chrysler 3 speed manual dodge rv 360 Swap

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RamCharger TEXAS

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Hey guys I need help. I I found a really great deal on a 360 engine out of a 1975 Dodge F30.

I have a manual 3speed what will I need to make it work with my 73 Duster?

If I can find a 4 speed locally around or in the Houston area I'll gladly swap it in. But can't seem to find one.


1. What parts if any besides the engine should I take from the RV?

2. Any aftermarket parts that would make the swap easier?

3. I do plan on rebuilding this 360. I read so many bad comments on it. This is just a little junkyard Engine so I can take it back if it turns out to be a dud.

Thank you!
 
Hey guys I need help. I I found a really great deal on a 360 engine out of a 1975 Dodge F30.

I have a manual 3speed what will I need to make it work with my 73 Duster?

If I can find a 4 speed locally around or in the Houston area I'll gladly swap it in. But can't seem to find one.


1. What parts if any besides the engine should I take from the RV?

2. Any aftermarket parts that would make the swap easier?

3. I do plan on rebuilding this 360. I read so many bad comments on it. This is just a little junkyard Engine so I can take it back if it turns out to be a dud.

Thank you!

What kind of three speed? There are a few versions and I would only use one behind a V8.
 
What kind of three speed? There are a few versions and I would only use one behind a V8.
Hey Dude. It's a 230

These other numbers I took notes from it last summer not sure what they mean

3B383762
PP2304233
I did some sort of decoder on some site and got this

First Line
(3) = 1973 year
(B) = Hamtrack Built Vehicle
383762 =VIN Number

Second Line
PP = New Process Gear Division Plant
230 = 3 Speed Manual transmission

Calculate a so-called "10,000 Day Calendar" date code here. Saturday July 29th, 1961 is Day One. Type a 1 to 5 digit date code into the calculator below and it will display the correct date.
4233 = Day 4233 is Wednesday, February 28, 1973
 
Hey Dude. It's a 230

These other numbers I took notes from it last summer not sure what they mean

3B383762
PP2304233
I did some sort of decoder on some site and got this

First Line
(3) = 1973 year
(B) = Hamtrack Built Vehicle
383762 =VIN Number

Second Line
PP = New Process Gear Division Plant
230 = 3 Speed Manual transmission

Calculate a so-called "10,000 Day Calendar" date code here. Saturday July 29th, 1961 is Day One. Type a 1 to 5 digit date code into the calculator below and it will display the correct date.
4233 = Day 4233 is Wednesday, February 28, 1973

Ok, cool. That's the HD version. It'll hold up to a big block....and came behind some. Good score. The bellhousing you need will have the dual bolt pattern and need the small (4.350) center hole. The bad comments musta been from Chevy guys. The 360 is a fine engine.
 
Ok, cool. That's the HD version. It'll hold up to a big block....and came behind some. Good score. The bellhousing you need will have the dual bolt pattern and need the small (4.350) center hole. The bad comments musta been from Chevy guys. The 360 is a fine engine.


Chevay guys maybe. could you give me posting example ?or maybe which vehicles I could start searching up to buy one or if I could buy one new.

What about the flexplate flywheel? From the rv do I need it ?
 
Ok, cool. That's the HD version. It'll hold up to a big block....and came behind some. Good score. The bellhousing you need will have the dual bolt pattern and need the small (4.350) center hole. The bad comments musta been from Chevy guys. The 360 is a fine engine.


Also what's a dual bolt pattern sounds like it might be aftermarket?
 
Chevay guys maybe. could you give me posting example ?or maybe which vehicles I could start searching up to buy one or if I could buy one new.

What about the flexplate flywheel? From the rv do I need it ?

You won't find a "new" one. Reman, yeah. Good used, yeah. I'd look for a good used 5.9 Magnum if I were starting with nothing. Closed chamber quench heads, 1.6 rockers, roller camshaft, shorter deck height for more compression. What's not to love? Search for an LKQ parts in your area. They sometimes run helluva deals.
 
