65 dart small block

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Rockerdude

Rock n' Roll and A-bodies
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I sold the 440/727, to buy disc breaks for the front of my 65 dart gt /6. they should be coming by ups in a couple of days. the old 213k mile slant is going to be retired soon for some small block power. i think i want to go with a remaned 360, or even a low mile one, and want to put in a 513 lift cam, headers, 4 barrel, and other goodies. (for a daily driver) im new to mopar, how would be the cheapest way to get screamin small block power out of this 43 year old beast?
 
A .513" lift cam? Any particular reasoning behind this particular number? There's no real reason to go past about .480 with a stock 360 head, unless you want to replace the entire valvetrain. Keep it simple and use something like a Comp XE268. Save your money for headers if you plan to run them, you'll spend plenty on an early A-Body. Cheap, big cams, and stock compression usually don't add up to screaming performance.

Then there's a new transmission with a GOOD converter, a new rear axle... the list goes on.
 
A .513" lift cam? Any particular reasoning behind this particular number? There's no real reason to go past about .480 with a stock 360 head, unless you want to replace the entire valvetrain. Keep it simple and use something like a Comp XE268. Save your money for headers if you plan to run them, you'll spend plenty on an early A-Body. Cheap, big cams, and stock compression usually don't add up to screaming performance.

Then there's a new transmission with a GOOD converter, a new rear axle... the list goes on.


I agree with Chief, unless you plan on drag racing the car,
in the 1/8th mile class, with 5:13 gears, I would stay away from that cam.

For Street use, I suggest choose the cam you want, along with what rear
gear ratio you want to use.

If you want to go 3:23 to 3:55 ratio, so you can drive the car on the highway,
and still get some sort of fuel mileage, you choice of cam,
will be less, than if you want 3:90 gears, and don't care about fuel mileage.

Here is the biggest cam I would choose, for street useage, ( I would use 3:55 gears with this cam)
don't forget you will need new, correct strength
valve springs that match the cam. ;)



LUN-60402LK
Cam and Lifters, Hydraulic Flat Tappet, Advertised Duration 262/268, Lift .475/.494, Mopar, 273-360, Kit

Basic Operating RPM Range: 1,400-5,700

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=LUN%2D60402LK&autoview=sku

For 3:23 gear I would go with the next smaller cam, by Lunati.
 
I would be more concerned with the duration at .050" then the lift number. It could easily be a fast rate hyd cam with 230* @.050" and be fine in the street. Or even smaller if he uses Magnum heads with a 1.6 ratio rocker.

I would go any bigger for a true driver then 230* on the intake side if your running 391s or less. Tire size, transmission on converter will also play a part.
 
I love the early A body. I'm putting together a '65 Dart for the track. Motor mounts are an issue for a 340 or 360. The Schumacker kits are too $ for the extra fab required. I just fab'd solid alumunum mounts based on Moroso's design for 67 and up A body. Modifying the tranny tunnel and there is always that header issue whether you use Hooker, TTI or Headman. Each one has alot of mods and minuses. After running Stock Eliminator w/ a BB in the 70's, I took my 440+6 to .06 to a national record with factory exhaust and some trick steel exhaust pipes. With a 360 and a stock eliminator cam after market intake, carb and pistons I ran consistant 12.00's with 70 340 factory headers w/tuned exhaust pipes in a '65 Cuda. Keep it simple.
 
I thought I had heard "somewhere" that all it takes to replace a /6 with a small block LA engine was some different factory motor mounts. Unless I'm mistaken, the sixes and eights used the same K member. With that as a starting point, and since the 273 was an option in '64. 65, & '66 wouldn't ordinary "factory style" replacement motor mounts for '64 - '66 273 engines make any LA a simple drop in?
 
I thought I had heard "somewhere" that all it takes to replace a /6 with a small block LA engine was some different factory motor mounts. Unless I'm mistaken, the sixes and eights used the same K member. With that as a starting point, and since the 273 was an option in '64. 65, & '66 wouldn't ordinary "factory style" replacement motor mounts for '64 - '66 273 engines make any LA a simple drop in?

