340 Engine swap in a 1963 Valiant

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63 Hurst Valiant

63 Hurst Valiant

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Wondering what is the depth difference in the 1963 Valiant fire wall and the 1964 Valiant fire wall? Planning on putting a 340 in my 1963 Valiant and would rather cut and weld the wall to size instead of beat it in with a hammer.
 
The wiper protrusion is the problem. I dont have any pics to show though. Some put a section in from a 64 or 65 and use that wiper assembly.
 
Yes I remember someone saying they used a come along on the inside down to the shifter area to pull it back.
 
Yes, the firewall is the same location. It is the fact that the 63 wiper mechanism is placed so that a hump protrudes where the distributer of a V8 needs to go. Several years ago I alleviated that problem by using the wiper components from a 65 a-body. A lot of people make clearance with a hammer but since you said you prefer to cut and weld the 64/65 wiper graft will be the solution. The rest of the 340 swap into a 63 is the same as a 64-66 V8 swap.
 
grimreaper said:
Yes, the firewall is the same location. It is the fact that the 63 wiper mechanism is placed so that a hump protrudes where the distributer of a V8 needs to go. Several years ago I alleviated that problem by using the wiper components from a 65 a-body. A lot of people make clearance with a hammer but since you said you prefer to cut and weld the 64/65 wiper graft will be the solution. The rest of the 340 swap into a 63 is the same as a 64-66 V8 swap.
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Sweet, good to know the walls are the same besides the wiper motor issue. I just have to find a '64/'65 wiper motor/components to fix that.
 
Put a 383 in it. Distributor in the front. Problem solved.
 
RustyRatRod said:
Put a 383 in it. Distributor in the front. Problem solved.
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The guy I bought it from told me the guy who sold it to him was going to put a 383 in it. I would either that or a 426 if I was looking to just race. It'll end up being my daily driver so I figured a 340 would give me that extra edge on the street but for some fast passes at test and tunes.
 
63 Hurst Valiant said:
The guy I bought it from told me the guy who sold it to him was going to put a 383 in it. I would either that or a 426 if I was looking to just race. It'll end up being my daily driver so I figured a 340 would give me that extra edge on the street but for some fast passes at test and tunes.
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But then you have all that firewall work to do.
 
Here's some pics of the car, with the current standing of it. It runs but the brakes weren't hooked up so I'm taking advantage and doing all the joints and shocks. Cleaning/painting. So I can start to drive it with the 225 in it. I was actually surprised how good the interior was when I got it.

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When I got my 63, it had a 318 in it. The previous owner (Good ol Dad) hit the firewall with a hammer and that's when he found out why the hump was there, broke the wiper motor. I pulled the tired 318 out and put in a 360 using the Schumacher swap mounts.

'63-66 A-Body Products
 
None2Slow said:
When I got my 63, it had a 318 in it. The previous owner (Good ol Dad) hit the firewall with a hammer and that's when he found out why the hump was there, broke the wiper motor. I pulled the tired 318 out and put in a 360 using the Schumacher swap mounts.

'63-66 A-Body Products
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I'll look into them. I'm getting a tubular K member for the front end when I do the swap. Should help with oil pan and header clearance from what I've read. Might go with Magnum force on it since it might be cheaper through them than going the whole stretch with QA1. Almost want blueprints to make my own k member honestly. Cheaper and I'd be able to customize it specifically for the 340 build. If it's possible.
 
Here's a few pics of when we did the firewall "swap" on my sons 63.

I "clearanced" my 63 years ago with a metal pipe and a sledge hammer…but I removed the wiper motor first.

The firewall swap wasn't bad at all. We cut the spot welds along the top punch weld, and seamed it on the sides at the ridges so it was easier to blend.

Hope this helps.
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grimreaper said:
Prorac1, did you change out the bracket under the dash too?
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Yes we did. We tack welded the bracket under the dash on the factory spot welds.

And if I remember properly, that bracket slid into the pinch weld of the firewall also. At the top of the firewall patch in the photos above.

We used the 65 motor, 63 wiper pivots and 65 linkage under the dash I believe.
 
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