Blueprint 408 in '63 Dart?

[63Dart170]

I had the engine compartment laser cleaned to remove the old paint. Didn't do quite as well as I hoped. I still had 8 hrs with a DA after the laser guy spent 8 hours on it with his machine.

First photo is after laser, 2nd is after a day of DA work. Did even more the next day.

 

[RustyRatRod]

I think I measured Vixen, my 64 Valiant and there was like a tic under 28? inches tween the frame fails. It's been a while back.

 

[63Dart170]

Turns out fitting a 727 in this thing was another can of worms. I had to expand the tunnel and bellhousing area quite a bit to get what I would consider adequate clearance around the whole transmission. I installed the engine and transmission then cut out the tunnel and bellhousing area. I then cut up 1/2" square tubing and taped a bunch of pieces all around the transmission as a buck. I was able to reuse the majority of the bellhousing area, rewelding it on the top and left side after lifting it for clearance. A 1" strip was used to close the gap on the drivers side. That just left the tunnel which I made from 20 gauge sheet which I bent around a welding gas tank fo get the right shape.

Additional photos to come.

 

[63Dart170]

..

 

[RustyRatRod]

That's some impressive work! I'm, well...impressed! lol

 

[63Dart170]

Test fitting of headers with the mockup engine and trans. I couldn't be happier. These Schumacher headers are the best fitting headers I have ever used. No dinging required! Things aren't nearly as tight as I had been led to believe.

 

[63Dart170]

 

[63Dart170]

Back in the saddle after a long pause. My mom got sick at the end of May and passed away in June. Today was the first day I have been back at the project in close to two months.

I pulled the mockup engine and installed the Blueprint engine. I needed to see how the AC hoses would fit, and look with the manifold and carb in place. I am pretty happy with how it's turning out. Just waiting for a bulkhead fitting to finish it off.

@Johnny Mac what are people doing for heater hose location on the intake manifold for the 408 stroker? There is only one plug that is the correct size, all the rest are much smaller than what would normally be used for heater hoses.

 

[Johnny Mac]

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Back in the saddle after a long pause. My mom got sick at the end of May and passed away in June. Today was the first day I have been back at the project in close to two months.

I pulled the mockup engine and installed the Blueprint engine. I needed to see how the AC hoses would fit, and look with the manifold and carb in place. I am pretty happy with how it's turning out. Just waiting for a bulkhead fitting to finish it off.

@Johnny Mac what are people doing for heater hose location on the intake manifold for the 408 stroker? There is only one plug that is the correct size, all the rest are much smaller than what would normally be used for heater hoses.

BluePrint Engines Hall of fame!

Good pics in this thread. From water pump to heater core, then back in either of the intake ports. (Yes a little small, but they work just fine)

 

[jbc426]

View attachment 1716569385

View attachment 1716569386

Back in the saddle after a long pause. My mom got sick at the end of May and passed away in June. Today was the first day I have been back at the project in close to two months.

I pulled the mockup engine and installed the Blueprint engine. I needed to see how the AC hoses would fit, and look with the manifold and carb in place. I am pretty happy with how it's turning out. Just waiting for a bulkhead fitting to finish it off.

@Johnny Mac what are people doing for heater hose location on the intake manifold for the 408 stroker? There is only one plug that is the correct size, all the rest are much smaller than what would normally be used for heater hoses.

I'm sorry for your loss. That's a tough one.

I have even less room in my engine compartment these days, and had to reroute some hoses and plumbing several times to get everything to fit together. As it is, the A/C lines off the compressor don't look as good as they could.

Just a thought, but ave you considered moving your A/C Bulkhead connector over towards the passenger side hood spring area, and using the 90 degree A/C fittings off the compressor and running hard lines back down toward the fender and then to hoses to new location for the bulkhead? It would keep it lower at the engine side and away from that beautiful engine. Heck, you could even go to bulkhead fittings on the inner fender and run lines to the firewall under the fender.

You would then be able to use the current bulkhead opening for the heater hoses and possibly an electrical pass-through.