Moparguy89
New Member
Hi I have a 75 jeep 401 engine and was wondering what is intell in installing into my 74 dart? It's a 74 original v8 car with a 70 front end I figure since I have the 401 I'd install it but not sure any ideas would be great
401 jeep into my dart
- Thread starter Moparguy89
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abodyjoe
Well-Known Member
custom motor and trans mounts. custom headers if the manifolds don't fit. maybe a custom oil pan to clear the k-frame and steering linkage....
personally i would sell that 401 to a AMC guy (be bad *** in a little CJ5) and build buy a chrysler motor for it. but hey thats me..
personally i would sell that 401 to a AMC guy (be bad *** in a little CJ5) and build buy a chrysler motor for it. but hey thats me..
You have to want it, to get it in there. The oil pan hitting the steering center link will be a big obstacle.
451Cuda
Well-Known Member
Great power potential in AMC v8's, but when a Chrysler small block bolts right in and has the same or better potential, the choice is clear. Sell the 401 to an AMC guy (they go for quite a bit, I've bought and sold many AMC v8's myself) and buy a decent 360 Chrysler as a starting point.
OldmanRick
Well-Known Member
Welcome to FABO Moparguy!!!
I agree with the others as far as using a "Mopar" small block in your car. It's way easier...
As far as the 401, I'd just keep it put away for now, and somewhere down the road, pull it out for a AMC build. A Hornet or Gremlin that's in good shape would be begging for that engine. I'd sure love to do one some day.
I agree with the others as far as using a "Mopar" small block in your car. It's way easier...
As far as the 401, I'd just keep it put away for now, and somewhere down the road, pull it out for a AMC build. A Hornet or Gremlin that's in good shape would be begging for that engine. I'd sure love to do one some day.
PanGasket
has cork sides
Id tuck the 401 under the bench for now and hold onto it for later. Those are real cool engines. I'd just snap up a 360 Magnum and drop it in. A whoooolleee lot less headache.
save the 401 for something like this
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPKaBAGFKiE"]Dyno test on AMC engine 401CID with Supercharger V 7 YSI - YouTube[/ame]
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxtEHeLhveU"]AMC AMX Vortech first 8 second-Napierville Dragway - YouTube[/ame]
save the 401 for something like this
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPKaBAGFKiE"]Dyno test on AMC engine 401CID with Supercharger V 7 YSI - YouTube[/ame]
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxtEHeLhveU"]AMC AMX Vortech first 8 second-Napierville Dragway - YouTube[/ame]
rbdart
Well-Known Member
Wise move...
x2......
Agreed. Unless you're a fabricator and capable of making a Rambler motor work in your Mopar ............well, just don't do it.
C130 Chief
Mechanical Genius
But, if you are determined to swap in the 401, an AMC pattern 727 should be easy enough to find. Plenty of 79-later Wagoneers in junkyards.
66durgederp
"pull hard, itll come easy"
just built a 401 for an 81 J10. if youre hell bent on doing it, a chrysler trans AMC case will work, 727 or 904, 290/304/348/360/390/401, but the problem lies in sourcing a flex-plate. 99% of 401's had a TH400 backing them. the only factory application that had a 727/401 combo was a 74 ambassador. remember, 401's balance differently than any other gen II or gen III AMC V8. DO NOT use a 290/304/348/360/390 flex plate without having it balanced to the 401, it will shake like crazy. harmonic balancers are 401 specific also. I ended up having a 360 flex-plate balanced to the 401 rotating assembly, it was cheaper and less time sourcing an original. theres also a torque converter snout centering ring pressed into the back of the crank, similar to a pilot bearing, this MUST BE REMOVED to use a chrysler trans. GM units have a smaller diameter converter snout than a chrysler. cost me a solid day of work, i found that out the hard way. as for weight, these things are HEAVY. waaay heavier than any rip-roaring smallblock you could build, and wider too. Parts, dont even start, manifolds are fairly expensive, and the new front covers through bulltear are an excellent piece, not very cheap, but sanding the oil pump housing to spec is a tedious, extremely boring, and time consuming process. oil pan selection is limited, however the J10 360 pan is a mid-sump, it would probably work with minimal mods. Oh and the dipstick tube MUST be replaced, do not ever re-use one, they will leak and/or snap off right at the block....major nightmare to deal with. these things have issues keeping oil-pump/dizzy drive gears in them. they love to eat them left and right. GET A MATCHED SET. PERIOD. and do every oiling mod you can, it will be worth it!!!!! like running a high pressure line from the o.p. sending unit into the front cover to spray oil directly on the cam/dizzy gears, and getting an 87-91 chrysler modified AMC oil pump base housing, or blocking off the lower bypass in the original AMC units. my biggest beef with these things is the oil pump itself, steel impellers in an aluminum housing....usually too far trashed to re-use the front cover. bad-juju. so anyway, if youre hell bent on doing it, theres an entirely too large list of stuff to remember. 
If you want to sell the 401, I have a sweet 80 CJ-5 that would love the have HP.
67 prostreet gt
Well-Known Member
Keep the 401 and stuff it into the dart, it be different and cool
67Dart273
Well-Known Member
There is nothing "unique" "strange" "cool" or "anything" about a 401. Installing one in a Mopar would hardly make it "different" because most riceheads would just think it's a "SBC stroker" anyhow
Sell it to a Jeep owner who needs it, use the money to buy a 360
You can put anything into anything, I guess, if you have enough time, money, and determination
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2V7B7-gdRA"]Radial Engine powered Goggomobil Car #1 - YouTube[/ame]
Sell it to a Jeep owner who needs it, use the money to buy a 360
You can put anything into anything, I guess, if you have enough time, money, and determination
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2V7B7-gdRA"]Radial Engine powered Goggomobil Car #1 - YouTube[/ame]
68383GTS
Well-Known Member
sell the 401 and buy a 360 or 383
SleeperScamp
Well-Known Member
I think it would be cool myself.. Lots of head scratching when you raise the hood..
451Cuda
Well-Known Member
It would be a novelty for the first 10 minutes or so. Basic engine swaps like that really aren't a big deal anymore.
67Dart273
Well-Known Member
This is exactly what I was trying to get across. If there was something very unique or cool about this engine, then, "maybe."
My Gramps, then my Dad, had a 54 Jag XK-120. It had a COOL little dual OHC 6 with PORCELIN coated exhaust and dual sidedrafts. Something like that is cool........in a Jag.......or a roadster.........but I don't want one in my Dart
Now THIS, THIS would be cool:
Yall are missing the point. It's not YOUR car. Yall are not the judge of what is cool for HIS car. HE is.
if youre willing and knowledgable enough to do it, go for it. it sure would be different. besides, its not what we think but what you want
H20loo
Well-Known Member
"but not sure any ideas would be great "
Buy a broken cj5 cheap, put the motor in and drive it while you work on the Dart
Buy a broken cj5 cheap, put the motor in and drive it while you work on the Dart
451Cuda
Well-Known Member
You're missing the point. OP asked our opinion, and we're giving it.
Woods74
Broke Senior
360 that sucker. Way easier, cheaper, less to go wrong, few are gonna appreciate it because it still looks like a SBC.
Most ask me 'is that a 350?' I say 'Yup.'
Most ask me 'is that a 350?' I say 'Yup.'
No, I gave my opinion. My opinion is yall are missin the point. Nothin you can do about that.
desmo900
Well-Known Member
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