New to Mopars....V8 question

fpereira23 · 09-03-2008, 05:55 PM

Hi Guys,
I just bought my first Mopar, a 1969 2 door Dart Custom. It comes with a slant 6 and I want to swap it for a V8.
Since I live in Panama, my first choice engine (340) is very hard to find. I'm getting a good deal on a 273, but I don't know much about this engine. Should I keep looking for a 318 or 360? Will the 273 work fine on a Dart?
Any feedback on the 273 and on what will be the best engine for my car will be appreciated?
HAs anyone swap a new model (90s) V8 engine into a 60s-70s Mopar? How? What about the computer?

TKS

Doc · 09-03-2008, 07:17 PM

A 360 is the plan ...IMO. Especially one from a van or truck. Some say they are better blocks and some have steel cranks. PLUS they are reasonable priced. The 273 is neat motor ... but parts are hard to come by - vs the 360.

rr69half6bbl · 09-04-2008, 04:51 AM

i agree w/ doc, a 360 is the way to go. and the parts to swap it into the /6 k-frame can be gotten on line and shipped to your door. ive seen piccs of the south american darts of the late 60`s into the 70`s, they look so close to ours but have nice grill and tail panel changes.

ef8340 · 09-04-2008, 04:50 PM

congrats on your new ride i also agree with doc and rr you'll have to change the oil pan though if the 360 is from a truck or van and i'd upgrade your rear end /6 cars almost always hace the little 7 1/4 rear but it will hold up if your easy on it while you try to find a 8 3/4 or 8 1/4

Doc · 09-05-2008, 02:50 AM

Hey guys ... what is the best HP stocker pan out there? ... maybe a quart or two more ...with some baffles.

fpereira23 · 09-07-2008, 03:32 PM

TKS Guys,
I just found a lady with a non running 60's Chrysler Imperial. I know it has a big block a 727 and a 8 1/4 rear end. She wants $400 for the whole car as it hasn't been started in some time.
What do you think, will this set up be better than a 360?

richinny · 09-07-2008, 04:44 PM

no, and what's her phone number? lol

if you want something to smoke tires, get a hot rod. if you want a classic car, buy the chrysler.

Commando · 09-07-2008, 05:01 PM

Whats the condition of the body on the car, and where she live?

challenger · 09-08-2008, 06:10 PM

welcome fpereira23 and to make the bb work you would need alot of time and money unless you have done it before and the rear you would have to shorten abit to get it to work unless you want tires sticking out

and i would just also go with the 360 or a 340 , where are you located at as i have 2 -340s and i might give up one for the right price

fpereira23 · 09-08-2008, 07:36 PM

Guys....I live in Panama, Central America and there are a lot of old cars down here, mostly all rusted, but every now and then you can find one with very little rust like the 69 Dart I bought.
Unfortunately there aren't that many 340s or 360s down here, so that's why Im looking into buying the Imperial to pull out the drive train and replace my slant six with it. Labour is pretty cheap down here to have a good mechanic rebuild the engine, bad part is that I would have to order all the parts from the US as those are not available here.
What about the 318?

78D200 · 09-09-2008, 02:20 AM

if you can find a 340 for that dart, you'll have a lot of fun driving it around. the 318 is a good strong motor in the trucks, real reliable. the 360 is better for power. If you want it just to cruise in then I would leave the slant 6 in there (you can even build that up some). If you want power then 318, 340 or a 360 is the way to go. if you want to lite the tires on fire then big block it.

a 360 from an dakota R/T or durango R/T would be sick. OH or a 360 from a ram SST!

fpereira23 · 09-09-2008, 09:01 PM

TKS Tim,
What will be needed to fit a 90s or newer v8 like the ones you mentioned into a dart? What about the computer or EFI? On another thread you suggest not changing into carburation but to keep the EFI. How will that work?

78D200 · 09-10-2008, 02:21 AM

whatever vehicle that the motor will come out of, get the computer(s) (some have one for the engione and another for the tranny), all whole wiring harness and all the sensors. you will need all of this for your car. sometimes its easier to just buy the whole vehicle and scrap the rest later.

don't get me wrong, I love carbs, the adjustablity that you have with them is great. I also like EFI (prefer MPFI) though for the added fact of itseasier to start up during any kind of weather, quicker throttle responce, better fuel mileage.

each way has their ups and downs. its all what you want to do though in the end. its your car, do with it what you like.

