V8 swap to 65 dart

A swap to another L/A engine is pretty simple:
Later LA Where the 273 was in a 64 – 66 Mopar a-body


Requires the center pump oil pan. (Not a truck pan)

You can use your current motor mounts if they are in good shape. The Schumachers are probably better but you can just weld a little triangle on the existing right side mount and drill it so it catches the other ear on the 360 block.

You can use a B&M flexplate (10239) to adapt a zero balance torque converter. If you want to use the early converter you will need a spacer as the pilot in the early ones is smaller. You can get that from Torqueflite Patty. 206-365-1966

If you use the earlier iron water pump the stock radiator will work. Use a '65 water pump & your radiator lower hose lines up (360 water pump has lower hose on wrong side). If you use the 273 front cover & timing tab you will have to set TDC & mark the front dampener of the 360.

You will probably have to elongate one of the holes in the crank pulley as the 360 has one hole offset.

You will most likely want to use a 90 deg oil filter adapter.

Tap the air injection holes under the exhaust ports an plug with 1/8” pipe plugs.

Your biggest challenge will be exhaust. 273 manifolds choke up a 360. Headers are expensive. Not much else fits. Search for the discussions......

Modify the transmission crossmember to provide clearance for dual exhaust.

Throttle cable bracket and kickdown linkage will probably require some individual modification to fit the new manifold.

Most everything else will fit from the 273 to the 340 or 360. Easy swap!


Clutch cars require a special flywheel with the counterbalance built in. (unless you zero balance the engine)

To use the larger bellhousing you will need a Z-bar from a a-body and shorten the cross shaft. Use the release lever from a b-body (11-7/8 OAL). Modify bellhousing pivot to relocate the pivot ball.

For a six cyclinder upgrade to 360 it requires a set of different motor mounts.

Dropped center steering link.

Pulleys and alternator brackets from a V-8 (all the same engine so pulleys align)


I've seen some modern engine in the early A's but never done one. Just saw a 5.7 in a Dart GT at a infromal gathering in Houston a couple of weeks ago. Someone with some experience chime in with info on the later model swaps please!