LA Small Block Pulley Set

[hoosiernew]

Hello Everyone,

For the past couple of months I have been building a 273 that came out of a 1967 Dart. The build is almost complete but I discovered this past weekend that the pulleys that were given to me with the engine are not the correct ones. I have been searching around for the past couple of days for a pulley set and have come up short. I have a few questions that I figured someone on here could help answer:

1.) Are the small block pulleys the same for all LA small blocks?

2.) Does anyone have any suggestions outside of local salvage yards where I may find a set that will work with my engine? (I have contacted almost every salvage yard south of Indianapolis with no luck).

I know that the water pumps were changed in 1970 and I wasn't sure if the water pump pulley was changed as well.

Thank you for the help!


Edit: The only pulley sets I have found are through Mancini Racing/CVF Racing are brand new, chrome pulleys that are ~$180 a set.

 

[Mike69cuda]

I have had a lot of issues with pulleys recently. I converted to the 70 up front end with ac. That solved my problems.

There are a lot of different pulleys used depending on what options you have, power steering, and ac. Older Dodge truck pulleys will fit, if they are before serpentine belts started. I think up through the early 90s. Plentiful in a lot of junkyards. Crank pulleys will also fit, but you may have to file out one bolt hole.

 

[hoosiernew]

The engine will be going into an 84 Dodge D150 that previously had a /6. I believe that the crank pulley I have is correct but no luck with the WP pulley. The truck will have power steering, No AC. I have considered switching to the 70 up front end just in case I ever have to deal with a broken water pump. So pulling the front end off of a 70 and up SB will work? I found an early 80s D250 with a 318 in a salvage yard near me that I could pull the front end off of.

 

[1966Post]

That would be your best bet Get everything from one vehicle that is complete and you'll best set don't forget the power steering brackets as well
I'm in the same boat with an '85 /6 conversion to a V8 as well
Good luck!

 

[hoosiernew]

That would be your best bet Get everything from one vehicle that is complete and you'll best set don't forget the power steering brackets as well
I'm in the same boat with an '85 /6 conversion to a V8 as well
Good luck!

I may try that then and see what happens. If there are any parts that you're looking for, just shoot me a PM and I can check for you. I was given a bunch of parts with the engine and do not have a use for many of them. Good luck on your build!

 

[Mike69cuda]

The bottom radiator hose switched sides in 1970 due to a different water pump. Watch out for that.

 

[hoosiernew]

The bottom radiator hose switched sides in 1970 due to a different water pump. Watch out for that.

I found that out the hard way this weekend and is part of the reason why I think switching to a 70 and up front end would be better long term. I just wasn't sure if it would be a straight swap or if anything would be different.

 

[Mike69cuda]

Might be easiest to convert over to the truck engine front end. Timing marks are also an issue if you swap timing covers. If you stay with the 273 timing cover and swap everything else you should be good. Don’t swap harmonic balancers. Keep the one that goes with the engine.

 

[oldkimmer]

The timing marks will be covered by the water pump if u don’t change the timing cover and the harmonic balancer. Kim

 

[krazykuda]

Hello Everyone,

For the past couple of months I have been building a 273 that came out of a 1967 Dart. The build is almost complete but I discovered this past weekend that the pulleys that were given to me with the engine are not the correct ones. I have been searching around for the past couple of days for a pulley set and have come up short. I have a few questions that I figured someone on here could help answer:

1.) Are the small block pulleys the same for all LA small blocks?

2.) Does anyone have any suggestions outside of local salvage yards where I may find a set that will work with my engine? (I have contacted almost every salvage yard south of Indianapolis with no luck).

I know that the water pumps were changed in 1970 and I wasn't sure if the water pump pulley was changed as well.

Thank you for the help!


Edit: The only pulley sets I have found are through Mancini Racing/CVF Racing are brand new, chrome pulleys that are ~$180 a set.

There are basically two different pulley sets for the LA small blocks... 69 and earlier, and 70 and later... You have to run them with the proper water pump....

The early set should be run with a cast iron water pump, and the 70 and later pulleys should be run with the aluminum water pump...

Show us pictures of what pulleys that you have and what your engine looks like and I can give you some better direction...

 

[Dana67Dart]

I just have to ask...

With all the 318s out there why would you put a 273 in? Rebuild kits are astonomical!

 

[krazykuda]

I just have to ask...

With all the 318s out there why would you put a 273 in? Rebuild kits are astonomical!

67 273's weren't bad engines.... Solid lifters, forged cranks, adjustable rockers, and closed chamber heads...

Nothing wrong with a 273...

 

[hoosiernew]

I just have to ask...

