1966 273 Commando - Thoughts

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jeff alder said:
take a nap buddy. You are awfully cranky. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. That is what the original poster is asking for. Everyone's opinion not just yours. Ted did it with a stock engine and he was the driver so I really don't know what your talking about here. You wouldn't know anything about our cars.
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Ted did it with a stock engine!!!?? ya right price a S/S 273 engine. It isn't gonna cost $4,700 bucks. And I think it may have been a bit lighter. Maybe more than a bit! Your cars! I was racing my Dart since 66. Talk about being cranky, give me a break. I still have my Dart and mom purchased a new 65 Cuda. Moms car is gone but I do have 1 65 Formula S 4 speed in stock. Old but not slow.
 
I just try and good advice and I went thru this in 69 when I put in my first 340 in my dart. Never looked back. And one other thing 340's don't like 7 1/4's axles.
 
LO23M8B said:
Ted did it with a stock engine!!!?? ya right price a S/S 273 engine. It isn't gonna cost $4,700 bucks. And I think it may have been a bit lighter. Maybe more than a bit! Your cars! I was racing my Dart since 66. Talk about being cranky, give me a break. I still have my Dart and mom purchased a new 65 Cuda. Moms car is gone but I do have 1 65 Formula S 4 speed in stock. Old but not slow.
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LO23M8B said:
Ted did it with a stock engine!!!?? ya right price a S/S 273 engine. It isn't gonna cost $4,700 bucks. And I think it may have been a bit lighter. Maybe more than a bit! Your cars! I was racing my Dart since 66. Talk about being cranky, give me a break. I still have my Dart and mom purchased a new 65 Cuda. Moms car is gone but I do have 1 65 Formula S 4 speed in stock. Old but not slow.
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a superstock 273 was 275 HP. The one is posted is supposedly over 300? Isn't that more horsepower than the superstock 275 HP? and the price on this engine with more horsepower (if the post is true and accurate) is $4700.00. The car was lighter 2900lb...but that really wasn't my point. I'm also not comparing my cars to yours as I know nothing about your cars. I also don't jump down your throat when you post things but I may reply to your nasty comments when you do. It is really all for naught as Steve pointed out this may be a farce.
 
jeff alder said:
a superstock 273 was 275 HP. The one is posted is supposedly over 300? Isn't that more horsepower than the superstock 275 HP? and the price on this engine with more horsepower (if the post is true and accurate) is $4700.00. The car was lighter 2900lb...but that really wasn't my point. I'm also not comparing my cars to yours as I know nothing about your cars. I also don't jump down your throat when you post things but I may reply to your nasty comments when you do. It is really all for naught as Steve pointed out this may be a farce.
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How did I get nasty. You were the one that posted about take a nap. So sorry I thought you were getting nasty with me. And talking your cars so I thought you were talking about early A-bogies in general. So let me give you an apology, I'm sorry. Hope we stay good.
 
BigB6958 said:
As I am still making decisions about what to power my 67 Dart GT conv I am constantly looking at what is out there for sale. Came upon this and wondered if those with good experience would be able to offer opinions as to whether it might be a decent option. I have read good things about these engines. I know they may not have the torque of a 360 and I can get 350hp from this build fairly easily I think. Add a set of headers and a better distributor, couple of other things, but mostly leave as-is. I am not looking for a tire burning race car....just something to cruise around with that looks AND sounds nice, and have some get up and go when I want it to. With a change of gearing in the back end I think this might be an option. Plus a Commando, although not numbers matching, would be more period correct I think. The guy wants $6500 CAD for this setup...love to get some feedback, and I look forward to thoughts on this.

Thanks'
BigB

"1966 273ci Commando Complete Rebuilt bored 30 over new Dome Pistons 10:1 compression Falcon Ultimate Cam Shaft Kit Cam Street & Strip, 287 dur 480 lift Double Roller Timing Chain, Hi Volume Oil Pump, Steel Crank , Heads 1.88 Intake and 1.60 exhaust and Port Matched to Edelbrock LD4B intake manifold, Crank and Block Shot Peened, Original dual points distributor, Original exhaust manifolds, 625 CFM Competition Series Carter carburetor, have original 273ci Commando Intake manifold"

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Sounds like a nice engine but I would like to see it on the dyno. I bet not 300 horse whis is quite a jump from the 235 horse the stock engines put out. Just a guess.
 
