Early A/Magnum engine swap question

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rgp266

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Considering the small engine bay and the conversion of the magnum engine to a center sump oil pan that would possibly clear the drag link.....what course should I take for dropping a '91 small block in to my '65 Valiant?

Bob
 
I have similar project,65 Dart/vert.
Wont be installing drivetrain until midwinter, floor metal work/body first.
Im going to carburation. Heard of many hassles of fuel injection/electronics involved.
Was told small block motor mounts will work except oneside modified with a plate for bolt to pass due to no tab on block.
 
Is your 91 model year engine a Magnum version or an LA version, and if it is a Magnum then is it 5.2 or 5.9? The Magnum engines all have the old style LA motor mount ears cast in. The difference with needing an adapter or spacer was already an issue between 360 LA engines and 273/318 LA engines, and it was the spacing between the tabs was different between engine sizes. Engine mounts will be easy. Exhaust manifolds or headers is the main hassle on the early A bodies, and many guys here have done it. I never verified the starter fitment issues because I just install the modern high torque starters but supposedly the old Chrysler starter won't clear the Magnum block without clearance grinding. So your headers or manifolds need to fit a Magnum cylinder head without leaking, and they need to clear the high torque stater and smaller engine compartment. Everything else is easy.
 
Headers or exhaust manifolds are the biggest headache. Also..
-If your car is a factory Slant 6, you will need the v8 centerlink
-Transmission: Try to go with a 904 and not 727. Better clearance.
-Motor mounts = Schumacher
-Mini starter= just do it!

Everything else is fairly straight-forward...but the narrow engine bay makes it a challenge to work on.
 
Bobzilla said:
Is your 91 model year engine a Magnum version or an LA version, and if it is a Magnum then is it 5.2 or 5.9? The Magnum engines all have the old style LA motor mount ears cast in. The difference with needing an adapter or spacer was already an issue between 360 LA engines and 273/318 LA engines, and it was the spacing between the tabs was different between engine sizes. Engine mounts will be easy. Exhaust manifolds or headers is the main hassle on the early A bodies, and many guys here have done it. I never verified the starter fitment issues because I just install the modern high torque starters but supposedly the old Chrysler starter won't clear the Magnum block without clearance grinding. So your headers or manifolds need to fit a Magnum cylinder head without leaking, and they need to clear the high torque stater and smaller engine compartment. Everything else is easy.
Click to expand...
My 91 engine, I think, is a roller cam LA 5.2L ? It has the roller cam w/lifters and the spider plus a fuel pump block off plate. It did not have the heads on it. Mostly I am concerned with clearance between the oil pan and the steering gear. If I get the wrong oil pan the drag link will pound hell out of the oil pan on real tight turns. Car has a 318 out of a '87 5 th ave and the stock pan had a big ole whack mark on it. I found the correct pan and the problem was solved. Even bought a spare. I know I can't use a LA pan on a Magnum block and vice versa due to the magnum rear main size. Heads are the Engine Quest replacement heads. Already have a set of Spitfire headers installed on the car and there is not any spare room on the passenger side. Bobzilla, where are you located? I am just east of East Lansing. Bob
 
If your 91 model year short block is an LA 318, which it should be since it's a 91 and had a fuel pump block off plate, then your old oil pan arrangement from the 87 LA 318 that's already in there and proven to fit will swap right over and fit perfectly. The Magnum engines have additional mounting bosses for the 1994 and later truck engine mounts; there will be three bosses in a triangle pattern on each side of the block drilled and tapped for brackets, and they are just rearward from the LA style mounting ears. If you don't have those bosses, you have an LA block and nothing to worry about as far as oil pan swap from the old engine. I am also east of Lansing, basically in Farmington Hills area.
 
Bobzilla said:
If your 91 model year short block is an LA 318, which it should be since it's a 91 and had a fuel pump block off plate, then your old oil pan arrangement from the 87 LA 318 that's already in there and proven to fit will swap right over and fit perfectly. The Magnum engines have additional mounting bosses for the 1994 and later truck engine mounts; there will be three bosses in a triangle pattern on each side of the block drilled and tapped for brackets, and they are just rearward from the LA style mounting ears. If you don't have those bosses, you have an LA block and nothing to worry about as far as oil pan swap from the old engine. I am also east of Lansing, basically in Farmington Hills area.
Click to expand...
No Bosses so it looks like I am good to go with a LA block. Mucho Thanks..........Bob
 
Even with a 318, you need to add an inward bump to the oil pan for the V-8 steering cross-link to clear the oil pan at one limit of travel. I think if you could find a 64-66 273 pan, it would fit and have that depression. As mentioned, a slant-six cross-link doesn't drop as much and won't clear the pan, but some say many 1966 slants came w/ the V-8 link. "Drag link" sounds more like the "drag strut" which goes from the lower control arm forward to the radiator support. Some people have used the transmission that comes w/ the Magnum engine, to get a 4th overdrive gear, plus lock-up converter for better cruising. But, they had to rework the whole transmission tunnel to fit.
 
BillGrissom said:
Even with a 318, you need to add an inward bump to the oil pan for the V-8 steering cross-link to clear the oil pan at one limit of travel. I think if you could find a 64-66 273 pan, it would fit and have that depression. As mentioned, a slant-six cross-link doesn't drop as much and won't clear the pan, but some say many 1966 slants came w/ the V-8 link. "Drag link" sounds more like the "drag strut" which goes from the lower control arm forward to the radiator support. Some people have used the transmission that comes w/ the Magnum engine, to get a 4th overdrive gear, plus lock-up converter for better cruising. But, they had to rework the whole transmission tunnel to fit.
Click to expand...
So you are saying a 64-66 273 a body oil pan will fit a Magnum 5.2?
 
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