273 Numbers Matching car. Should I rebuild or swap engine?

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JT-68-Dart-GT

JT-68-Dart-GT

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I have a 1968 Dodge Dart GT. It has a 273 V8 which needs a rebuild. I considered an engine swap but since it is a numbers matching car with Air.... all original. Still has original paint but I am about to fix that as it's time! I am considering a rebuild on the V8. With only 190hp and a 2 barrel carb, I want a little more PUNCH. I don't want to race it, i just want a good daily driver that I can enjoy with some torque. And sure, i want to smoke the tires on occassion... I Googled and saw that Dodge or Plymouth had I think they called it a Super Commander at about 275HP. So... can I take my stock 273 V8 and give it the Super Commander spec... or at least similar performance? And can someone tell me what intake fits so I can swap over to a 4 barrel? Any other suggestions?
 
Instead of repeating ourselves again, use the search function and look for 273 titled threads. There has been dozens of threads written here about getting a little more out of your 273-2.
 
Put that engine aside and pick another sb. 273 cost a lot more to build. Gotta start with commando pistons to start with. They are right around $400-500.
You can use the 273.heads. I believe they are closed chamber small cc heads and will.help compression.
Im doing similar build in my 67 cuda. Just dont have a final direction set yet.
 
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No offense to the op but it seems like an epidemic eh Mike? Lol
No offense and like Mike said do a search. Lots of recent and old threads.
toolmanmike said:
Instead of repeating ourselves again, use the search function and look for 273 titled threads. There has been dozens of threads written here about getting a little more out of your 273-2.
Click to expand...
 
Welcome to FABO. I would set it aside and build an engine with cheaper / easier to access parts, 360 comes to mind. Then I'd drive the hell out of it and not worry about blowing up a numbers engine. But, that's just me! :)
 
To I wouldn't care about numbers matching non performance abody. That car will be worth more with 340/360 or better.
Could always store the original engine just in case. A 275 hp 360 (basically 340 specs) will be a way better performance engine and need a lot less gear and stall.
 
Yes, welcome to FABO. (Where's my manners) it must be getting late.
 
toolmanmike said:
Instead of repeating ourselves again, use the search function and look for 273 titled threads. There has been dozens of threads written here about getting a little more out of your 273-2.
Click to expand...

Thank you toolmanmike. I just found the site and this was my first post.... I am not a mechanic, so a lot of the posts are over my head. I was looking for a more general answer so I can call around for a mechanic and talk to him with a little knowledge and a direction from some of you A Body guys. This is a car I bought for my wife... I have a '70 CUDA 440 Six Pack and that engine I have researched as I have worked on it.... but this little 273 I know nothing about and just wondering what you guys who really know these motors have been doing to them. My wife wants to keep it numbers matching... I wanted to toss a Blue Print 360 in it... but I hear her on the original deal so we are going that route. I just want to give her a little more punch from the little motor. I am use to the Cuda, so the Dart just seems like my old 6 cyl Ford Maverick I had in high school would dust it. I realize the motor needs rebuilt, but can a 273 give you a little punch? Or is it just too small? I'll do some searching on the site as you suggested and I appreciate you replying. Have a good evening.
 
Dodge had a 275 horse 273 in the D Dart in 66. It was specially built for drag racing. They only had the the 2 barrel engine in 68. 67 was the last year for the 235 horse engine. "Commando" was the name Plymouth gave their 273 4 barrels and Dodge called them Charger 273's.
 
I've rebuilt my 273. 4spdragtop is right, it's cheaper to rebuild something other than the 273. Pistons are pricey, you won't find an accurate head gasket unless you special order a pair from Cometic ($$$$$$$!). I probably wouldn't do it again. There's links here on building up 318's, I think there is a link on a 300hp 318 that Hot Rod Magazine did here on FABO.
 