BigB6958 said:
As I am still making decisions about what to power my 67 Dart GT conv I am constantly looking at what is out there for sale. Came upon this and wondered if those with good experience would be able to offer opinions as to whether it might be a decent option. I have read good things about these engines. I know they may not have the torque of a 360 and I can get 350hp from this build fairly easily I think. Add a set of headers and a better distributor, couple of other things, but mostly leave as-is. I am not looking for a tire burning race car....just something to cruise around with that looks AND sounds nice, and have some get up and go when I want it to. With a change of gearing in the back end I think this might be an option. Plus a Commando, although not numbers matching, would be more period correct I think. The guy wants $6500 CAD for this setup...love to get some feedback, and I look forward to thoughts on this.

Thanks'
BigB

"1966 273ci Commando Complete Rebuilt bored 30 over new Dome Pistons 10:1 compression Falcon Ultimate Cam Shaft Kit Cam Street & Strip, 287 dur 480 lift Double Roller Timing Chain, Hi Volume Oil Pump, Steel Crank , Heads 1.88 Intake and 1.60 exhaust and Port Matched to Edelbrock LD4B intake manifold, Crank and Block Shot Peened, Original dual points distributor, Original exhaust manifolds, 625 CFM Competition Series Carter carburetor, have original 273ci Commando Intake manifold"

View attachment 1716331680
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I'd put a 360 in it. Still looks like a stock engine, but the HP numbers are more attainable. For ignition, I'd go with an MSD ignition and distributor. Mild modifications (cam, pistons with higher compression ratio, Holley 750 (double pumper or vacuum secondaries) will be fun, without the hassle of a weekend warrior; tuning, tinkering. And it's still able to run in pump gas.
3.91 gears and you'd still be able to highway drive.
 
I saw the ad and thought it was a little pricey but then again good luck getting a complete ready to run engine for that price. There was a brand new MP 360 short block for sale for $3500 but I think it is gone now. I wonder what the economics are these days on running a newer used 5.7 hemi.
 
I bought a 64 Barracuda in 1970. 273 4bbl, hiring, 780 dual feed, fenderwell headers and weld on bars holding down a 59 Fairlane 9"rear.
Put a D Dart cam in it and beat the **** out of it for 3 years. Street raced over a 1000 times.and only got beat 3 times.
That car was a monster for what it was.
Now have a 65 that was a /6 factory 4 speed. Pulled the 6 and built a 273 and installed it. Its only a low compression motor but still a lot of fun. With only a 7.25 rear, there is NO racing. Still looking for another Fairlane rear.
Buy or build a 273, they're great little.motors.
 
I have a 66 Dart with the 273 hiPo and love it ,I just keep it for cruising

DSCF1952.JPG
 
1MeanA said:
I saw the ad and thought it was a little pricey but then again good luck getting a complete ready to run engine for that price. There was a brand new MP 360 short block for sale for $3500 but I think it is gone now. I wonder what the economics are these days on running a newer used 5.7 hemi.
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He dropped the price to 5800 CAD so even though he will swear that is the bottom line I bet he would take 5500
 
BigB6958 said:
As I am still making decisions about what to power my 67 Dart GT conv I am constantly looking at what is out there for sale. Came upon this and wondered if those with good experience would be able to offer opinions as to whether it might be a decent option. I have read good things about these engines. I know they may not have the torque of a 360 and I can get 350hp from this build fairly easily I think. Add a set of headers and a better distributor, couple of other things, but mostly leave as-is. I am not looking for a tire burning race car....just something to cruise around with that looks AND sounds nice, and have some get up and go when I want it to. With a change of gearing in the back end I think this might be an option. Plus a Commando, although not numbers matching, would be more period correct I think. The guy wants $6500 CAD for this setup...love to get some feedback, and I look forward to thoughts on this.

