66 Dodge Dart GT- Deep Sixing Slant 6 and Automatic for late model 5.7 or 5.9

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moose nugget

moose nugget

Moose Nugget
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looking at putting a late model 5.7 into my 66 dart.. Currently it has or had a 6 with automatic..The plan is to make a highway cruiser out of the dart... Been reading some of the other threads and sites about putting a V-8 where a 6 was.. I understand that I need to change the K-member, torque tubes, inter connect the front frame to the rear frame, changing the fuel system from carb to injection, fuel pump with return lines to fuel tank.. I'm currently hunting for dodge ram with a 5.7 and 2 wheel dr.--the plan is to save everything off of the truck- wiring, exhaust system, EMC or what ever brain boxs is in it, the plan is to save what ever wiring there is- modify it to fit, or order a setup for the car once I figure out what I need and don't need.. Right now I have the car stripped down- preping the body, undercoating is all removed.. haven't touched the firewall yet or the trans tunnel. Hoping to find a replica, a friend has a lead on one--figure once I get a dummy motor or one that I plan on installing then out comes the sawall and plaz cutter. Ok I know that is a short list-- now does anyone have advice or recommendatons- where to look for more details---

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Mopar Tim said:
I don't think it will work with the stock front suspension. RMS front suspension would work out.
Reilly MotorSports, Inc.
Click to expand...
I've been doing alot of reading on putting a bigger eng in the dart--old school engines from the late 60's-273, 318 or 383--torque tubes, K members.. Main issue with that here in the North Phoenix area is the cost of buying eng and trans...Those I've found want an arm and leg... I can buy a whole early 2000-06, running, dodge ram 1500 or durango - strip it and save everything out it for less than1200. this morning I recd a call from a lady who having trouble with dealer- he sold her a car with a bad title--5.9 automatic 4x4--900. Most of these cars I've been looking at have between 60-100k on the eng. Anyhow- I'm looking at front suspension change.. Which seems like a little bit of work- but alot less than chasing headers, oil pans and some of the other minor items--Not to cause panic and threats- the LS3 idea is out-- going to keep it mopar...Do thank you for the support and information.. Currently headed out the door to look at 2d dodges- a ram and durango--question- are there major different in dia or a 5.7 v 5.9? I've got to find a facility close to Sun City that will media blast the exterior and interior with glass or walnut shell--I had the doors done with Soda- it was ok- but I spent alot of time on cleaning up the doors- front fenders and hood- had to stand over the person blasting them with sand-I wouldn't recommended them...For now I'm pressure washing the eng bay- then its back on the rack and figuring out what and how much I'm going to cutting out--I'm in the process of checking out front susp....
 
Mopar Tim said:
I don't think it will work with the stock front suspension. RMS front suspension would work out.
Reilly MotorSports, Inc.
Click to expand...

Thanks for info-- I just answd one of the replies I had to deep sixing.. going with front suspension setup.. I spent enough so far on the front end so far-- rebuilding it- upper and lower ball joints, disc brakes, spindles, tie rods, you name it and its new under the front end- except for it being setup for small block 273- at least I've got a couple things done- 15" wheels 4.5x4.5 hubs, new tires.. Hopefully I can keep most of what I bought--As pull the front end down- I'm going to sell it off.. Only have so much room in my garage--I've managed to hide the bucket seats- in the computer room- I had them redone-
 
Thank you to the inputs to deep sixing the slant6. Ok! We now have a donor vehicle-2000 Dodge Durango SLT—5.9-4x4 automatic, less than 60K. Price was right couldn’t turn it down- It wouldn’t turn over, battery was dead, jumped it with a GB40 Boost Jump Starter…Well after hooking it up and not even getting the head lites or instr panel to lite up…I replaced the ends on the battery cable with some old cable ends I had in the bottom of my tool box. Lights came on, the key buzzer sounded- it turned over and started almost immediately. The engine sounds great,- no visible leaks, eng oil looked a little dirty, all of the other fluids were full or almost. The 4x4 Tranny appeared to have some issues- the pan was black on the bottom side- it had some kind of leak. The differentials looked clean. As for the rest of the Durango- some surface rust- which doesn’t matter to me- Eng and drive train are coming out and maybe the bucket seats (all electric- and they worked).