JT-68-Dart-GT said:
Thank you toolmanmike. I just found the site and this was my first post.... I am not a mechanic, so a lot of the posts are over my head. I was looking for a more general answer so I can call around for a mechanic and talk to him with a little knowledge and a direction from some of you A Body guys. This is a car I bought for my wife... I have a '70 CUDA 440 Six Pack and that engine I have researched as I have worked on it.... but this little 273 I know nothing about and just wondering what you guys who really know these motors have been doing to them. My wife wants to keep it numbers matching... I wanted to toss a Blue Print 360 in it... but I hear her on the original deal so we are going that route. I just want to give her a little more punch from the little motor. I am use to the Cuda, so the Dart just seems like my old 6 cyl Ford Maverick I had in high school would dust it. I realize the motor needs rebuilt, but can a 273 give you a little punch? Or is it just too small? I'll do some searching on the site as you suggested and I appreciate you replying. Have a good evening.
Click to expand...

Just rebuild it to stock specs and add a small cam and 4bbl with small 500 cfm carb. With 3.23 or 3.55 gears.
 
273 said:
To I wouldn't care about numbers matching non performance abody. That car will be worth more with 340/360 or better.
Could always store the original engine just in case. A 275 hp 360 (basically 340 specs) will be a way better performance engine and need a lot less gear and stall.
Click to expand...

That was my 1st thought, this is a car I bought my wife, so she is leaning toward keeping it numbers matching. She thinks it will be worth more that way later and I think putting a 360 or 340 in it would be worth more. Who knows. I guess it depends on who the Buyer is later....
 
JT-68-Dart-GT said:
Thank you toolmanmike. I just found the site and this was my first post.... I am not a mechanic, so a lot of the posts are over my head. I was looking for a more general answer so I can call around for a mechanic and talk to him with a little knowledge and a direction from some of you A Body guys. This is a car I bought for my wife... I have a '70 CUDA 440 Six Pack and that engine I have researched as I have worked on it.... but this little 273 I know nothing about and just wondering what you guys who really know these motors have been doing to them. My wife wants to keep it numbers matching... I wanted to toss a Blue Print 360 in it... but I hear her on the original deal so we are going that route. I just want to give her a little more punch from the little motor. I am use to the Cuda, so the Dart just seems like my old 6 cyl Ford Maverick I had in high school would dust it. I realize the motor needs rebuilt, but can a 273 give you a little punch? Or is it just too small? I'll do some searching on the site as you suggested and I appreciate you replying. Have a good evening.
Click to expand...
You can build them to be peppy but we have found there is really no magic bullet to make the 2 barrels a bunch better. More compression is needed along with a 4 barrel and a dual plane intake, headers and a free flowing exhaust. The camshaft is the tricky part. The 273's are easy to over cam and then you loose all your bottom end. Then you need a stall convertor and rear gears to make up for it.
 
273 said:
Just rebuild it to stock specs and add a small cam and 4bbl with small 500 cfm carb. With 3.23 or 3.55 gears.
Click to expand...

Thanks 273! Would you go ahead and harden the valves (I think it is) so she ((my wife) can burn any gas in it (Ethenol) instead of having to find stations with 100% gas? That was my intention. In my '70 440-6 CUDA I have 4:10 gears and get 6 mpg! On my Harley I ride to eat... in the CUDA I ride to find yhese stupid 100% gas stations which are rare! It's a real pain in the rear and a constant search. I really don't want my wife having to search for 100% gas all the time. Thoughts?
 
a 318/2 base is going to work better than even a 273/4. I put a 318 block under all the 273/4 stuff and had a much better package and no one knew any better, JMHO. Once you put a 4bbl intake on it, your numbers are out. Look at the torque of the 318 and where is peaks!
1967: Blueprint spec.
180 Horsepower........ V8-273 2 Barrel 3.6250 x 3.31 273 8.8:1 180 @ 4200 260 @ 1600 40-65
235 Horsepower........ V8-273 4 Barrel 3.6250 x 3.31 273 10.5:1 235 @ 5200 280 @ 4000 40-65
230 Horsepower........ V8-318 2 Barrel 3.9100 x 3.31 318 9:1 230 @ 4400 340 @ 2400 45-65
 
JT-68-Dart-GT said:
Thanks 273! Would you go ahead and harden the valves (I think it is) so she ((my wife) can burn any gas in it (Ethenol) instead of having to find stations with 100% gas? That was my intention. In my '70 440-6 CUDA I have 4:10 gears and get 6 mpg! On my Harley I ride to eat... in the CUDA I ride to find yhese stupid 100% gas stations which are rare! It's a real pain in the rear and a constant search. I really don't want my wife having to search for 100% gas all the time. Thoughts?
Click to expand...

