273 is it good engine?

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I was looking at the internals in another thread where the guy has a 67 273 torn down, pretty impressive, closed chamber heads, valve reliefs in the pistons, adjustable rockers etc.
 
Kinda sad to say the person i bought my car from went from solids to a 340 cam with
hydrolic lifters ,but i have everything to change it back but it runs very nice
 
I wonder how many turn down a 273 for a 318 because of "displacement"...like the comment on the Chevy 283, most guys go for the 327 or 350...and just pass on by the low cube engines even though they have good internals.
 
Dartswinger70 said:
I wonder how many turn down a 273 for a 318 because of "displacement"...like the comment on the Chevy 283, most guys go for the 327 or 350...and just pass on by the low cube engines even though they have good internals.
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Are 273 and 318 same dimensions? I’m reading 64 was first year to fit V8, that means 273 not 318, correct?
 
808-dartGT said:
Are 273 and 318 same dimensions? I’m reading 64 was first year to fit V8, that means 273 not 318, correct?
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Yes. basically all the LA engines and the Magnums are the same outside dimensions. There are differences in a lot of things though like mounts, balance, accessory mounting and the like
 
I have a 273 in my 66 Belvedere. Love it. When searching for a small block for my 65 Valiant I actually wanted another 273, just happens to find a good 318 first. I think the 273 is a great little motor.
 
We had a friend with a Valiant 273 hipo with a 3 speed stick on the column and for some reason it
was crazy fast .
 
Paul King said:
We had a friend with a Valiant 273 hipo with a 3 speed stick on the column and for some reason it
was crazy fast .
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My first car was a 65 Dart 270 post car with a HP 273 and a 3 on the tree. It was fast (or so I thought at 16) Now I find out there were only a hand full made with that combo.
 
toolmanmike said:
My first car was a 65 Dart 270 post car with a HP 273 and a 3 on the tree. It was fast (or so I thought at 16) Now I find out there were only a hand full made with that combo.
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When this guy hit second gear it was unbeleiveable ,kept up with a 409 chev
 
I had at age 18 bought a 67 valiant 273 4 speed Comando. It’s a shame I tore it apart and put a 440 in it and drag raced it. I now have a 65 273 2dr valiant along with a 66 273 Comando engine on a engine stand.
 
Dartswinger70 said:
I wonder how many turn down a 273 for a 318 because of "displacement".
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Same as the B engine 361 or a 383. 361 way overlooked.
Good thing is a 273/318 or a 361 B engine are inexpensive and most of the time for free.
The last 2 318's and a 361 I got for free. Both 318's ran fine and are in a car and a truck now. 361 is on the stand to be rebuilt.
 
ddartdude said:
Wanted to know if your solid lifters look like bar bells or are they straight? I tore down down a true D/Dart 273 and it had a combination of both. The original owner said he broke a couple of them. Just wondering.
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I’m not sure. I haven’t removed one.
 
ddartdude said:
Wanted to know if your solid lifters look like bar bells or are they straight? I tore down down a true D/Dart 273 and it had a combination of both. The original owner said he broke a couple of them. Just wondering.
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Mine were all barbell lifters in my 66.
 
Parts are interchangeable on all the 273, 318, 340 and 360 LA engines, so there are a lot of parts out there to choose from. Not sure of part availability in Honolulu though. I'd take a hipo 273 any day. They are quick.
 
My '65 273/904 has just over 100,003 original miles. The engine and tranny have never been out. Had a valve job done about 20 years ago, long before I bought it and I did a shift kit a couple years ago. Runs great. I'd say that's a pretty good engine and tranny.
 
The 273 is best for keeping it factory. My 1965 Dart has a 273 (avatar) and my 1964 Valiant a 225 slant, and keeping both that way. You'll probably get more lookers at a car show today with a slant, especially if you add mod's like the large Hurricane intake or a turbocharger. If you really want a V-8 for more power, the 5.9L Magnum (360 cu in) is probably better since common and upgrade parts available cheaper. That gives you modern spark, MPFI, roller lifters, and better transmission with overdrive and lockup. If you can't manage installing a high-pressure fuel pump and regulators, you can get a manifold to use a carburetor on a 5.9L. The biggest downside is the heads are prone to crack. You must strategically dent the oil pan to clear early-A steering, plus need the V-8 cross-link which drops lower to clear a V-8 pan (even a 273). If a 5.2L Magnum (318 cu in), I think you can fit an early 273 oil pan to clear the steering. Some (all?) 1966 slant cars had the V-8 cross-link. Like most smaller displacement engines, the 273 spins higher, which is what you must to do access peak power. A few have installed a modern Hemi engine and tranny, but a higher threshold and I read those engines have some issues.
 
I kinda miss my 273 Commando. It didn't come alive until about 3500 rpm, but man, once you got there it pulled hard to 5000. Really fun engine.

I chose to get a junkyard 5.9 Magnum and build it. It's fun too, but there's something about winding up the little 273...
 
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