I’m now in the process of building a eng stand- going to save the cooling system and tranny- find someone to trade off the 4x4 items for 2w dr tran- definitely I have to find some good reference materials that cover the elect, fuel system, computer and wiring—the remainder I’m going to sell off or trade it off for a 8-287 dodge automatic trans. What ever is left will be hauled off..

So now I have several oars in the water- got to get the Dart media blasted… Eng out of the Durango- while coming out, I’m going to set it into the dart to get an idea how it fits.. I’m curious about it- the oil pan and exhaust- the Durango has dual exh- kinda reminds me of the old days with Chev’s changing out the exh headers to running the pipes out the rear and down at the fire wall. Someone all ready had welded in the 02 sensors. I’m figuring that I’ve got to buy the indep front suspension previously mentioned… The other suggestion is to change out the K member and Torque tubes—either way, I will have to save up for- I still have the deep 6 and tranny as a backup-
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Cool project. I have a 68 dart that I'm restoring with (hopefully) a modern hemi. What kind of power does that engine have. Any expectations in regard to 1/4 mile time?
 
Seems like there is not enough hours in the day.. I'm putting together the engine stand. Well as they say the best laid plans-- Seems like every time I start something, we have some type of emergency to deal with.. I'm hoping that by next week-wed the the eng is sitting in the test stand. The dart is going out to a local shop for glass beading and epoxy primer.. Once it comes back, then I'm going to see how things are lining up- I pretty sure, I've got to order a front suspension kit. I've got a friend who says he has part of a conversion kit- motor mounts- the next thing is I've got to find a 2 wheel automatic-- the durango is 4x4 auto- I've had a couple of calls about selling the 4x4 gear out of it, but I've got to keep things rolling around here-don't have enough room- so for now- motor comes out- and all of the associated electronics- reading what books I have-- seems like there is more garbage - battery heat sensors and other items that I'm going to box.. Is there some way to buy a ECU that just make the eng run with out all of the other stuff-
As for 1/4 mile-- no I just want to be able to cruise-the highway 75-85 without getting ran over...If I go anywhere, I take my Chevy Duramax. Right now I'm out of town and headed home in a few days.....
 
Following Thread as I am in the process of trying to decide Magnum 5.9 or New Gen Hemi 5.7/6.1. for my dart.

Good Luck
 
Me-Not being a Mopar person-what is the major difference with the newer generation of engines? I bought the Durango because it drove and the 5.9 sound good. Figuring that I could sell off what was left. Unfortunately it seems that there are more scammers and folks who want to come over and pull parts in my garage-- So, I'm going to pull the buckets out, and and drive train-call a salvage yard- or even thought of giving what left a viking send off somewhere.. Can anyone answer the question- how do I get around the ECU with all of the extras-- so much for SLT- sure a nice looking veh and fast.. Laid a 10 ft patch of black rubber out on the street-neighbor said I needed to grow up. So much for living in here in SC here in AZ. Did learn one thing yesterday about changing over motors- its a 66 and that I don't need to go through emissions- had it been a 67- then I'd have to have all of the whistle and bells....Gotta go- my kid is up and wants to be fed and to the dog park-- that's him the side bar photo...After I get the eng test stand put together I'll post some photos. It'll be next week before I can pull the eng and put it on the stand..
 
The 5.7 and 5.9 are totally different platforms. The 5.9 is a magnum LA engine. Basically the same as a traditional small block. Somewhat better heads, roller cam, and different intake bolt pattern. It Will bolt up to small block trans/headers and accessory stuff like that. The 5.7/6.1 and other hemis are a totally different beast. The blocks bolt pattern for the transmission is the same, but everything else is different. Much Better heads, more advanced EFI, coil on plug ignition, and nothing is really interchangeable with the old small block stuff. The factory power output on the hemis is much greater, but the magnums can be built to make great power too.

