Apollo

Hello everyone-
New to the forum and Mopar but not the muscle car scene.
My brother and I have just gotten a hold of my fathers 1972 Charger and i just need a little insight. It has the 318 currently and we're looking to dump something larger in to it. As of now we are looking at these 2 engines available locally on craigslist-

A stock Big Block 440 engine and 727 transmission currently still in the car and running for $1000 obo with decent miles on it


or

1966 dodge 383 motor
-.030 bore
-906 heads
-mild cam
-new rings and bearings 5,000 miles ago
-running in car still

Guy wants $1600 obo.

What all would it take to stuff the 440 in there? Mounting issues? Tranny/axle/drive shaft compatibility? Pro's/Con's? I would think the 440 is the way to go, but the 383 seems like it had a very astute and caring owner and for the most part is a direct swap with the 318, right? The 440 looks weathered but in good running order and comes with the 727 tranny. Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

The Charger-

ef8340

hi apollo
id go with the 383 i think it would be a better motor in the long run dependble wise if your not planing on rebuilding it soon [ just want to drop in and go ] either motor should fit down in there as for driveshaft and rear might need to be changed

Apollo

It is deffinately a drop and go so to speak. No rebuild yet, but just something to get the project going. It just needs to be mobile at first and complete before paint and body work can commence


If i go with the 440, do i need to upgrade the springs at all to handle the added weight or will the stock springs be enough? On the same token, will the 318 radiator adequately cool the 440 or 383?

Commando

The radiator is definitely too small for the 440.

67 GTX

the radiator is way to small for either engine

challenger

you will have to change out the rad if the lines are on the different sides and as for the front end it should handle either engine but maybe go up a notch with some new coil over shocks the one with the coil on them like from jc whitney and you will need a 727 big block tranny for either the 383 or the 440 as the 318 trans will not fit neither one but as far as i can remember the trans mount should fit and the drive shaft might be the same but you will also need the bb motor mounts (pretty sure)

72RDRNR

couple of thoughts here (4 cents): if you are wanting drop in and go for least investment go with 440 and trans, the bell housings are different for big block vs small block. but in long run it might need rebuild where as 383 should be good for a while but will also need trans= more $$. 440 & trans cheaper now but may need rebuild soon vs 383 good strong motor but no trans. second thought is 440 is a stock motor for car and 383 was not available in 72. dont know if this matters. as for springs, rad, etc... both are big blocks and similar motors so would use same upgrades from small block.

Apollo

Thank you for all the help! We've opted to go with the 440. The deciding factor was the tranny/overall price. Now i just need to get a hold of the guy. Emailed but have yet to hear back.
So from what i gather, to get this thing on the road i will need-
BB radiator
BB motor/tranny mounts
dive shaft

My brother just cut the check so i'll hopefully be picking up the donor and needed parts this weekend if all goes well.

72RDRNR

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

78D200

Good choice going with the 440 and tranny. Now that you will have a stock motor and trans, you can build it how ever you want and not based of of what someone else did.

Welcome to the forum!

Apollo

The 440 is a go!! Went down to the farthest region of South San Jose today to check out the BB. Its quite a find. Granny owned and operated 1973 Imperial with an original 45k on the clock. The car had not been reg'd since 92. Started right up, went in to gear with no issues and all fluids looked great. There isnt a thing wrong with the entire car. No rust, no wreckage . . .nothing wrong at all. Just dusty and old. So I will be going back within the week to pick it up. Just have to find a radiator. Hes giving me everything but the radiator. Oh well. Pics and a running engine video clip

challenger

heck if theres nothing wrong with the car why dont you just clean it up and sell it and double your money and find another car for a donor, either way keep us informed with the buid up, that engine just stock will make it flyyyyyyyy

67 GTX

Good luck with the engine
good choice going for the 440

Apollo

Well its time, despite crappy *** wet weather, to get things moving and start the next project. I got the big block back to the garage this weekend and picked up the majority of the tune up parts. Bolt on go-fast parts are in the mail and should be arriving soon. Just have to find a radiator. Here we go again . . And now for some pics

67 GTX

good luck with your project

Apollo

A little progress from tonight. Spent an hour in the garage just cleaning up a little bit. Too cold to stay in there for long though. . .





What was Chrysler thinking? The AC pump alone weighs about 50lbs. You can see a lot more motor now though!

Apollo

Happy holidays everyone!
I Made some progress on the Charger. What a way to spend an afternoon! Good fun, hella greezy, skin missing from my knuckles and to top it all off I am gaining my familiarity with American wrench sizes again. I didnt even have one non-metric tool in my toolbox. Ive been a strictly Datsun man for quite some time now. More to come later!

67 GTX

nice work
what a way to spend christmas

challenger

boy that was quick and forgot but im sure you will have to change out the exhaust pipping lso but thats should be easy enough for you from what i can see or are you going headers that would make it a bit easier
good luck and keep us posted

Apollo

Picked up some parts this weekend. Got some headers and a Holley 750cfm carb. The turn downs you see I had already. Lots more stuff coming. I have paint the engine bay this week and relocate the battery to the trunk plus a whole bunch of other stuff.

Apollo

Shes coming along nicely. Got everything now except for the water pump. Washed the engine and engine bay really well and prepped them for paint. The original blue block paint came off in huge flakes after the pressure solvent wash, so it looks funky but its clean as hell now. I'll be painting the engine bay black with the block getting the good old Mopar orange. Should have the motor together and painted by the end of the week.

Just a test fit . . .

67 GTX

looks great

78D200

I had to take a second look to see that you didn't bolt on th eintake without the valley pan.

Looking great! I can't wait to see what it looks like when its in the vehicle.

Commando

78, I thought something looked funny there.

Is that harmonic balancer and pulley both from a steel crank, or is there supposed to be a gap like that? Just wondering as I have yet to bolt my pulley up and I switched balancers due to the crank change.

Apollo

From what i understand the 73 Imperial didnt have a steel crank. Cast iron right? Maybe Im wrong? And yes, for the picture i just put the intake down without the pan.

Apollo

Little more progress

67 GTX

I like the way you painted the valve covers

challenger

LOOKING SWEET keep up the great work and are you still painting the block orange ? plus the motor looks clean on the inside and im sure you will be happy with that engine

Apollo

Ive been laggin on this project but here are some pics of the most recent development . .