Probably the best bet would be 318 heads out later model car. 318 after 85 have closed chambers for better CR. 318 and 273 are practically the same head.
 
I don't know as much as a lot of members here but I did a 273 2bl put LD4B eddy 1405 and comp cams 270s.solid lifter cam. Factory 904 and 8 3/4 Suregrip 3:23.
Way too much cam with 2bl.pistons.
Im taking adjustable valve train.and probably cam.lifters timing chain and gears and putting it in another small block with better.compression.
I admire your wifes decision with originality and if she is fine with it costing more to do the 273 I say go for It
Happy wife right?
 
toolmanmike said:
You can build them to be peppy but we have found there is really no magic bullet to make the 2 barrels a bunch better. More compression is needed along with a 4 barrel and a dual plane intake, headers and a free flowing exhaust. The camshaft is the tricky part. The 273's are easy to over cam and then you loose all your bottom end. Then you need a stall convertor and rear gears to make up for it.
Click to expand...

I did replace the rear end. It now has a '70 Duster 8 3/4 rear end and a ''69 Charger 3:96 Chunk. I had to replace the rear end to move up to 15" tires... so I beefed up the rear to handle whatever route I took. The car is not going to stay 100% original as we swapped to 15" tires, updated brakes, added sway bars because it had HORRIBLE body roll.... but we thought keeping the engine and transmission numbers matching would be good should we ever decide to resell.... but maybe it's not a big deal? But like 273 said, maybe I will just rebuild it, put a little bigger cam in it, put on a 4 barrel carb and that should give her a little more Pep".
 
4spdragtop said:
I don't know as much as a lot of members here but I did a 273 2bl put LD4B eddy 1405 and comp cams 270s.solid lifter cam. Factory 904 and 8 3/4 Suregrip 3:23.
Way too much cam with 2bl.pistons.
Im taking adjustable valve train.and probably cam.lifters timing chain and gears and putting it in another small block with better.compression.
I admire your wifes decision with originality and if she is fine with it costing more to do the 273 I say go for It
Happy wife right?
Click to expand...
Yea.... I'm paying for it.... so she doesn't care! Lol.... but I will say that for our 12th Anniversary she surprised me... she had put aside enough to finish the restore on my '70 Cuda. Good Girl!
 
It's usually the engine that decides the value.
If you not keeping the rest original then I can't see just cause the block matches making much of a difference.
 
WELCOME ! AS you can read by the response there are as many opinions as there are members . I have been in the Mopar parts business since 1984 and heard thousands of people recite both sides of the issue . As far as value goes , changing the engine will NOT devalue the car . Example : putting a 426 Hemi in it makes it worth less ? Hogwash ! A 273 leaves a lot on the table but if you want to leave it , good for you . If you want to go with a late 318 or 360 , good for you . Economics is a horse of another color . An "LA" 318/360 dressed like a 273/2bbl. is cool . A Magnum 318/360 is cool . Much more economical . For cruising "torque" is your friend and the 273 doesn't have much . IMO Later, TOM
 
I yanked my original 67 273 engine and trans that needed rebuilding and put a 340 in it. If the next owner wants to rebuild it back to stock I have all of the hard to find stuff in storage. The head gaskets are hard to find for 273's. IF you want to rehook up all the a/c stuff you need to stay with the 69 and older timing cover,pullies,water pump,brackets. The compressor is designed to fit the 69 and later water pumps (cast iron),70-up is aluminum and requires different compressor brackets,pullies,alt bracket,radiator,hoses,shroud.

Picture 3326.jpg
 
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