Moparchat - Home of MOPAR enthusiasts worldwide!



Go Back   Moparchat - Home of MOPAR enthusiasts worldwide! > Technical Forums > Performance Talk

Click here to search for Mopar cars and parts for sale.


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 02-08-2005, 05:11 AM
64ragtop 64ragtop is offline
Inactive User
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: South Austin/Texas
Posts: 35
Default Mopar V6 swap?

I just "won" a 63 Dart post car (slant 6, auto) on ebay. Comes with a 318 in pieces, so that's a maybe, but I read somewhere that the 63 cars don't have a firewall dimple for distributor clearance. I have no idea how big a deal that might be, but it got me to thinking. And that's where the trouble started!

My 64 ragtop has a mild 318, and it runs pretty OK. I'd like to put some headers on it, and maybe better heads, carb and manifold or F.I. but the early A headers are apparently made of that precious metal, unobtanium. Damn theyre proud of 'em!

But anyway, on the new old car, I was wondering, anybody ever hotrod a Mopar V-6. They're basically LA motors with two cylinders left out, right? Well, basic math tells me that if an LA can go to 400 inches, a V6 should be able to go to 306. Shorter and lighter than an LA, the front left exhaust port should clear the steering box better, and routing three header pipes ought to be easier than four, right?

Anyone know of a parts source for V6 hotrod parts? This could get real interestin!

Any ideas and or info greatly appreciated.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 02-08-2005, 05:40 PM
LiveLarge's Avatar
LiveLarge LiveLarge is offline
Inactive User
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Forest Grove, OR
Age: 55
Posts: 133
Default

What are you looking for exactly? 12 seconds? or just a good strong runner?(15 sec) or a nicely powered daily driver that won't break the bank. In my opinion the 225 slant is a nearly indestructable little motor. They can be strong runners but I don't know about one getting a dart into the twelves. I would seriously look into building up a slant for a daily driver before swaping in a V-6.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 02-08-2005, 05:55 PM
pcrmike's Avatar
pcrmike pcrmike is offline
Inactive User
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Lawrenceburg, TN
Age: 48
Posts: 2,215
Default Well, maybe.

I have a few of these V-6's laying around. I don't know about stroking, but I have built some bad to the bone Daks with the 3.9 and ported heads. The cams are available, and when used with some other goodies, like higher comp slugs, etc. you can have a hauler on your hands. I just so happen to have the following: Slant six head - awaiting port and polish job, and 3.9 Magnum heads, awaiting port and polish job. For my money, either one is a good choice. Any questions?
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 02-09-2005, 01:05 AM
71dart666 71dart666 is offline
Inactive User
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: san jose CA
Posts: 471
Default

Did you ever think of stuffing a 3.5 SOHC V6 in there? 250 net hp plus it'd rev up quicker than hell.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 02-09-2005, 01:39 AM
TK TK is offline
Banned
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: not here anymore
Posts: 8,876
Default

is that the 3.5 "big block" V6 like in the 300 chryslers?
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 02-09-2005, 08:59 PM
71dart666 71dart666 is offline
Inactive User
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: san jose CA
Posts: 471
Default

Well I dont know, why do you refer to it as a big block ?
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 02-10-2005, 01:24 AM
TK TK is offline
Banned
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: not here anymore
Posts: 8,876
Biggrin

its just a joke, jeez! have you seen it done, im curiouse. ive driven them bfore, they seem to have power, but they are sideways, and i know the 6 or small bell housing wont fit. i was wondering your reason, thats all.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 02-10-2005, 08:42 PM
71dart666 71dart666 is offline
Inactive User
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: san jose CA
Posts: 471
Default

Oh, I thought you were insinuating that the 3.5 was somehow a rediculously large V6 and somehow I was stupid for suggesting it. I am not sure if they are sideways or not in the new 300C's since they are RWD... Plus they are RWD in Prowlers and I know they cant fitsideways in that narrow frontend they have. The guy mentioned going EFI so I figure if he was willing to deal with the hassle of wiring up EFI along with a computer and all that he might wanna think about a 3.5 liter. Maybe a wrecking yard 3.5 from a Prowler or even a 300C or Magnum.. probably wouldnt be more then a few grand. 250 net hp = maybe 270-280 gross hp, remove the smog crap and put some exaust on it, get a performance chip and maybe a K&N intake and I would imagine getting 300 hp (gross) out of it wouldnt be hard. Wouldnt be the most practical or easy engine swap out there but it'd be cool.. high tech and something different.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 02-10-2005, 08:44 PM
TK TK is offline
Banned
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: not here anymore
Posts: 8,876
Biggrin

awsome! i'd forgot all about them in rear drives!
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 02-11-2005, 12:52 AM
Stoga's Avatar
Stoga Stoga is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Jan 1999
Location: WV
Age: 65
Posts: 8,586
Default

For what it's worth, the K-members are the same from 60 to 66 on early A bodies, you just need the mounts for the engine in question.
Seeing that the 273 was the first LA engine, a later V6 should drop in, the only thing I am not sure about is if they left the motor mount lugs on the block in the same place or not when they removed 2 of the cylinders from the casting.
I expect it should drop right in place, but then you have the fun of all the fuel injection and computer wiring to fiddle with!
If you got the original brackets for the V8 already, thats half the battle.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 02-11-2005, 01:35 AM
Bill55AZ Bill55AZ is offline
Inactive User
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Peoria, AZ
Age: 77
Posts: 314
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Stoga
I expect it should drop right in place, but then you have the fun of all the fuel injection and computer wiring to fiddle with!
If you got the original brackets for the V8 already, thats half the battle.
Forget the fuel injection unless you really want a lot of work. Mopar did make a carbureted intake manifold to fit Magnum V6 engines, which is a project I want to do eventually. Hard to find, but out there in the used market. I want to use an 87-88 block, magnum heads, and a carburetor along with 92-93 exhaust manifolds and Y pipe, then to a big single exhaust system.
The 1987 dakota v6 was carbed with a BBD 2BBL that sits on top of a tall spacer, so that carb can be trashed and then there is room for adapters to use bigger carbs. That manifold can be used on any V6 up thru 91.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 02-11-2005, 02:42 AM
Dart 65 Dart 65 is offline
Inactive User
 
