Hi I was contemplating out swapping out my 318 /904 for a 400 /727 in 70 belvedere and had a question. I was wondering does the ac mount in the same place on both engines. my ac works amazing and I know if I have to take it apart I will prob never get it running right again. So can I just swap the engines and leave the ac intact or do I have to break the ac apart to take the old engine out /put the new engine in. I heard one person say that you need new ac lines. I also read that you can do it but you need to modify the ac bracket to fit the 400.

thanks for your help.

 

I don't know how you'd "Modify the bracket" as they are completely different engines, as different as Ford and Studebaker. I would "expect" to have to obtain new brackets, if you are a good fabricator, build them. I'm guessin' you're not

So far as new hoses, I'd say a crap shoot. If the hoses have steel ends, sometimes you can find a good hose shop to cut the ends off and re--use them with different crimp ends.

Frankly, if I had a SB car, I'd KEEP it a SB car. "All the stuff" just fits better, the radiator, the exhaust, etc. Unless you have a junker for parts, there's a lot of little hardware pieces must be changed. Put a 360 in the thing. Those are plentiful, everything will fit.

 

It's no big deal. You need the 400 BB brackets and a 5/8 coarse bolt to remove the clutch to change the brackets. Just find a late 70's 400 in a Cordoba, Challenger, Charger or Truck Anything with a 400 or 440 & you will have all the correct brackets & pulleys

 

when I meant adapt the bracket I think in the other post it meant using the 400 bracket. I am still not sure if I want to go bb or sb. I think im leaning more towards bb cause its a heavy b body and 400 produces a lot more low end torque. I don't mind changing out the certain componets to put it a bb. I already have a 8 3/4 rear to put in, I have to change my radiator anyway cause it has some leaks,

for tvlynn
I think the 400 is a 77 block, he said he might have the brackets for ac but if not I was going to buy them off ebay, so your saying I just need the 400 bracket and I don't have to break apart my ac?

 

this is some thing i am not sure of. but i think on "B" engines the intake may have two diff intake manifolds. in that the mounting pad for a A/C bracket is machined to mate to the bracket. and some may NOT be machined for a A/C bracket. now i am NOT totally sure this is true. i just had one time trying to mount a bracket on a 383 that the bracket took all afternoon to get it done. the real experts can make this more clear.

 

moe this rings a bell.

I stick to my guns. Unless you are SET on going with a B instead of a small block, be prepared to chase down a lot of little things, and a few big ones. I believe the rad lower outlet is reversed, certainly the exhaust is different, and some wiring changes. Of course you'll need a different transmission.