slant six conversion guys!!!!

[Realest]

for all you guys that have taken a slant six car and transplanted some muscle under the hood. My question is what were your deciding factors on what engine to choose? and where did you find the engine?

Ryan

 

[Mopower71]

Had a 440 in my garage and needed a car to stick it in. What better place than to put it in a Dart.
Light weight+Torque=Lots Of Fun

 

[rumblefish360]

For me it was a 318 that I couldn't give away as a boat anchor. So I used it. It came out of '79 Dodge Magnum. It's featured here; http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/showthread.php?t=10508&page=1&pp=20

I feel the 318 is underated and is an excellent power plant for most aplications. This build up is a mild one designed to just have fun.
It's also a on the cheap where ever I could. No need to be expensive if you dont have to.
Often is problem you'll read is dump it for a 360 or a yet more expensive 340.

 

[RPM]

I went with the 360, because it was available from a old truck we had.
I would have picked the 360 anyways, because i wanted to make a 360 "clone" car. I went ahead and found the full K memeber out of a v-8 car because i wanted it to look original as possible. Keep in mind you will also want to upgrade the trans and rear differential.

and... have fun with it.


-RPM

 

[dartcuda]

I knew that the 318 would be a n easy switch on my Dart. Plus i had the motor which was in my Power Wagon. I decided to put a 440 in it and the 318 in my Dart. Made sense to me.

 

[memike]

Call me oldschool but I went with a 318 rv cam 30 over bone stock.
Small light 71/4 axle and a low gear,
I spent more money on header's then I did the headwork.
keep alignment on the front smooth and light.
lemon twist yellow y5 black vinyl top and int.
70 barracuda am radio plain jane car.
Everyone could not believe it was a little 318. :thumbup:
I drove this car 9 year's. daily driver,
That littel car out ran abunch of 350 chebby's
The 318 for my use so far.
remember this was in 1979.And on the scales it weight 2.870
And me at a wapping 155 lb's It did not take much. :toothy7:

 

[HemiPar]

My car is orginal 318 car but had no power train when bought it. i was eager and had the money so bough the frist v-8 i found, which was an 85 dodge dually for $750. now if I would have waited a few more days i found a 78 dodge truck with a 440 in it for $500. then that would be going in my swinger. So guess i was just he availibility at the ime. h, the 78 is still setting there.
jeff

 

[2fine69s]

I am doing a swap as we speak. 69 Dart Conv. S/6 to a 340 stroker. I have always wanted a 340 rag top.
Martin

 

[19duster74]

My car is a daily driver so I was not out for tons of horsepower, aiming more for easy to drive, reliable, low & easy maintenance, decent gas mileage, and passing Arizona emissions. Another factor was a limited budget. Original plan was for a crate engine but the price for the crate engine alone went above $4000 at the time I was going to make the swap, and from what I was finding the parts to make a conversion to the crate engine were more expensive than converting to a 318, at least when looking at an automatic transmission, flex plates, convertor, harmonic dampers, etc...... I simply bought a long block 318 from Auto Zone (With a 3 year warranty) and added all the extras. This made it a "bolt in" project. I have a thread in the General Discussion forum titled "Conversion Parts List" that lists all the items it took for me to complete my conversion. I did it for under $6000. The price with the crate was closer to $7000. I used to have the differences broken down on a spreadsheet but I deleted it.... Anyhow, with the 318 the car runs awesome, and has more power than I will ever need for daily driving and cruising.