64-66's all used the same K Frame. 273's and most 318's take the same motor mounts, so using original mounts, they would drop right in. 340's/360's have different offsets on the block lugs so the conversion mounts are probably the easiest to use there. It appears the easiest driver's side exhaust manifold to use is the factory 64-66 one. Someone mentioned using later 340 manifolds in an early A Body - would like to see some pics of that set-up since I'd like to do the same thing since I'm assembling a 340 to go in my 65 Dart wagon.
 
.... It appears the easiest driver's side exhaust manifold to use is the factory 64-66 one. Someone mentioned using later 340 manifolds in an early A Body - would like to see some pics of that set-up since I'd like to do the same thing since I'm assembling a 340 to go in my 65 Dart wagon.

Then there's this: http://www.geocities.com/lars_an_artist/durango.html

318/360 Dakota exh. manifolds in an early A body...
 
Then there's this: http://www.geocities.com/lars_an_artist/durango.html

318/360 Dakota exh. manifolds in an early A body...

I've got a set of those manifolds and thought about using them with my 340 conversion on the wagon. I have power steering so this option is most likely out. If anyone has the 68-71 or so style 340 driver's manifold in their early A Body, would sure like to see some pics.
 
I could not get the Dakota manifolds to work on my 65 barracuda....not even close. Believe it or not, i am currently running a 75 Dart 318 DS and PS exhaust maniflold on my 65 with a 318. Everyone said it would not work, but they fit like a glove and cost me A LOT less than the "correct" 273 manifolds were going for.

sb
 
i have a 360 with a 284 484 cam and its great.....after 2600 rpm until 6000 but how often do you plan on spinning the motor up that high? p.s. it hates cold mornings.
 
i have a 360 with a 284 484 cam and its great.....after 2600 rpm until 6000 but how often do you plan on spinning the motor up that high? p.s. it hates cold mornings.

I live in phoenix AZ, so cold mornings are no problem. i plan on takeing it to speedworld raceway against my dad, but i still need to use it as a daily driver to school and wherever else.
 
I have a 1964 Dart Gt with a 340,fenderwell headers[installed in the 1970's direct connection]I ended up using the earlier truck motor mount on the driver's side!!!My car also has a 4speed and a8 3/4 rear with 391'sand has no problems w/vibration or the dredded problem of broken rubbers[HA HA]anyway I've pulled many holeshots that has scarred alot of concrete around my hometown! I hope I helped and if you'd like pictures of 340 manifolds I'll try to get a picture from a friend that may have them installed on his 64 valient 318!!!
 
. . .and if you'd like pictures of 340 manifolds I'll try to get a picture from a friend that may have them installed on his 64 valient 318!!!

Sure would like to see the pics as I've managed to obtain a driver's side 340 manifold.
 
Best all round cam for a small displacement Mopar is the solid 235 hp, 273 cam. Good idle qualities, revs to the moon with lots of power and low maintenance. I've had several 273's with that cam and loved it
 
mopar nocar: Do you have any pics of those manifolds installed in your car? Does the DS manifold have the dreaded curved, flattened, area that curls around the torsion bar, or does it just go back and down? Those should allow much easier access for the headpipe and better flow than the original 273 manifolds.

dart4forte: I agree that was a great cam, but it would be way too small in a 360. There are much better grinds available nowadays for the LA engines.
 
Let's see some pix of the different manifolds to work with 340/360 ci motors to work in 64-66 barracudas
 
Let's see some pix of the different manifolds to work with 340/360 ci motors to work in 64-66 barracudas
Member "Fubar" hasn't been online for 13 years. He might not post photos.
 
I don't know why, but every time I see one of these decades old posts pop up, I hear the old hymn we sing at church on Easter Sunday in my head! :realcrazy:

" Up From The Grave he Arose......"

 
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