Anyone here put a 354 in a Dart?

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Magster65

Magster65

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Saanichton BC Canada eh.
I have a 67 Dart (slant 6 car) that I'm going to repower. My initial thought was to buy a crate aluminum head 408 but I also have a 354 hemi that's almost done with no place to go (10 to 1, big cam, dual 4's, msd, etc... the 408 will have more power).
Details;
Have a 727 and an 8 3/4. I know I have brake and suspension work to do, yes. My question is about the engine choice in a Dart.
The hemi is heavy and would need more suspension work than the small block... and it would handle worse. I'm thinking it would be pretty cool though.
I'm hesitant cuz' the car is in great condition and I don't want to 'hack it up' if you know what I mean. I'm not worried about the hood so much as the inner fenders and how serviceable it would be. I can do all the labor/fab myself so that's not an issue.
Just looking for opinions from you folks on the finished product... what would you do?
Cheers and thanks in advance :)

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Before pic... it's been converted for street but still in the machine shop so I don't have a 'now' pic...
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Yeah. 1965Valiant put one in his 65.
 
do you mean 354, as in early Hemi? I've seen a 440 BB in a 64 Dart, and they cut the crap out of the inner fenders for headers. Granted, yours is a wider Abody, and they did come with optional 383's and 440's, but even then they were a tight fit. It is a really nice looking car as is, and yes, the 354 would look outrageous, but I think it would be a really difficult swap, and the benefits don't outweigh the costs. An LA engine would be the easiest, then a Magnum, then 3rd Gen Hemi, if you want more go, and more wow factor. Maybe consider a turbo swap onto the /6. I think it's been done enough, that most of the pitfalls have been worked around and scienced out, now.
 
yea, they are heavy
steering, oil pan, and exhaust clearance are tight
that's a nice body, would hate to cut it up to fit the 354
I put one in a truck years ago
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Beautiful car throw a sb Mag Engine in, the 354 will pay for a mild sb and a decent rear end as it wont last that long. You will require another trans as the 6 trans are different... some one will correct me if I'm wrong.
 
I think the weight of that engine would kill that car....
 
The 354 block is very close in all dimensions to an LA.
Motor mount ears, and trans bolt pattern are the same (spacer is needed because of longer crank flange on the Hemi)
Exhaust is actually easier for the Hemi than for either BB or SB Wedge, because the Hemi has downward facing exhaust ports.
Swap would be much easier than you think
 
I love the car- but since the battery hold down is not the factory one... drop the hemi in it. (sawzall emoji goes here)
Keep us posted on progress and parts used so others wont have as much trouble as you are. Those engines are still popular and available here in the North East since boat only run 4 months of the year.
Good luck!
Joe
 
Every body and their brother is sticking a boring *** 408 small block in those darts. That HEMI WOULD BE SIMPLY BADASS. there would be no question in mind let alone a thread about it
 
whitepunkonnitro said:
The 354 block is very close in all dimensions to an LA.
Motor mount ears, and trans bolt pattern are the same (spacer is needed because of longer crank flange on the Hemi)
Exhaust is actually easier for the Hemi than for either BB or SB Wedge, because the Hemi has downward facing exhaust ports.
Swap would be much easier than you think
Click to expand...

Couple of things are not quite correct here. The bellhousing pattern is the same, but the dowels are located differently. Also, the moutor mount ears are not the same as the LA. The driver's side of the block requires one corner of the 318 mount bracket to be relocated. No biggie. Takes like 15 minutes with an angle grinder and welder, but they are different.
 
I just came back from Mecum in Kissimmee, FL- NOTHING is more Beautiful, More Mopar, than a Hemi stuffed into an A Body- NOTHING. Aftermarket is out there, but some things need to be fabricated.
You need all hands on deck for this operation and a relatively small roll of Hundred's.
tpg
HEMI! (from Mecum)

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thepaintguy said:
I just came back from Mecum in Kissimmee, FL- NOTHING is more Beautiful, More Mopar, than a Hemi stuffed into an A Body- NOTHING. Aftermarket is out there, but some things need to be fabricated.
You need all hands on deck for this operation and a relatively small roll of Hundred's.
tpg
HEMI! (from Mecum)

View attachment 1715014172
Click to expand...
Gee.........is that the "gem" they were airsawing the qtr. lips on AFTER they painted it?
Just My opinion, but that Dart GT is too nice to chop up, but it is yours to what you wish...................
 
You BUILD Your Car for You. Anybody that thinks they need an air saw to install a Dana 60
is an idiot. Look at the picture again. Look at my car. Dana 60 cut to 57". 275/40/17's.
You roll the quarter's- you don't hack them. Takes talent. I've been massaging "Gems" for over forty years. Some folk's done got past the 6th grade. DeltaMikeFoxtrotDelta.
 
The 354 was the first American production engine to go over 1HP per CI (in 1956). It has taller ports/better heads than the 392 and will really run with high static compression ratio and overlap in the cam grind. If you have the engine, why not!
 
thepaintguy said:
You BUILD Your Car for You. Anybody that thinks they need an air saw to install a Dana 60
is an idiot. Look at the picture again. Look at my car. Dana 60 cut to 57". 275/40/17's.
You roll the quarter's- you don't hack them. Takes talent. I've been massaging "Gems" for over forty years. Some folk's done got past the 6th grade. DeltaMikeFoxtrotDelta.
Click to expand...
The answer is, No, it is not the same car. I backed up to the photo and saw the wheels are painted red, so no, it is not the "gem" I'm speaking of. There is some muscle-car
flipping show, where they picked up a rough white dart and put a Hemi etc. in it, along w/a magnumforce frt. end. After they were done cutting & fixing the stock oil pan to
fit, and finishing the paint, they realized the wheels they picked didn't fit. The guy sat there w/masking tape and an airsaw hacking his way along trying to make room,lol!
In the end I don't think that actually worked anyway & they had to get something else, I just shook My head as that thing brought big money at the auction............
It was repainted bright red so.......... at no point was there a suggestion a Dana60 took any such thing????
 
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