518 overdrive swap

[Mopar44134]

A while back i picked up a 1990 360 and 518 from a local yard. It was a low mileage 1ton van, wrecked. Motor has been in my car for 5 years no problems. I want to put the 518 in there but I dont weld and need a tranny frame mount. Anyone have one or know where to get one. I live in the cleveland area.

 

[1970Duster]

In order to make that fit, your going to hack up the tranny tunnel to get the 518 in. If you want to avoid that you are going to need to use a Gear Vendors setup or the GM 200R4, either of these do not require tranny tunnel mods.

 

[66plyValiant]

that 518 won't fit without MAJOR transmission tunnel surgery, if you don't weld it may be expensive to have the transmission tunnel reconstructed

 

[Mopar44134]

With out the mount though, I wont know how much cutting is needed. I just thought someone out there would have one or know where to get it. I can cut the tunnel...local garage would weld it back up. Making the mount will require some skill and time.

I have a spare 727 and the 518 transmissions in the garage, except for the tail shafts they looked the same to me.

 

[Salty Dog]

HUmmm, I'd bet there would be a place out there SOMEONE knows about that sells a mount for the 518 into or in place of a earlier trans.

Major surgery? No way. This guy hasn't done one. Alot of work, well, maybe if your new to this sort of thing. 1st time around is never easy.

 

[dart6]

what car are you putting it in as i want to do my 70 b body

 

[C130 Chief]

To the best of my knowledge there is NO adapter mount being produced for this swap, not are there any consistent drawings or pictures. Every swap I've seen is different. A welder and basic fabrication skills are needed, but it shouldn't be anything too cosmic. The 518 mount is not in the same place as other Torqueflites, and the OD section is wider than the arch in the rear crossmember. The crossmember can't just be cut away as it carried the weight of the front end.

If you don't have a welder, perhaps you should look for a local hot rod or racecar fabricator in you area, or welding shop. It might cost you a few bills to farm this work out, but the end result may be better.

 

[RustyRatRod]

Here's a good article. It's a B body, but you should get some good outta it.

http://www.hotrod.com/howto/43323_mopar_overdrive_transmission_swap/

More stuff:

http://www.transmissioncenter.net/SwapInformation.htm

 

[inkjunkie]

Not a 518 but you will get the idea of what kind of cutting is needed. I used a gm4l80e which is slightly bigger than the 518. Fab guy triangulated the oem torsion bar crossmember into the subframe connecotrs as well as making a band out of flat stock accross the top....http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/showthread.php?t=104301

 

[Mopar44134]

Thanks all! It was helpfull!