 

[71 Dart]

Also looking at making a /6 to BB conversion, I've converted SB cars to BB but never had a /6 car before. What can be readily used for a donor car to replace the K member? The car has already been upgraded with front disc brakes with the wider lug spaced rims, and has had an 8 3/4 rear installed but not a sure grip which I also want to change, probably going with 3:54 gears. If distance is not too much of a factor I'm more than willing to trade/deal the /6 drive train and rad. for the necessary K member and torsion bars. Any and all feed back will be appreciated. I don't want to highjack this thread, but didn't necessarily think starting another thread on the same subjuct matter was necessary. I'm new here so if this is out of line just please politely let me know what proper proto call may be. Any responses to my questions can be done by pm or e-mail to : pandjmopars@roadrunner.com

Thank you - Jim

 

[sheets55]

:wav: had a 340 in a 1976 volarie,bouught the dart and thought i would like it better :thumbup:

 

[64dartwagon]

I used my /6 as a daily driver for 5years or so. Then it went to light duty off and on. The final nail in the /6 coffin was when I was driving it from a town about 25 miles away and I lost a cylinder, and sucked up about a quarter tank of gas, instead of the usual 25mpg. I decided if it blew apart or died then it was meant to be changed out. So I drove it home, and it made it. A little rattley and shakey, but it made it. Did a compression test and found out I had two dead holes. That was the final nail. I picked up a 78 Volare Wagon for $50 complete from the Tow company I worked for. And I'm happy that I did.

 

[Mopower71]

Also looking at making a /6 to BB conversion, I've converted SB cars to BB but never had a /6 car before. What can be readily used for a donor car to replace the K member? The car has already been upgraded with front disc brakes with the wider lug spaced rims, and has had an 8 3/4 rear installed but not a sure grip which I also want to change, probably going with 3:54 gears. If distance is not too much of a factor I'm more than willing to trade/deal the /6 drive train and rad. for the necessary K member and torsion bars. Any and all feed back will be appreciated. I don't want to highjack this thread, but didn't necessarily think starting another thread on the same subjuct matter was necessary. I'm new here so if this is out of line just please politely let me know what proper proto call may be. Any responses to my questions can be done by pm or e-mail to : pandjmopars@roadrunner.com

Thank you - Jim

You don't need to swap the K-frame, when Shumaker makes conversion mounts

 

[71 Dart]

Thank you Mopower 71, I guess I was just figuring that the oil pan - K member configeration for a BB would be different and would not fit in a /6 K member. So i wouldn't need to change anything other than motor mounts, correct ?

I bought mounts from Shumaker when I made the SB to BB swap on the B-Body and they fit perfectly. Boy, is this good news, and one dumb question answered with very appreciative results. The swap now not only becomes easier but also a little cheaper. This only the second A-Body I've owned.
I owned a Scamp a few years ago, but it was my wife's daily driver and I never did anything to it except like a dumbass sell it. A nice #'s matching 318 car with less than 80,000 mile when we sold it. Sharp little car too, I had it painted a Canyon Red Metalic (Dodge truck color), put a new black vinyl roof on it and had the upholstery repaired. A nice looking lil two door hard top. I swore about 3 weeks later I'd never sell another old Mopar. We learn the hard way don't we........? Again thanks - Jim

 

[Realest]

i'd like to go BB in my dart, but header clearance concerns me. I want it to be street able and actually have turning radius. So it might just have to be a SB.......340 360 dunno. I guess it all depends on what i find when the time comes. \
first i have to get the car down from calgary and into my garage hahah

 

[66dartman]

since mine is an early a, a 360 was the logical choice. Got my 360 for $75 at the local junkyard and built it from there.

 

[Realest]

You don't need to swap the K-frame, when Shumaker makes conversion mounts

i googled Shumaker kits and they state that they have kits from /6 (obviously) to B/RB. What blocks fall under this abbreviations?

 

[71 Dart]

i'd like to go BB in my dart, but header clearance concerns me. I want it to be street able and actually have turning radius. So it might just have to be a SB.......340 360 dunno. I guess it all depends on what i find when the time comes. \
first i have to get the car down from calgary and into my garage hahah

I've been told that although other brands will work with perhaps a bit of persuasion the TTI headers are easiest and best fitting headers for A-body cars.............? Anyoone with first hand knowledge using TTI and a BB set up ?