09-03-2008, 05:55 PM	#1 (permalink)
fpereira23 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 7	New to Mopars....V8 question Hi Guys, I just bought my first Mopar, a 1969 2 door Dart Custom. It comes with a slant 6 and I want to swap it for a V8. Since I live in Panama, my first choice engine (340) is very hard to find. I'm getting a good deal on a 273, but I don't know much about this engine. Should I keep looking for a 318 or 360? Will the 273 work fine on a Dart? Any feedback on the 273 and on what will be the best engine for my car will be appreciated? HAs anyone swap a new model (90s) V8 engine into a 60s-70s Mopar? How? What about the computer? TKS

09-09-2008, 02:20 AM	#11 (permalink)
78D200 Ph.D in wheelinology Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Manchester, NH Posts: 461	if you can find a 340 for that dart, you'll have a lot of fun driving it around. the 318 is a good strong motor in the trucks, real reliable. the 360 is better for power. If you want it just to cruise in then I would leave the slant 6 in there (you can even build that up some). If you want power then 318, 340 or a 360 is the way to go. if you want to lite the tires on fire then big block it. a 360 from an dakota R/T or durango R/T would be sick. OH or a 360 from a ram SST! __________________ Tim and Heather 1974 J10 - getting built up some more. built 360, built TH400, D300, D60(detroit)/14B(spool), SOA, inboard rear 64" springs, 38.5 thornbirds jeep pics - http://s149.photobucket.com/albums/s63/jeeping1974/J10/

09-10-2008, 02:21 AM	#13 (permalink)
78D200 Ph.D in wheelinology Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Manchester, NH Posts: 461	whatever vehicle that the motor will come out of, get the computer(s) (some have one for the engione and another for the tranny), all whole wiring harness and all the sensors. you will need all of this for your car. sometimes its easier to just buy the whole vehicle and scrap the rest later. don't get me wrong, I love carbs, the adjustablity that you have with them is great. I also like EFI (prefer MPFI) though for the added fact of itseasier to start up during any kind of weather, quicker throttle responce, better fuel mileage. each way has their ups and downs. its all what you want to do though in the end. its your car, do with it what you like. __________________ Tim and Heather 1974 J10 - getting built up some more. built 360, built TH400, D300, D60(detroit)/14B(spool), SOA, inboard rear 64" springs, 38.5 thornbirds jeep pics - http://s149.photobucket.com/albums/s63/jeeping1974/J10/

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09-03-2008, 07:17 PM	#2 (permalink)
Doc MasterDebater Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: nw lower Meeeechigan Posts: 673	A 360 is the plan ...IMO. Especially one from a van or truck. Some say they are better blocks and some have steel cranks. PLUS they are reasonable priced. The 273 is neat motor ... but parts are hard to come by - vs the 360.

09-04-2008, 04:51 AM	#3 (permalink)
rr69half6bbl Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: central ,IN Posts: 105	i agree w/ doc, a 360 is the way to go. and the parts to swap it into the /6 k-frame can be gotten on line and shipped to your door. ive seen piccs of the south american darts of the late 60`s into the 70`s, they look so close to ours but have nice grill and tail panel changes.

09-04-2008, 04:50 PM	#4 (permalink)
ef8340 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 175	congrats on your new ride i also agree with doc and rr you'll have to change the oil pan though if the 360 is from a truck or van and i'd upgrade your rear end /6 cars almost always hace the little 7 1/4 rear but it will hold up if your easy on it while you try to find a 8 3/4 or 8 1/4

09-05-2008, 02:50 AM	#5 (permalink)
Doc MasterDebater Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: nw lower Meeeechigan Posts: 673	Hey guys ... what is the best HP stocker pan out there? ... maybe a quart or two more ...with some baffles.

09-07-2008, 03:32 PM	#6 (permalink)
fpereira23 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 7	TKS Guys, I just found a lady with a non running 60's Chrysler Imperial. I know it has a big block a 727 and a 8 1/4 rear end. She wants $400 for the whole car as it hasn't been started in some time. What do you think, will this set up be better than a 360?

09-07-2008, 04:44 PM	#7 (permalink)
richinny Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 115	no, and what's her phone number? lol if you want something to smoke tires, get a hot rod. if you want a classic car, buy the chrysler.

09-07-2008, 05:01 PM	#8 (permalink)
Commando Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 423	Whats the condition of the body on the car, and where she live?

09-08-2008, 06:10 PM	#9 (permalink)
challenger Super Moderator Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: MICHIGAN Posts: 427	welcome fpereira23 and to make the bb work you would need alot of time and money unless you have done it before and the rear you would have to shorten abit to get it to work unless you want tires sticking out and i would just also go with the 360 or a 340 , where are you located at as i have 2 -340s and i might give up one for the right price

09-08-2008, 07:36 PM	#10 (permalink)
fpereira23 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 7	Guys....I live in Panama, Central America and there are a lot of old cars down here, mostly all rusted, but every now and then you can find one with very little rust like the 69 Dart I bought. Unfortunately there aren't that many 340s or 360s down here, so that's why Im looking into buying the Imperial to pull out the drive train and replace my slant six with it. Labour is pretty cheap down here to have a good mechanic rebuild the engine, bad part is that I would have to order all the parts from the US as those are not available here. What about the 318?

09-09-2008, 09:01 PM	#12 (permalink)
fpereira23 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 7	TKS Tim, What will be needed to fit a 90s or newer v8 like the ones you mentioned into a dart? What about the computer or EFI? On another thread you suggest not changing into carburation but to keep the EFI. How will that work?