the short version:
"my car, my money, my way"
Exactly.
Should big blocks go in A bodys?
- Thread starter voiceofstl
- Start date
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Exactly.
Completely agree!! Especially with header install
TT5.9mag
Two atmospheres are better than one
I remember his build. I really like that car. Wonder what happened that forced him to sell, he never really said much about why just “life changes”. Hasn’t been on FABO since 2018.
I only posted because I've had both and know what both are capable of especially with the parts available now. I usually break it down into how fast do you want to go because at a certain point money becomes a part of the equation. Even today owning one small block duster and two big block dusters I know which one I would rather work on by myself especially at my age. Things get a little tighter.
In all my born years I've not BB swapped a A-body. This thread has kind of inspired me to consider a BB swap in a Duster. Maybe a 383... Not to see how fast, but how it fits. Hmmm.... 
Don't I have enough projects going on
Don't I have enough projects going on
AJ/FormS
68 Formua-S fastback clone 367/A833/GVod/3.55s
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Back in the mid 70s, a guy gave me his parked 65 Barracuda. When I went to get it, I found out why it was free; he had installed a 383 and there was no ready-fit exhaust at the time, not even logs he said. And he wasn't savvy enough to build headers, and besides that; he had not been able to find someone who was.
And neither was I.
I pulled a few things off it and left it in the bush to rot. I was 23ish. The rest of the car was pretty mint, being low mileage and only 10 or 11 years old.
Later in life, I realized what a dummy I had been, but you know, 23yr-olds are like that.
And neither was I.
I pulled a few things off it and left it in the bush to rot. I was 23ish. The rest of the car was pretty mint, being low mileage and only 10 or 11 years old.
Later in life, I realized what a dummy I had been, but you know, 23yr-olds are like that.
mopowers
Well-Known Member
I've SEEN a 65 with a 440 and log manifolds, so I know it can be done. I didn't look it over with a magnifying glass to see what all he did, but it was in there. This was probably about 1998 "or so".
Yeah those are cool. If he had only painted them green, they might would slip by you at first.
mopowers
Well-Known Member
There was a guy that used to post a lot on Moparts (chassisman??) and ran an early valiant at the track at Famoso/Sacramento with log manifolds on opposite sides so they exited out the front. I always thought that was pretty slick.
I tried to get the two manifolds I have to work on my 66, but between the motor plate and mid plate, it was a no-go. So I ended up buying the parts to make my own log manifolds for now. Once I put the 470 in, I'll build a set of proper long tubes.
My buddy and I traded cars as he wanted my tube chassis Daytona that I wrecked. I’m not sure if he fabbed those or the guy he bought it from.
AJ/FormS
68 Formua-S fastback clone 367/A833/GVod/3.55s
- Joined
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Nice work!
thesiren74
Well-Known Member
Big blocks look way better than small blocks.
K.O. SWINGER
Meeting in the alley since 1976
You never cease to amaze me. Great work.
My junk. just for fun.
famous bob
mopar misfit
Wish I`d layed my j bars that far over to start with !
famous bob
mopar misfit
I see a hood scoop in ur future !
If u aint already got one .
ditto on the dipstick----
For sure on the hood scoop. It has one that mounts to the carb. This car had a small block (not included in the sale) running in the heads up class when I bought it so it’s required a lot of refitting.
That looks real good. I assume it's a low deck with all the room around the header. 400?
Thought I’d jump in. I own an original bigblock A body that’s had a rotisserie resto. It basically stock however it has a couple of mods to Make it more driveable. It’s a fun car but not a rally style car. It does push into corners and I deal a bit with overheating in temps beyon 80 degrees. Not a car that likes being stuck in traffic on a hot day. Of course cutting the core support for a 26” radiator would solve the cooling problem. That would be at the expense of cutting an original car to replace the original 22” rad.
I’d love nothing more that to do an M Code, Dart preferably. Run the car the way it would of been done back in the late 60s. That would be a kick.
I’d love nothing more that to do an M Code, Dart preferably. Run the car the way it would of been done back in the late 60s. That would be a kick.
Found some original big block to a body exhaust. Flows ok for my weak azz 400. Leaves clearance for the ps pb tho.
''As for Mr. Norm, he quickly realized that if the 383 would fit in the Dart, then the 440 would, too. He told Scritch he planned to offer Darts with both engines. ''“The fellas on the strip are demanding the lightest type cars with big engines, but not the maximum in a radical engine which consumes a lot of money adjusting valves and carburetion. In my opinion, if you want to sell volume, you have to build for the guy who drives on the street, not the half dozen guys who race on the track. The 426 in a heavy car is definitely not the answer. We figure the 383, properly set up, should pull the Dart into the low 12s. It’s an excellent engine and has a lot of potential.”
It all started many many moons ago when even car manufacturer's realized more was never enough.
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