Thanks'
BigB

"1966 273ci Commando Complete Rebuilt bored 30 over new Dome Pistons 10:1 compression Falcon Ultimate Cam Shaft Kit Cam Street & Strip, 287 dur 480 lift Double Roller Timing Chain, Hi Volume Oil Pump, Steel Crank , Heads 1.88 Intake and 1.60 exhaust and Port Matched to Edelbrock LD4B intake manifold, Crank and Block Shot Peened, Original dual points distributor, Original exhaust manifolds, 625 CFM Competition Series Carter carburetor, have original 273ci Commando Intake manifold"

View attachment 1716331680
Click to expand...
Unless there's decent full port job (beyond port matched) doubt this engine is making 300+ hp, Might be making 1 hp per cid.
 
BigB6958 said:
He dropped the price to 5800 CAD so even though he will swear that is the bottom line I bet he would take 5500
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Is the ad still up? I couldn’t find it. At the end of the day you have to decide whether you believe the sellers story or not.
 
I have a 66 barracuda Formula S with a 273, 904 unfortunately. I say that because in my experience they really like a 4 speed. As a young man, (15-17 years old) my neighbors were 20 and 22 years old. Their father hated the 340, because of the trouble it had caused. (Racing, tickets, wrecks, etc). To thwart their fathers disappointment they built a junkyard 273. This was a long time ago, from what I remember it was around 11:1, mild porting and they even used a heavily modified two bbl to maintain the ruse. It had a 4 speed from the previous 340 build. It is to this day one the fastest cars I have been in, and personally watched the tach hit 8 grand on multiple occasions. I know from any bang for the buck hp build, use the 360 magnum, I hear it every day. My vote is build the 273. I also used the 2-1/2" single exhaust on my 273 and with the single plane intake they work very well together

44481322_1780319582077696_4406808828503392256_o (2).jpg
 
To spin a 273 to 350 hp probably be around 6000 rpms, a 318, 340, 360 probably make around 400, 425, 450 hp respectively at around 6000 rpms and about 160, 190, 200, 210 hp around 3000 rpm for 273, 318, 340, 360 respectively. If built to the same powerband a 273 gonna be down about 50 hp at 3000 rpm and 100 hp at 6000 rpm even though the 360 gonna need more cylinder head, or 360 can make 350 hp around 5000 rpm. Not saying don't build a 300-350 hp 273 it's up to you.
 
I found the ad. It might be legit but I wouldn't be sending a deposit.

I was talking to a guy that got scammed on FB a few years ago from the same guy that scammed me. The seller said he was in BC and agreed to meet him 5 hours away and never showed. He had given him a deposit.
 
1MeanA said:
I found the ad. It might be legit but I wouldn't be sending a deposit.

I was talking to a guy that got scammed on FB a few years ago from the same guy that scammed me. The seller said he was in BC and agreed to meet him 5 hours away and never showed. He had given him a deposit.
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Yea, its always hard to know. The dude sounds legit but I am going to pass on it and go back to the drawing board. I had originally wanted to put a Gen III hemi into it but I have been told that's quite a few bucks to accomplish, so probably going the route of a good 360...although there is another FB ad up for a never used 402 crate, so that could be an option too. It's located just outside of Edmonton. He wants $12,500 for it and I think if he will go $10k cash it might be a good deal. Thankfully this board is a wealth of info for whatever I decide, cause most likely someone has done it before.
 
BigB6958 said:
Yea, its always hard to know. The dude sounds legit but I am going to pass on it and go back to the drawing board. I had originally wanted to put a Gen III hemi into it but I have been told that's quite a few bucks to accomplish, so probably going the route of a good 360...although there is another FB ad up for a never used 402 crate, so that could be an option too. It's located just outside of Edmonton. He wants $12,500 for it and I think if he will go $10k cash it might be a good deal. Thankfully this board is a wealth of info for whatever I decide, cause most likely someone has done it before.
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I could build you a 408 stroker all new with alot better parts for that kind of money! The MP crates were a terrible bang for the buck
 
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