808-dartGT
Well-Known Member
I just learned that they existed are they any good or just not worth messing with them since they made them only for 5 years? Any thoughts 225 vs 273? Thank you
273 is it good engine?
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67Dart273
Well-Known Member
273 was the Grandfather of the 318/ 340/ 360 LA Things changed a little but not much. Early engines had smaller bolts and different angle where the bolts went into the heads for the intake manifold, so heads and intake were different up through ?? year 64?
The 273 and early 318s had smaller converter snouts
Heads on bigger engines got bigger valves.
I believe all 273's had cast adjustable rockers, No other LA did except T/A engines which used different, offset rockers.
There were so few changes, that you can and I did, bolt the heads and intake off a 273 onto say, a 318 or 360 shortblock. They won't have much top end due to little valves, but they are a torque monster that way LOL
Very few changes really
"Of course" they are good engines LOLOL
The 273 and early 318s had smaller converter snouts
Heads on bigger engines got bigger valves.
I believe all 273's had cast adjustable rockers, No other LA did except T/A engines which used different, offset rockers.
There were so few changes, that you can and I did, bolt the heads and intake off a 273 onto say, a 318 or 360 shortblock. They won't have much top end due to little valves, but they are a torque monster that way LOL
Very few changes really
"Of course" they are good engines LOLOL
67Dart273
Well-Known Member
On a side story, sometime around ??76?? ish, I wanted to rebuild the 340 that I'd swapped into my 70 RR and put the 340 into my old Landcruiser. It had a 360 at the time. I needed something to get by. Bought a "318" out of a junker from a friend for 50 bucks, it turned out to be a 273. Dumped it into the RR but was not sure it would run very well, it might have to "come back out". Did not put on the mufflers (headers) or the hood. "We" jumped in, made about a 10 mile "test run." It was running on ?6?, then 5, then 6 1/2, then 7, then ............finally 8......blowing smoke, but ran. Came back changed the oil and plugs, installed the exhaust and hood, and ran it one summer and one winter
A then friend had a 49 GMC with a later model 250 6 into which he'd dumped a bundle. Clifford, cam, etc, and adapted a Chrysler A833. One time all of use were going to his place about 50 miles away and got into an impromptu "pull". He musta had over 2G into that damn 250 and the 50 buck bone stock 2bbl 273 KICKED HIS ***!!
A then friend had a 49 GMC with a later model 250 6 into which he'd dumped a bundle. Clifford, cam, etc, and adapted a Chrysler A833. One time all of use were going to his place about 50 miles away and got into an impromptu "pull". He musta had over 2G into that damn 250 and the 50 buck bone stock 2bbl 273 KICKED HIS ***!!
Plymouth 65
I'll be in the shop
The 273 Commando and Charger engines are great! They have higher compression over the regular production 273 and are great A Body power plants. 65'
Were all 273s referred to as Hi Po?
Or just certain ones?
Or just certain ones?
64 & 65 had the 5/16” intake bolts and different angles. And I believe the last year for adjustable rockers was 67.
Plymouth 65
I'll be in the shop
The 273 Commando and Charger engines were Hi Po engines from the factory. 10.5:1 compression w/4 barrel carb. 65'
They made the 65-67 Plymouth Commando and Dodge Charger 273's with 10.5:1 pistons, a little bigger solid cam, dual point distributor, 4 barrel intake and AFB, 2 1/2 inch single exhaust, Chrome unsilenced air cleaner and aluminum finned black crinkle valve covers. 2 barrel 273's were never a smog engine so the pistons are at the top of the bore and had forged cranks, closed chamber heads, and adjustable rocker arms for the solid cams until 1968.
And I think they had solid lifters thru 66?
Dartswinger70
Well-Known Member
273 is better than a 318 ...I say that just based on the High compression, and as 318 guys always say when chatting about the 340 "the bore has nothing to do with it..."
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1966 Charger 273 (Dodge)
The Plymouth's were called Commando's
The Plymouth's were called Commando's
Yes they are.Like most all of the older Mopar engines,if maintained proper,run forever.
Paul King
MrPJK
I love mine
Professor Fate
Push the button, Max...
Good motors, as elaborated on above. Not worth messing with since only made for 5 years? Hell, the street Hemi was only made '66-'71. Doesn't make it not worth messing with.
(Yeah, I know that's a different league...)Depends on what you want to do. I have always been a big fan of the good 'ol Slant Six.
The 273 however has 2 more cylinders and has more horsepower than the six.
However, a swap from the 6 to the V8 has some variables.If automatic the Slant Six 904 can't be used with the 273 V8.If manual same goes as far as Bell Housing and related parts.The Manual 3 speed can be reused.K frames are the same. Motor mount brackets and insulators are different,etc.Looks like your Dart is a 64 and that's good as 64 was the first year for the 273.Chrysler changes the 64 fire wall to make room for the V8.
The first 2 years of the 318 (before the 340 came out) had high compression as well. Had a few people argue with me but when I pulled my original '68 out of my Coronet I was shocked that the pistons were only 0.030 in the hole and the measurements put it at about 9.2:1. If you look at the factory manual for '68/'69 they claim 9.2:1 or so as well. After the 340 came out my theory is the purposefully dropped the compression to make a large difference between the 340 and 318 in the brochure.
slickchick
pedal cars only
At the end of the day . . . .there's no substitute for cubic inches
Dartswinger70
Well-Known Member
I had heard the same, basically early 318s ran hard.
I questioned my decision to build the 225 for the wife’s Dart. Spent a lot of time simulating the engine and finally built it targeting peak torque at 2500 RPM. This car gives me more smiles per mile than any of the others we have. Would do it again in a heartbeat on an original /6 early A. I would not spend the time trying to find all the parts to make one a 225 from a V8 though.
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thesiren74
Well-Known Member
Seems to run ok.
66jim
Well-Known Member
They are great little engine, put in an light early A, good mileage, a bit of power, solid lifter (up till 68) with adjustable rockers. It amazes me how many of them are still out
there running, compared to Chevy 283 which outnumbered the 273 by a bunch.
there running, compared to Chevy 283 which outnumbered the 273 by a bunch.
Paul King
MrPJK
Sounds great. What cha' got in that little hot rod?
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