Also what's a dual bolt pattern sounds like it might be aftermarket?

No sir. Some of the factory bellhousings had a dual bolt pattern on the transmission side. One pattern for the four speed, one pattern for the three speed. The three and four speed do not take the same bolt pattern, so they made some with both patterns. They aren't hard to find. ALL of the small block over drive bellhousings I've ever seen had the dual pattern, BUT they also have the 5.125" center hole. Brewer's Performance sells a front bearing retainer with that diameter that fits the stock A230, I believe. Four bolts and it's swapped out. Nuthin to it. So you have more than one option. I think the 4.350 hole dual pattern bellhousings are "a little" harder to find.....but not much. You'll find "somethin" you can make work. Count on it!
 
You won't find a "new" one. Reman, yeah. Good used, yeah. I'd look for a good used 5.9 Magnum if I were starting with nothing. Closed chamber quench heads, 1.6 rockers, roller camshaft, shorter deck height for more compression. What's not to love? Search for an LKQ parts in your area. They sometimes run helluva deals.

Hey this engine happens to be at a LQK in Houston. They do have a few 360 magnums
Is that a better cheaper route I saw the Magnum swap website but it looks like there's a harmonic rebalancing kinda issue to fix before I can drop it in would that be the same in the RV 360 as well?
 
No sir. Some of the factory bellhousings had a dual bolt pattern on the transmission side. One pattern for the four speed, one pattern for the three speed. The three and four speed do not take the same bolt pattern, so they made some with both patterns. They aren't hard to find. ALL of the small block over drive bellhousings I've ever seen had the dual pattern, BUT they also have the 5.125" center hole. Brewer's Performance sells a front bearing retainer with that diameter that fits the stock A230, I believe. Four bolts and it's swapped out. Nuthin to it. So you have more than one option. I think the 4.350 hole dual pattern bellhousings are "a little" harder to find.....but not much. You'll find "somethin" you can make work. Count on it!


Sweet! I can afford any of these. Just to make it simpler.

Brewer's Performance - Mopar A833 4-Speed Transmission and Component Specialists

Not sure completely which one it is I sorta think it's the truck version but the a body one doesn't have the right center bore number? Which one I'm gonna get it if the RV is still at the junkyard tommorow
 
Hey this engine happens to be at a LQK in Houston. They do have a few 360 magnums
Is that a better cheaper route I saw the Magnum swap website but it looks like there's a harmonic rebalancing kinda issue to fix before I can drop it in would that be the same in the RV 360 as well?

You just need to make sure to run the right stuff is all. I believe if I remember correctly, the Magnums are balanced a little differently than the LA, although they are both still externally balanced. Just make certain you buy the right balancer and flywheel for whichever engine you choose and you'll be good. The Magnum isn't necessarily "better" however, with fuel injection all it's life and running in an era of modern lubricants, there will be significantly less wear. I've torn some down and still seen cross hatch on cylinders on engines that had well in excess of 200K. THAT'S your biggest benefit. Normally, unless a piston is scuffed, cracked or otherwise damaged, you can run the stock original pistons. The Magnums also had a nice compression ratio of a tad north of 9:1. Now, one drawback is the heads were known to be prone to crack. But still, even with that chance, the Magnum can be a viable option, if you can find one affordable enough. Nothing wrong with the LA, but, you'll likely have a higher machine shop and parts bill, because they are getting pretty old now and won't be in as good a condition.
 
Sweet! I can afford any of these. Just to make it simpler.

Brewer's Performance - Mopar A833 4-Speed Transmission and Component Specialists

Not sure completely which one it is I sorta think it's the truck version but the a body one doesn't have the right center bore number? Which one I'm gonna get it if the RV is still at the junkyard tommorow

That's your boy right there.