With all the 318s out there why would you put a 273 in? Rebuild kits are astonomical!

A 273 is what was available to me and I don't know anyone personally who has put a 273 in a d150 so why not?

 

[hoosiernew]

There are basically two different pulley sets for the LA small blocks... 69 and earlier, and 70 and later... You have to run them with the proper water pump....

The early set should be run with a cast iron water pump, and the 70 and later pulleys should be run with the aluminum water pump...

Show us pictures of what pulleys that you have and what your engine looks like and I can give you some better direction...

I have both water pumps, aluminum and cast iron. I will take some pictures tomorrow or Wednesday and post them here. Thanks for the reply krazykuda!

 

[krazykuda]

I have both water pumps, aluminum and cast iron. I will take some pictures tomorrow or Wednesday and post them here. Thanks for the reply krazykuda!

The engine will be going into an 84 Dodge D150 that previously had a /6. I believe that the crank pulley I have is correct but no luck with the WP pulley. The truck will have power steering, No AC. I have considered switching to the 70 up front end just in case I ever have to deal with a broken water pump. So pulling the front end off of a 70 and up SB will work? I found an early 80s D250 with a 318 in a salvage yard near me that I could pull the front end off of.

Show us the timing chain cover and where the timing marks are on the engine and then also post some pictures of the engine in the car (if it's in now) and also the radiator that you are going to use...

The engine will be going into an 84 Dodge D150 that previously had a /6. I believe that the crank pulley I have is correct but no luck with the WP pulley. The truck will have power steering, No AC. I have considered switching to the 70 up front end just in case I ever have to deal with a broken water pump. So pulling the front end off of a 70 and up SB will work? I found an early 80s D250 with a 318 in a salvage yard near me that I could pull the front end off of.

If you are going to run it in the 84 truck, then you should use the 70 and later front engine set-up....

You should pull the front of the engine on that salvage yard 318... It doesn't matter if it's a 318 or 360 in the truck, the front components are the same for both engines...

Grab the timing chain cover, aluminum water pump (if you don't have one already), all of the pulleys, and take pictures of the power steering set-up on the V-8 and grab all of the brackets off of the power steering pump... Also grab all of the alternator brackets... Make sure to take good pictures of the front of the engine and all of the components on the salvage yard engine before you tear it apart so you can see how they go together when you assemble yours...

 

[krazykuda]

I have both water pumps, aluminum and cast iron. I will take some pictures tomorrow or Wednesday and post them here. Thanks for the reply krazykuda!

Use the aluminum water pump for a 84 truck...

 

[krazykuda]

Hello Everyone,

For the past couple of months I have been building a 273 that came out of a 1967 Dart. The build is almost complete but I discovered this past weekend that the pulleys that were given to me with the engine are not the correct ones. I have been searching around for the past couple of days for a pulley set and have come up short.


Edit: The only pulley sets I have found are through Mancini Racing/CVF Racing are brand new, chrome pulleys that are ~$180 a set.

You gotta know where to find them on Mancini's site... As long as you are not running A/C, here are the reproduction parts that are available for your swap... A/C parts are different...


Main pulley page:

Pulleys

Products: Pulleys - Bouchillon Performance Engineering


The double groove crank pulley that you will need:

Crankshaft Pulley with Power Steering w/o AC

BPE Double-Groove Crankshaft Pulley - Bouchillon Performance Engineering


The water pump pulley that you will need:

Water Pump Pulley w/o AC

BPE Water Pump Pulley - Bouchillon Performance Engineering


Alternator mounting brackets:

Alternator Mounting Kit

5251 alternator brackets - Bouchillon Performance Engineering



New timing chain covers:

Timing Covers

 

[Mike69cuda]

Watch switching harmonic balancers. After about 1972 small blocks went to external balance and harmonic balancers are different.

 

[krazykuda]

Watch switching harmonic balancers. After about 1972 small blocks went to external balance and harmonic balancers are different.

You keep the balancer that came on the crank from the factory...

With the "other" timing cover on it with the marks on the opposite side, you just put the engine at TDC and make a mark on the balancer to line up with 0° on the new timing cover... I usually use white paint or white out to make the timing marks stand out for the timing light...

You shouldn't change crank balancers, just mark TDC on the old balancer for the new TDC on the timing cover....

 

[Mike69cuda]

Actually, the timing marks on the right (Passenger side) can still be seen with the pump exit on the right. Not great, But visible.

The big issue is with the swap the other way. When you have the post 70 timing marks on the left, and the old water pump and power steering ( 69 back, exit on the driver side), the marks are almost completely hidden.