolds will squeeze in there. The cars that most 318's found their way into had a lot more space thanks to torsion bar suspension and wide engine bays, so expect clearance problems on just about everything. The small block Mopars came with an assortment of oil pans depending on the application (passenger car, van, etc) with the deep section in different places. You may be lucky and find a stock configuration that'll fit the crossmember you have in the car. Cooling will obviously be an issue, so make sure you have the radiator/fan package you'll need to stop this beast from overheating. By the way, I'm a transplanted Brit living in California putting together a '67 Charger. Good luck
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Old 01-11-2005, 03:47 AM
DartGT66 DartGT66 is offline
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They were also pretty popular in Rallye use here, I think htye were sold here as Sunbeam Avengers?
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Old 01-11-2005, 06:30 AM
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I have a 360 in a Ram 50 and it is a Mitshibushi Truck.. not very hard of a swap..

You'll be surprised how much room those cars have under the hood. Probably as big as an Arrow..

You will have to do some cutting and some welding but that's the norm with any swap that wasn't factory..

I'm sure Sox and Martin used a Colt..

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  #8  
Old 01-11-2005, 07:48 AM
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The story I read mentioned the factory giving them an Avenger based Cricket during the period they sold them in the States (71-73, I believe), and how they used to drive it around the pits. The race car was a Colt...
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  #9  
Old 01-11-2005, 11:39 AM
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rumblefish360 rumblefish360 is offline
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avenger kid;

There were several 4spd trannys put out over the years. The biggest thing is iron or aluminum case and if it's an over drive or not. After that, the exact year will tell you what the gear are inside. They do vary a little bit but remain close in it's verity.
Also, theres a 18 spline and a 23 spline shaft. The 18 spline came behind HEMI's and HD 440's. Maybe something else, but I'm not sure.
Other than that, to say you have a "4spd speed plymouth cuda box" only means it came from a Cuda and donotes not much about it. But certainly zeros in on what it is. What year gear box? That should help out alot.

Good luck with the swap. Awaiting pictures.
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