1986 B250 Camperwagon Engine Swap 318 > 440
 

Anybody ever seen or heard of anybody stuffing a 440 in a similar van?

I think the extra weight would not be an issue but quite possibly would be some space issues getting it to fit under the engine cover and maybe with the headers. Also the current transmission 727 TF with the 318 would probably get eaten up. Will the 440 bolt straight up to it though?

Also most likely a driveshaft mod would be needed for length I suppose. Would all gas lines and pump need to also be upgraded? Radiator as well would need an upgrade.

This van will also be getting 4x4 put in it in the next 2 years and will spend most of it's time in rough and extremely steep terrain. I am swapping out the 318 with that in mind. Need bunches of low and mid end torque to get this big girl up those big mountains and rough country.

A 440 may be overkill but when I look at the size and weight of this van and add the fact that we will be towing a small trailer in many cases.... maybe it is not.

Unless you REALLY want it and don't mind the problems you are facing....build a good smallblock motor. That's my advice.....and god knows I love a nice bigblock.

current tranny wont bolt up, and its not a b body

Everything I can find on it says it is a B250, even says so on the inspection papers. Why do you say it is not?

B Body is the platform of the vehicle. A Challenger is an A body....my Polara is a B body......a Trans AM is an F body and an 80's Mustang is also an F (Fox) body.....etc. It is a manufacturing code.

The B in yours is a model.......part of the public use name.


You should have posted in the "72-93 Dodge Trucks"

My bad, thanks for the info.

Can a mod please move this to the right forum.

Trans is your main problem... So do the conversion to 4x4 at the same time otherwise you will need a Big Block 727 for the 440 and then you will need a 4x4 727 for the 4 wheel drive conversion. There were 440 powered vans,

Yep the Dodge camperwagons had 2 years where the 440 was an option in the 70's. Unfortunately that was like 10-12 years before my vans time. If I could get my hands on a 4x4 727 for a big block I could just put it in with the 440 straight away and run it 2wd until we finish off the conversion. I have no idea though just how hard that tranny will be to find, but will do some digging and see. :dance:

You could use an adapter for a Small Block trans, That in itself is expensive

challenger is a E body, your polara is a C body

Don't limit yourself to Vans Look for a BB 4X4 PU truck