Brewer's Performance - Mopar A833 4-Speed Transmission and Component Specialists
 
You just need to make sure to run the right stuff is all. I believe if I remember correctly, the Magnums are balanced a little differently than the LA, although they are both still externally balanced. Just make certain you buy the right balancer and flywheel for whichever engine you choose and you'll be good. The Magnum isn't necessarily "better" however, with fuel injection all it's life and running in an era of modern lubricants, there will be significantly less wear. I've torn some down and still seen cross hatch on cylinders on engines that had well in excess of 200K. THAT'S your biggest benefit. Normally, unless a piston is scuffed, cracked or otherwise damaged, you can run the stock original pistons. The Magnums also had a nice compression ratio of a tad north of 9:1. Now, one drawback is the heads were known to be prone to crack. But still, even with that chance, the Magnum can be a viable option, if you can find one affordable enough. Nothing wrong with the LA, but, you'll likely have a higher machine shop and parts bill, because they are getting pretty old now and won't be in as good a condition.


I'ma them both out and decide which ones worth it. Plus side I can always bring them both back.
 
I'ma them both out and decide which ones worth it. Plus side I can always bring them both back.

Hell, I'd keep um both. Ain't like either is growin on trees anymore. Kinda like me with my slant sixes. I get every one I can find now.
 

3B in the partial VIN, so it is from a 1973 model built at Hamtramck, could be from an A or E body.

Does it have one shifter mounting position on the tail shaft or two?
 
3B in the partial VIN, so it is from a 1973 model built at Hamtramck, could be from an A or E body.

Does it have one shifter mounting position on the tail shaft or two?


one shifter mounting position on the tail shaft or two?

Could you explain what that means
 
A body transmissions have one shifter mounting position.

The B & E body versions have two.

So, where the shifter mounts on the tail shaft, is there one set of threaded bosses or are there two sets of threaded bosses?
 
3B in the partial VIN, so it is from a 1973 model built at Hamtramck, could be from an A or E body.

Does it have one shifter mounting position on the tail shaft or two?


Uploaded a video on my YouTube channel hope this helps.tell me if I missed something I can just upload another video

 
That looks like a transmission in an A body....Dart, Duster, Demon, Dart Sport. Is this video from your car? If so, the 3B383762 should probably be the last 8 digits of the VIN tag on your dash. If your Duster is a V8 car, and the transmission in the video above is yours....you don't need to buy a bellhousing, cause you already have one that will fit either a 360 LA, or a 5.9 Magnum. If your Duster is a slant 6, then you will need to find a bellhousing. Decide which motor you are going to build before you buy a flywheel from Brewers. An LA 360 and a 5.9 Magnum are balanced differently, even though both are externally balanced. Hope this helps some. :)
 
Uploaded a video on my YouTube channel hope this helps.tell me if I missed something I can just upload another video



To Me, that looks like a long-tail. The shifter appears to be too far behind the trans mount to be a short-tail A-body.
Some of your slanty clutch linkage will not fit the V8 stuff; like the Z-bar, the fork, the adjuster rod,the inboard z-bar anchor; and the slanty pedal ratio is different also from a V8.
You need the A-body short-tail trans for to put the shifter up through the factory floor hole. Your A-body cannot use the front shifter mount of a longtail, as it sits right in the cross-member. You could use the rear pad of a longtail with a fabricated adapter, but if you don't get it just right, the shiftrods will not fit.And your driveshaft will still be too long.
I would bite the bullet and buy a 4-speed right out of the gate. You can thank me later.
The A230 came in two flavors; slanty ratio, and all-others.IIRC the slanty had a deeper low, and a short 2-3. Whereas the V8 had progressive splits.
The standard A833 4-speed had three equally-spaced ratios
The Commando 4-speed had a 16% lower first gear equal to the difference from a 3.23 to a 3.73
The A833 od is about the same as the slanty A230 with an overdrive added.
IMO, when you install that combo, you will need bigger T-bars, and new LCA bushings, for anything but; straightline driving, on relatively smooth roads.
 
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