73Charger318
Member Rt 66 Mopar Club
Sledge hammer? Explosives? lol
273 advise needed
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stillrunners
Just a wrench short of a full tool box !
Yep.....did all that to a little 283 in an early 40's Ford with no luck - finally pulled it down the road to get it going because it was a standard.....and still didn't fire off even with spark and all.....sold the dang thing !!!
mad mike
Well-Known Member
I have a 66 Barracuda and the 273 was completely destroyed so I figured what the hell I'm not selling it. Instead, I built a 360 magnum for it had a lot of fun cramming it in, swapping to a serpentine belt, Doug headers, Portronics electronic ignition, I nice flow thru intake with 1 inch riser under the 750 carb. I had some problems finding my 8.75 rear wound up buying a 67 non posi and changing the differential to posi with 391 dears. I put 15-inch Mickey Thompson Street and strip radials and adjustable pinion snubber. I left the 13-inch tires on the front. Runs like it was born to race. Won't though its my last build of my life I'm 69 and it keeps me young. Next is body and paint. I'm almost done with the interior. Love your car as I do or sell it to me cheap. I'm no millionaire LOL good luck with it.
73Charger318
Member Rt 66 Mopar Club
Sounds like a fun car! 5K shipped to your door and you can do whatever you want with it. No millionaire bank account needed. lol. Thanks!
Red Coupe
Member
A lot of good advice here. First of all, decide what you want the car to be: (survivor, race car, restomod, restored) and let that guide your decisions.
I'm kinda in the same boat with a 66 Dart Charger 4 speed. Since this will be a street car I'll be looking for torque.... max power at high RPM but with no bottom end is not for me.
Good luck with whatever you chose.
I'm kinda in the same boat with a 66 Dart Charger 4 speed. Since this will be a street car I'll be looking for torque.... max power at high RPM but with no bottom end is not for me.
Good luck with whatever you chose.
73Charger318
Member Rt 66 Mopar Club
Picking up on this older thread to let everyone know the commando engine is out of the 65 Cuda finally. Will probably have some questions as I get into the rebuilding stage. Oil pan has a few dents that shouldn't be there, looks like someone had a jack under it at some point. The replacement pans I'm seeing don't have the proper indentations for the steering linkage. Would rather not buy one that has to be pounded on to fit right. Anyone know one that will fit out of the box?
Attached a few pics. That frame rail near the drivers side motor mount looked a little strange so took a pic. No signs anything had broken off or rusted away, so assuming it just looked that way from the assembly line.
Thanks.
Attached a few pics. That frame rail near the drivers side motor mount looked a little strange so took a pic. No signs anything had broken off or rusted away, so assuming it just looked that way from the assembly line.
Thanks.
mad mike
Well-Known Member
I bought a new oil pan [ chrome] the sides fit fine but, both ends were messed up couldn't use the end gaskets had to silicone them up. I have the original pan had a small crack in it that I brazed up if it helps you out. It's a 273 pan not from a commando if that matters. You're welcome to it just pay the shipping. It's out of a 66 Cuda. Mad Mike
If your oil pan is clobbered and you don't want to, or can't straighten it, just start a parts wanted thread. Someone will have one for you.
Unless it is rusted through, I'd get a hammer and dolly and straighten the original pan as best you can and run it.
73Charger318
Member Rt 66 Mopar Club
I'll see what this one looks like when it's off. I think the regular 273 pan and commando pan would have been the same, but others will know for sure.
73Charger318
Member Rt 66 Mopar Club
It's not rusted at all, just some dents where dents don't belong. Will plan to try this first.
Same
mad mike
Well-Known Member
Well, it sounds like it can be fixed no problem but, if you need to you can have this one I have.
JDMopar
Well-Known Member
My 273 pan looked like it came off a small block General Lee jump car. It had quite a few dents and one little rust hole. I worked all the dents out and drilled the little rust hole back to thick metal and welded it up. Can't even tell it now! I sanded it down good and primed it after I got it fixed. I filled the sump with some el cheapo oil and let it sit to see if any oil seeped out, but it was dry as a bone.
73Charger318
Member Rt 66 Mopar Club
One head and the oil pan from some forabodies friends. We should be dropping this original 273 commando back in the 65 Cuda soon. Still a ton of work to do but it's coming along.
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Looks great!
mad mike
Well-Known Member
I'm glade the oil pan worked out for you. I guess you found the head you needed sorry I could not be more help with that. Motor looks fantastic. I hope the rest of your build goes smoothly. Mike
73Charger318
Member Rt 66 Mopar Club
Quick and probably silly question.
I did manage to get the correct 3854S for my 65 Barracuda and will be putting the engine back in next week. The old incorrect 3858 had a connection on the front for the pcv, this carb has a screw in that spot. What are my options to get the connection on this carb? Rear connection is taken by the power brake hose. Thanks.
Carb is PCV valve. The power brakes goes to fitting on the intake manifold.
73Charger318
Member Rt 66 Mopar Club
Thanks. My original set up, (when I rescued the car), had the power brakes going to the rear of the carb and pcv coming to the front center.
73Charger318
Member Rt 66 Mopar Club
Engine is in and cam broke in. I've heard different opinions on when to dump the Lucas break in oil and get the regular VR1 oil in the engine. Now or after 100-200 miles?
I assumed other issues would come up and transmission will need work. Got a few rough shifts moving the car around, but then after I pulled it in the garage it wouldn't go into any gear at all.
Eventually the stock commando valve covers will be back on the car and I'll switch the air cleaner back to the CAP air cleaner that was stock on the car. All news stock front suspension and EPSO leaf springs. New front to back exhaust from Waldrons. Will start on interior now as I try to figure out out transmission. (two month wait time to get into my Mopar transmission guys shop)
Thoughts?
I assumed other issues would come up and transmission will need work. Got a few rough shifts moving the car around, but then after I pulled it in the garage it wouldn't go into any gear at all.
Eventually the stock commando valve covers will be back on the car and I'll switch the air cleaner back to the CAP air cleaner that was stock on the car. All news stock front suspension and EPSO leaf springs. New front to back exhaust from Waldrons. Will start on interior now as I try to figure out out transmission. (two month wait time to get into my Mopar transmission guys shop)
Thoughts?
mad mike
Well-Known Member
The car looks great and I'm glade the motor runs well. I would use the break in oil to at least 100 miles or you feel comfortable that it's broke in. As far as the tranny goes, I guess you'll get it into the shop asap. Unless you pull the tranny out yourself and just let them rebuild it. It would be faster and cheaper if you did. Mike
4spdragtop
Well-Known Member
I changed break in oil right after(for inspection), but that's me. I use Rotella 15W40 and Lucas Zinc additive for both break in and regular driving.
mad mike
Well-Known Member
Hey Alan, what size tires are on your car? I have a full set of 13-inch hub caps that are 65 / 66 originals. Mike
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