1992 318 dakota motor/trans ---> 65 dart??

[ppsi]

Been a while since I've been here. I tried looking for an answer prior to posting but didn't find anything. I have a 1965 4-dr Dart sitting for a few years. I also have a 1992 Dakota with the 318. My son has been driving it but it has 250+k miles and is about ready for the farm. I am thinking about rebuilding the motor & transmission and putting the whole thing in my 65 Dart.
What are the pitfalls? It would be a great theoretical modernization with OD & FI etc. I'd also like to have all that hp. I've got B body front disks and a 8 1/4" rear axle in the Dart. The Dakota has 410 posi rear axle. Would I be able to put this rear in the Dart without taking out mailboxes as I drive down the road?
Thanks for any advice.
Howard

 

[Valkman]

the 318 will fit but you'll have change the oil pan and oil pickup tube from a car. You'll need different motor mounts (If it's a slant 6 car) and exhaust manifolds (if the 318 is not a magnum). I'm not sure about the trans however. If it is a slant 6 stant six car you'll want to beef up the stock suspension.

I got a lot great advise from the forum on my swap here's a link to a thread that should help.

http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/showthread.php?t=211558

Do a search! there's a lot of great info on this forum!

 

[Rockerdude]

The 5.2 (318) magnum uses the same oil pan as a 5.9 magnum (360). So find a 360 passenger car oil pan, and it would be easiest to use a set of 64-66 a-body 273 exhaust manifolds but they really lack performance wise. People (including myself) have used the magnum exhaust manifolds from dodge trucks on our early-a bodys (63-66), but when I did it it didn't fit very well, and the motor was wedged between the fender well and the steering column.