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Scenic Xanthe Terra, Mars
Age: 51
Posts: 1,864
Default

Yes, shoehorning a V8 into the '63 "A" body is the hardest of the bunch, but not impossible. You'll have to coax the firewall back and up a little. The exhaust manifolds aren't really a problem; use the '68-'70 hipo 340 units. In spite of people saying that they won't fit, they will. It's tight, but they do fit. You can always cut the inner fenders for fenderwell headers, too, but there are suspension/tire clearance issues. I think the best way to go is to cough up the green for a custom made set. It wouldn't be cheap, but you'd have all of the issues addressed and perhaps wouldn't even need to do any cutting at all, but I'm not certain of that. I also think the 273 and 318 motor mounts are the same. I happen to have an NOS pair if you're interested.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 02-11-2005, 03:02 AM
TrashedCharger's Avatar
TrashedCharger TrashedCharger is offline
Inactive User
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Lakewood, Co.
Age: 42
Posts: 675
Default

Or you could leave the 225 in there and have all the room in the world to go with a Garrett T3 Turbocharger and a nice hipo carter 2bbl 500cfm carb with a clifford aluminum intake. Get a Clifford cam and have a 13.5 second crooked monster.

I want a slant six Demon with a Garret or an Airesearch force fed block!
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 02-11-2005, 06:26 PM
pcrmike's Avatar
pcrmike pcrmike is offline
Inactive User
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Lawrenceburg, TN
Age: 48
Posts: 2,215
Biggrin I got some

I have the '89 and '91 3.9's waiting for rebuild. The heads are from the same. I aalso have a 95 Magnum block and heads. I still have a lot of the goods if you are serious about doing a V6. I can give you a good bare block, crank, rods, and ported heads for 500 bucks. Just email me or call at 501-827-8324. No, this is not
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 02-11-2005, 06:40 PM
Bill55AZ Bill55AZ is offline
Inactive User
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Peoria, AZ
Age: 77
Posts: 314
Default

http://www.babcox.com/editorial/ar/ar40090.htm

Bookmark this link, and download a copy into word, or print a copy.
This is excellent info when considering mopar small block swaps.
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 02-12-2005, 08:34 AM
Dart 65 Dart 65 is offline
Inactive User
 
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Scenic Xanthe Terra, Mars
Age: 51
Posts: 1,864
Default

Uh, I don't trust the information on that site. It's almost right in some respects, but the term "may or may not," used at least once, gives me the impression that the author may or may not have done all of his homework.
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 02-12-2005, 09:33 AM
Bill55AZ Bill55AZ is offline
Inactive User
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Peoria, AZ
Age: 77
Posts: 314
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dart 65
Uh, I don't trust the information on that site. It's almost right in some respects, but the term "may or may not," used at least once, gives me the impression that the author may or may not have done all of his homework.
Well, how picky can you get? The writer is involved in the business of rebuilding engines, so I suspect that he has been involved in the rebuilding of more engines than all of us in this forum combined will ever be.

There is a TON of good info in there, and to put down the author because he doesn't know everything, or that he doesn't have control over what Mopar may or may not have have done in any particular year, is no reason that the rest of us can't benefit from the info.

Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 02-12-2005, 07:33 PM
nhdriver's Avatar
nhdriver nhdriver is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Rochester,NH
Posts: 1,924
Wink

A nice rounded rubber mallet and some carefull pounding(you could try heating up the metal w/ a propane torch,as long as there is nothing behind that you would melt or burn behind the firewall area that you are "reworking") would probably get that A Engine in there. Use an empty block w/ a "dummy" distributer (an old beat up one w/ a distributer cap you don't plan on using) and plan to put it in & out of the car a few times until you "make" it fit. Also you could test out this method on a 'Junker " if you have on laying around Note: Have a water hose ready and make sure there are no fuel lines or brake lines anywhere near if you use the propane torch!
Note on the 3.9 if you attempt using on of these engines, The dist. is in the same location as the A Engine (in relation to the belhousing area) so just moving the engine foward is not really an option unless you are planing to totally rework the trans mount too! So it will be about the same amount of work if not more! Also the 3.9 engine will require wireing and a computer from a doner vehicle unless you use one of the earlier carburated ones. (which are low H.P. dogs)
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Mopar 360 swap into 87 Dakota AgentFrosty Dakota Truck Forum 31 07-19-2005 10:59 AM
Mopar V5 swap? 64ragtop Performance Talk 8 02-10-2005 06:34 PM
Need help on Mopar swap into a Toyota LC poseidon Performance Talk 5 06-01-2004 02:56 PM
Needed: Swap mounts to put Mopar Power in non Mopar Rides. Stoga Rumors and Gossip, etc... 13 11-25-2000 06:38 AM
All Mopar Swap Meet kpzbee Rumors and Gossip, etc... 4 02-05-2000 12:35 AM




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:16 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
. . . . .