4 speed install on 68 Dart, 440 6 pack

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808440Dart

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Sharing some pics and info of my 4 speed swap I just did on my 68 Dart. It wasn't very complicated, easier than I thought. Took me a couple months tinkering with it on the weekends. I won't go into details, we all know how it bolts together. I did get really really good at installing and removing the transmission, and real good and taking it apart and putting it back together. The drivers side engine bay is really tight and busy, but it all fits in there.

It's a blast to drive and got my attention real quick when I took it off the jack stands and made a test run to McDonald's for lunch last Sunday. Never going back to an automatic. Driving it around a bit before I put the carpet and rear seat back.

Parts:
Pedals - Good used from a 69 Dart
Quicktime bell housing - RM6073
Trans - Very good used A833 from a 71 Duster
Shifter - Very good used Hurst SS3 complete set up for A body
Hump - Used from a 69 Dart
Brewers clutch torque shaft kit - TS252KIT (This kit is the bomb!)
Brewers 23 spline reseal kit - GS23 (I resealed my trans and zero oil leaks! Not even sweating)
Release bearing arm - New in box Mopar I bought at a swap meet. Forgot part # but I had to shorten it 1"
Roller bearing pilot conversion - Forgot part number, bought off eBay.
Clutch - Napa (Luk) - 10.5/23 spline forgot part # but it's "just to get it going". It will probably be toast by Halloween.
Flywheel - Good used 10.5/130 teeth that I got resurfaced.
Flywheel & pressure plate bolts - Factory Mopar ones from ebay.
Drive shaft - Driveline shop re tubed/lengthened my old one .

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Cool car!
I have a few questions:
What headers are you running?
How much of a pain was it to get the bell housing centered to the transmission?
What is the rear end and the gear ratio?
Thanks,
Tom.
 
Big Block !! Six Pack !! Four Speed !!! with Air conditioning, Patina'd out !! Truly the "wolf in sheeps clothing" Super nice ride !!! and Unsuspecting :elmer:
 
When I had a 440+6 in my 69 383-s, no modifications to the air cleaner was necessary for the wiper motor, although it did sit right up against the wiper motor.

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..........no modifications to the air cleaner was necessary for the wiper motor, although it did sit right up against the wiper motor.

This is where the wiper nose ends up when I have the six pack is on and using a shaker base on my Barracuda. Appears an under hood or fresh air base may have an issue.....
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Cool car!
I have a few questions:
What headers are you running?
How much of a pain was it to get the bell housing centered to the transmission?
What is the rear end and the gear ratio?
Thanks,
Tom.
Headers - Schumacher conversion headers. Had to do some minor fab ing to reroute the drivers collector to clear the clutch z bar.
Bell housing - It comes with two different size centering rings, I think mine took the smaller one. I took the input collar to my friends machine shop and he polished the down OD of the collar so it fit cleanly in the adapter ring.
Rear - 3.91 with sure grip.

Let me know if you need any other info.
 
slap on a three speed wiper setup and no need to cut on an original air grabber/ramcharger air cleaner
 
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Headers - Schumacher conversion headers. Had to do some minor fab ing to reroute the drivers collector to clear the clutch z bar.
Bell housing - It comes with two different size centering rings, I think mine took the smaller one. I took the input collar to my friends machine shop and he polished the down OD of the collar so it fit cleanly in the adapter ring.
Rear - 3.91 with sure grip.

Let me know if you need any other info.
Thanks for the response.
Too bad that Shumacher isn't in business anymore.
The reason that I was asking about the bell housing is that I knew a guy that had a Lakewood bell housing and it was a real P.I.T.A to get the hole centered to the crank.
I take it that you have a small bolt pattern 8 3/4.
If you do, don't put sticky tires on it, because it won't last.
Years ago, I had to put a Dana 60 in because the 8 3/4s just wouldn't take it.

The reason for the questions are that I'm planning to do a similar build in the near future........
 
The reason that I was asking about the bell housing is that I knew a guy that had a Lakewood bell housing and it was a real P.I.T.A to get the hole centered to the crank.

What problems did he have?

I'm running a Lakewood in my 451 Dart.. it was definitely off-center by a lot (can't remember exactly how much), glad I checked it. So I installed offset dowels (which got it closer but not close enough), then enlarged the dowel holes in the Lakewood slightly, lined it all up and welded 1/4" thick washers (which were a snug fit on the dowels) onto the bellhousing flange. Just about zero runout after that :)

Of course, if the block had been in the car, it would have been much more of a PITA :rolleyes:
 
What problems did he have?

I'm running a Lakewood in my 451 Dart.. it was definitely off-center by a lot (can't remember exactly how much), glad I checked it. So I installed offset dowels (which got it closer but not close enough), then enlarged the dowel holes in the Lakewood slightly, lined it all up and welded 1/4" thick washers (which were a snug fit on the dowels) onto the bellhousing flange. Just about zero runout after that :)

Of course, if the block had been in the car, it would have been much more of a PITA :rolleyes:
Pretty much the same problem and the same solution that you came up with.
The engine was in the car which made it worse!
So, the Quick Time was more centered to the crank than the Lakewood?
 
Thanks for the response.
Too bad that Shumacher isn't in business anymore.
The reason that I was asking about the bell housing is that I knew a guy that had a Lakewood bell housing and it was a real P.I.T.A to get the hole centered to the crank.
I take it that you have a small bolt pattern 8 3/4.
If you do, don't put sticky tires on it, because it won't last.
Years ago, I had to put a Dana 60 in because the 8 3/4s just wouldn't take it.

The reason for the questions are that I'm planning to do a similar build in the near future........

Yup, small bolt pattern 8.75. I have a set of Yukon big bolt axles for it, but I'm thinking just go Dana.
 
The shifter is awfully close to the drivers seat, is that normal?
I thought the same thing, but that's where the hump ended up and it looked sort of looked like it's in the correct spot. The seats are freebies from a 69 Cuda so I'm not sure if they are wider than Dart seats.
 
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I would like to race you , changing spark plugs. There's just no way that I would ever put a big block in an a body, unless it was a Hemi, maybe.
Good luck and have fun.
 
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