70 duster /6 to small block

[osfjerm1]

I Want to swap my 225 to a v8 (360)
1970 duster, any hints or suggestions or other modifacations needed?
help would be great! thanks

[nhdriver]

Yeah, Upgrade the brakes. The /6 cars have notoriously weak brakes for a V8.
and the rearend must be changed to an 8 3/4 or a 8 1/4, The 6 cyl rear (7 1/4) won't last very long.

[sthorvictor75duster]

upgrade the torsion bars the torsion bars in the car right now may work but they probably wont handle the added weight, all too well, for engine mounts if you dont want to change out the K member go to year one, they have lots of conversion kits, i converted from a 225 to a 383 with one of the engine mount conversion kits, makes life easy. and you might have to play with tranny linkage a bit to get it to work, unless your going with a 3 or 4 speed tranny which i dont know anything about.

[DEMON SIZZLER]

The torsion bars may be V-8 bars already but you will have to accurately measure the id's to know.

Also you can use the Trans-Dapt slant 6 to V-8 motor mount kit if you are going to use a 340 or 360 engine.

Summit Racing sells the kit:
TRD-4695

I used this kit on my '71 Demon and it works just fine. Any other V-8 big or small block will require a Shumacher conversion kit.

As mentioned before, 9" slant six drum brakes are inadequate and should be upgraded to at least the 10" drum brakes or disc brakes. You will also have to change the radiator, transmission to a v-8 unit(if you stick with a 904 trans and a small block engine, the drive shaft will work if you keep the current rear end), the exhaust will obviously have to be changed. The engine wiring harness will still work but you may have to lengthen the + coil wire and the oil pressure idiot light wire ect. The transmission cooler lines may also be a problem, David.

[daniel_depetro]

Originally Posted by sthorvictor75duster

upgrade the torsion bars the torsion bars in the car right now may work but they probably wont handle the added weight, all too well.

/6 cars with A/C came stock with the .850" V8 torsion bars. V8 cars with A/C came with slightly larger .870" torsion bars and are even a better choice. If you can find factroy .890" 383 bars they are the way to go and will give great handling with your small block.
Of course new aftermarket ones are always best but are about $330.00 shipped for a pair.

Originally Posted by nhdriver

Yeah, Upgrade the brakes. The /6 cars have notoriously weak brakes for a V8.

Check to see if you have power discs. Some slants were ordered with them. More common on 1973+ cars, but you may get lucky.

[702cuda]

keep the six! there known to out last any small block, want more power just beef it up!!hey even turbo it!