426 hemi in a 66 dart??????

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johnmucci

moparmucci
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OK Besides a wallet full of cash, what would i need to put a 426 hemi in a 66 dart gt that is now a 6cyl..?????? the motor of course ...ha ha...I am talking frt end issues, kframe, etc... please chime in... thanks!!!
 
Alterkation will defintly make it easier. Then you'll need:

Custom Headers
Big Block Tranny
Bigger Rearend
Bigger Radiator
Probably some inner fender Tweaking
Custom Driveshaft
Torque Converter
I'm missing a bunch, but that will give you a reason to start saving money and working overtime.

You should call Bill at Reilly Motorsports and talk w/ him about his front end.
 
Why not just builder a killer stroker and have Hemi HP out of a small block,without breaking the bank.:D
 
Alterkation will defintly make it easier. Then you'll need:

Custom Headers
Big Block Tranny
Bigger Rearend
Bigger Radiator
Probably some inner fender Tweaking
Custom Driveshaft
Torque Converter
I'm missing a bunch, but that will give you a reason to start saving money and working overtime.

You should call Bill at Reilly Motorsports and talk w/ him about his front end.

That's an understatement, It's going to need A LOT of tweaking. I barely have room for my smallblock.
 
first thing you might want to do is measure the 426 at it's widest point. second measure across the engine bay between the shock towers. if i recall correctly the 66 and older "A"s are 2" narrower then the 67 up ones and the 426 was REAL tight in those.
 
I'm thinking 3G 426 Hemi would be easier if not exactly cheaper.
 
Basically, take the fenders and hood off, cut off the front frames at the fire wall, and reconstruct out of square tubing, using a rack and pinion and struts. Then re-mount the fenders. You'll still need a hood.
 
first thing you might want to do is measure the 426 at it's widest point. second measure across the engine bay between the shock towers. if i recall correctly the 66 and older "A"s are 2" narrower then the 67 up ones and the 426 was REAL tight in those.

Don't even bother measuring it, it physically won't fit between the original fenderwells, it will need major modifications.


Here is my smallblock to show you how tight it is, and I do have to lift the engine to remove the header, my blower belt is also within 3/4" of the radiator.



DSC01589.jpg
 
Don't even bother measuring it, it physically won't fit between the original fenderwells, it will need major modifications.


Believe it or not but it will fit with only modification to the pass inner fender/ shock tower, a little str column work, and moving over the master cyl. Check out the link I posted.
 
first thing you might want to do is measure the 426 at it's widest point. second measure across the engine bay between the shock towers. if i recall correctly the 66 and older "A"s are 2" narrower then the 67 up ones and the 426 was REAL tight in those.

Actually the years are 67 and older or 68 and newer,I found out while building a Hemi Dart about 19 years ago that the 1967 shock towers had to be moved back to accomodate a Hemi. The 68 and later are a smidge wider. You still cant get your hand between the valve cover and the fenderwell on 68 and ups. I still have an offset brake block if you need one to move that master cylinder.
 
I put a few Hemis in the 67 and up A bodies (no AlterKation, but my own custom K-frame)......everything under a stock flat hood,column shift automatics,4 and 5 speeds, A/C.....all without any sheetmetal modifications....and it's tight.

the older ones ....66 and older...being a bit narrower....be prepared to do some surgury....and ruin any resemblence of a stock install.

but as they say...if you got enough money...you could put a helicopter motor in a submarine
 
Actually the years are 67 and older or 68 and newer,I found out while building a Hemi Dart about 19 years ago that the 1967 shock towers had to be moved back to accomodate a Hemi. The 68 and later are a smidge wider. You still cant get your hand between the valve cover and the fenderwell on 68 and ups. I still have an offset brake block if you need one to move that master cylinder.

No, 67 and newer are the same, 66 and older are almost 3" narrower

I put a few Hemis in the 67 and up A bodies (no AlterKation, but my own custom K-frame)......everything under a stock flat hood,column shift automatics,4 and 5 speeds, A/C.....all without any sheetmetal modifications....and it's tight.

the older ones ....66 and older...being a bit narrower....be prepared to do some surgury....and ruin any resemblence of a stock install.

but as they say...if you got enough money...you could put a helicopter motor in a submarine

I agree, I seen how much work a local guy did to his 69 Cuda to make a 426 fit, and the 65 is about 3" narrower than the 69

Don't even bother measuring it, it physically won't fit between the original fenderwells, it will need major modifications.


Believe it or not but it will fit with only modification to the pass inner fender/ shock tower, a little str column work, and moving over the master cyl. Check out the link I posted.

I'm not sure if you tried to mock anything up yet, but I did have a 440 sitting in my car, and with a 440, there is only 1" of space between the exhaust ports on the heads and the shock towers. a 426 Hemi will require the complete shock tower assemblys (both sides) and the inner fender that surrounds it to be moved, not to mention the steering box will also have to be relocated because the top of the gear box will not clear the Hemi head in it's stock location. And once that is done, you still have to find a way to route headers, which there is barely room for with a smallblock.

I would say that is major modification, can it be done? yes! but it isn't as easy as some make it sound, especially if it is being done correctly and not butchered.

I know Petty had one in his Cuda, but everyone that I talked to about that car said it was so butchered together that it was unsafe, and everyone knows that he did loose control and go into the stands and killed a kid with it. Not sure how true, but rumor has it that Petty buried the car behind his shop shortly after that crash.
 
Just go with the 426 cu in SMALL BLOCK !!!Or hell,440 six pack small block !!!:cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers:
 
There's no way I'd want the stock suspension or brakes with that thing over the wheels. Cut it off, make a new one...
 
Blownfish, first let me say I love your car ! I built a 65 440 Bcuda with fenderwell headers. Had to tip out the right shocktower a bit. It worked out well. The petty car was all cut up, firewall moved back etc. The link I posted is about a replica of the Petty car. It was built on a budget and no major surgery was done to it except the pass fenderwell/ shock tower. Take a minute to read it. I asked about a hemi in an early A maybe a year ago and someone posted that link. When I start squeezing it in I will post some pics.
 
Blownfish, first let me say I love your car ! I built a 65 440 Bcuda with fenderwell headers. Had to tip out the right shocktower a bit. It wooked out well. The petty car was all cut up, firewall moved back etc. The link I posted is about a replica of the Petty car. It was built on a budget and no major surgery was done to it except the pass fenderwell/ shock tower. Take a minute to read it. I asked about a hemi in an early A maybe a year ago and someone posted that link. When I start squeezing it in I will post some pics.

The problem is you can't just cut the one fenderwell and offset the engine that far to the right of the car, it will need to be more centered up than that, the original engine is offset, but the Hemi is just too heavy to be offset that far, you'll end up with steering problems and suspension problems.

I know the one in the link is a clone, and it looks very butchered up under the hood, he also spaced the k-frame from the frame rails to give more space under the hood and over the steering box.

I just think if you are basing your transplant on that car, you'll end up with a lot of headaches and a butchered car when your done. I'm not saying it can't be done, but to do it correctly, you are going to be doing a lot more work that you are anticipating, and I don't see the point in taking short cuts that will come back to haunt you later in the build.
 
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