Joe
 
Save every single piece of wiring from under the hood! All of those battery heater thingies and all. Save the ECM, and also the under hood fuse/relay box. Try and save the OBDII plug under the dash, and all the wiring going to it. Keep the flex plate that is on the 5.9, because you will need it back no matter what transmission that you install in the Dart. You will need to get a car oil pan from an LA 360 to install on the 5.9 before you stuff it in the Dart. Since you're making a run stand...you should run it for a while with that pan to make sure it doesn't leak before you put it in the car. There are several threads here on how to prevent that. Also, it might be a good idea to get the Mods to move this thread to Magnum Swap forum so more people with Magnum experience will chime in to help you. There are a few threads there that deal with wiring, and I am trying to cipher thru that myself. I'm putting a 5.9 Magnum in my 88 Dodge D100 beater truck, and doing a lot of head scratching myself.....lol. Good new is, you don't have to swap K frames to install the Magnum in your Dart. All you need is a set of 340/360 to early A conversion mounts from Schumaker (sp?) Services to drop the 5.9 in. Do a good rebuild of the front suspension and upgrade to Wilwood discs for the type spindles in your Dart....9 or 10 inch drums. They make a conversion kit for either one. You made a good score with the Durango!
 
Is there any sort of fitment guide for installing a hemi into an A body? I understand certain years had smaller engine compartments than others? Are there some ew hemi engines that are simply too big for an a body?
 
I'm home again, been busy cleaning up the garage. The car should be home by Wed- Big Happy Rods is doing the media blasting. In the meantime I've been reading every magazine I have here and go on line and reading most of the sites. The big one I have right now is the Carb vs EFI.. Followed by finding a dummy motor and gutted 44re trans to use for figuring out what is in the way. Here is a picture of the car prior to glass blasting and epoxy primer, the other is the engine setting in test stand..

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Ok.. The dart is suppose to be glass blasted today and epoxy primer either today or tomorrow. In the meantime, I've been trying to followup on the what I need to do next- 1. front end- I got to thank you all for the suggestions- I've looked at several of the sites.. A complete front end with power steering and brakes runs anywhere from $3200 to $4800. though they had everything I could want, only issue is I don't have that kind of bank. I was starting to get depressed- I've got somewhere between 9 to 10+ all ready invested in parts and tools. I don't dare let the wife look at Stacey's Project Planning book. That 10 may sound like alot but that includes the new Square tig unit I bought, plus training on how to tig weld. Other equipment in the arsenal plazma cutter, Mig is old but dependable. What got the wife really comfused was all of the metric tools I've bougth to work on the Durango. Anyhow back to being depressed- when I was surfing through the great front ends- the money issue- started thinking do I sell off my bows, metal detectors and other toys- Well one of the suggestions was SCHMACHERS Creative Services (206) 364-7151. After getting my descrip correct-calling the 5.9 a 360. They took what I told them at first to be a late model big block hemi. I had a great conversation with the lady there and she explained their website and how it was setup and that their tech guy- Micheal would be back in a little bit and he could walk me through exactly to what I needed.. Right now- they are waiting on the motor mounts to come in from their powder coater.. Price on them somewhere around 175-- This remod is back on track.. My next goal is motor mounts and torque straps (tubes?) and stuffing the 360 (5.9) in with the tranny 44RE built by Sun Tran in Peoria- the Durango 4x4 trany was rebuilt into a 2 wheel dr 3 speed automatic with a new torque converter. Gota go up the road to Harbor freight for 4 in. Metal Cutoff Blade and some more blades for the sawzall. Step #2 will be setting up either EFI or Carb-jury is out on that. figuring out what most effective and Cost. Thanks everyone----
 
The 360 is definitely a good move and as far as the suspension goes...stock wont cut it but if you add a large solid front sway bar it will be like night and day.
 
iif that magnum engine you got is a 5.9 it had a 46re not a 44re trans behind it. 44 will bolt up but wont last especially if you really use the throttle. ive swapped 5.9s into a few jeeps was going to put one into my 65 dart before I changed direction and decided to go with a hemi
 
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