'71 Dart /6 to V-8 conversion

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beau1333

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I am converting my '71 Dart from /6 to V-8. I am putting a 318 out of my old 77 D200 truck in it coupled to an A518 trans, and have a couple of questions.

1. Do I need to replace the radiator? The stock /6 one is definitely much bigger then the V-8 radiator on my brothers 68 mustang, but then again that car is always overheating.

2. Does anyone know if the trans cooling lines from the 904 in the these cars will work on the 518/727 or are they a different size? If so what is a good place to source those new as I don't really feel like spending a lot of time looking in junk yards for these?

Thanks

Will
 
Hey Beau,im in the process of putting a 360 with a 727 in my formally slant 6 72 Duster.The 518/727 the tailshaft is longer,therefore,you will need a shorter driveshaft,and the yolk on your stock driveshaft will not work on the 727,and if you plan on driving it aggressively,you will need a bigger stronger rear end.The /6 radiator MIGHT cool it,but its better to get the V8 radiator and you will need different transmission lines,i dont know,im not that far yet on mine.You will need a slant six to 273-318 V8 Swap Kit that has the motor mounts so you can use the existing slant six k-member.I got mine from Trans-Dapt,but Shumacher has them also.If your car has points,and the 318 has electronic,you will need a electronic ignition kit from Summit,or you can find the pieces from the junk yards.You will need the ECU.the wire loom,and ballast resistor.Also if it has drum brakes,you could go with the larger 10 inch drums and later on ,a full disk brake conversion and maybe some stiffer torsion bars.Im sure others will chime in.
 
In my opinoin ditch the drums all together and swap to the 73 and up disk setup. also if you have points or eletronic igntion and your /6 was points you can always use a msd street fighter box or mallory box for about the same money as the conversion kits. you will need the /6 to v8 swap mounts as 1baddodge71 stated. also you might need to look into headers or manifolds.

keep us posted on the progress and any more questions

and welcome aboard
 
As shifty stated,you could go with the MSD,ditch the drums and go straight for disk brakes,as im not sure how deep your pockets are,lol.I went with the least expensive route and got the ECU,ballast ,and wireharness from parts car.73 Charger,heres the conversion kit from Summit http://www.summitracing.com/search/brand/Mopar-Performance/Product-Line/Mopar-Performance-Electronic-Conversion-Kits-with-Distributor/?autoview=SKUIts not too hard to wire up either.Im going to try and get the 360 in the car tomorrow if the weather clears up and I was intimidated because its my first /6 to V8 swap ,use to doing v8 to v8 swaps,and Chevy straight 6 to 350 V8,but this swap has been a challenge ,but so far so good.When you get started,dont hesitate to PM me with questions,Im still learning by trial and error,lol.Theres the little things the swappers never really let you know like discovering the positive battery cable to the starter is much shorter due to the /6s starter being on top,so I had to buy a longer cable,the /6 throttle cable is longer,but Im sure I can McGyver something,and theres the transmission kickdown linkage you will either have to get one from a parts car,or an aftermarket Lokar cable.Im using the stock column shifter and discovered I have to do a little fabricating to make it work,lol.Im hoping everything works out and although it will not have a driveshaft,im hoping to get it together and fired up by Sunday
 
1BadDodge71 said:
As shifty stated,you could go with the MSD,ditch the drums and go straight for disk brakes,as im not sure how deep your pockets are,lol.I went with the least expensive route and got the ECU,ballast ,and wireharness from parts car.73 Charger,heres the conversion kit from Summit http://www.summitracing.com/search/...onversion-Kits-with-Distributor/?autoview=SKUIts not too hard to wire up either.Im going to try and get the 360 in the car tomorrow if the weather clears up and I was intimidated because its my first /6 to V8 swap but so far so good.When you get started,dont hesitate to PM me with questions,Im still learning by trial and error,lol
Click to expand...

i got a 360 stashed away w/ a 904 that i will eventually get around to building and droppin into my 70 dart, so i may just drop some pms on ya and see how your progress is
 
You might want to re-think that 518 transmission. The 518 is basically a 727 with overdrive and you will need to modify the crossmember, transmission mounts, and to the tunnel to make it fit. A stock 727 or 904 will drop right in.
 
Beau--
To keep cost dowm you can pull the elec ing from the truck. Get the distributor, pull the wiring from the dist back to the ECU and the ballast. I would just leave the wires connected to the items and unbolt the items from the truck.
I would suggest getting a new radiator. again to keep cost down just go to your neighbor hood parts store and order one from them. just tell them the year car you have and you want the V8 radiator, cost around $200.
Drive shaft- if you get the trans from the truck get the shaft. that way you will have the yokes you will need. when I switched out rear I took my shaft to a trans shop who cut my shaft down and put the yokes I needed on it for less that $100. For trans lines you should be able to use rubber lines. I have seen guys use steel braided lines all the time. Just cut the ends off your orginal lines and leave them connected to the trans and hook your rubber lines to that with good clamps.

Of course all this was my plan before I decided to keep the /6. But I did have all the parts needed for the swap. I sold them when I sold the motor and 727 trans I had. Good luck with your swap.

If you drive it easy your 7 1/4 rear will hold up till you can get a 8 1/4 or bigger.
You will also need a car oil pan and pickup tube. you can get them from summit for about $200.
 
On the radiator issue. I would recomend swapping in an aluminum unit from summit. You have to do a little fabrication (I'm talking about the $159 universal jobs) and add a trans cooler. I just did this in my 68 galaxie. The new radiator is smaller (and lighter), but SOOO much more efficient. It does not have trans cooler tubes, so you don't have hot coolant heating up your transmission and hot trans fluid heating up you coolant. I got the whole set-up including trans cooler, cap and petcock from Summit for under $200 and it works great. I don't recomend using a V-8 rad from a donar or junkyard unless you have a good shop go through it, overheating problems are a nightmare!
 
Thanks for the info guys. I'll keep you all updated as i go.

PS.

If anyone has a line on an 8 3/4 or even a 8 /1/4 for cheap in the central TX area shot me a pm.
 
1BadDodge71 said:
As shifty stated,you could go with the MSD,ditch the drums and go straight for disk brakes,as im not sure how deep your pockets are,lol.I went with the least expensive route and got the ECU,ballast ,and wireharness from parts car.73 Charger,heres the conversion kit from Summit http://www.summitracing.com/search/brand/Mopar-Performance/Product-Line/Mopar-Performance-Electronic-Conversion-Kits-with-Distributor/?autoview=SKUIts not too hard to wire up either.Im going to try and get the 360 in the car tomorrow if the weather clears up and I was intimidated because its my first /6 to V8 swap ,use to doing v8 to v8 swaps,and Chevy straight 6 to 350 V8,but this swap has been a challenge ,but so far so good.When you get started,dont hesitate to PM me with questions,Im still learning by trial and error,lol.Theres the little things the swappers never really let you know like discovering the positive battery cable to the starter is much shorter due to the /6s starter being on top,so I had to buy a longer cable,the /6 throttle cable is longer,but Im sure I can McGyver something,and theres the transmission kickdown linkage you will either have to get one from a parts car,or an aftermarket Lokar cable.Im using the stock column shifter and discovered I have to do a little fabricating to make it work,lol.Im hoping everything works out and although it will not have a driveshaft,im hoping to get it together and fired up by Sunday
Click to expand...
Good post, I have done a half dozen of these conversions. I think the /6 followers have my picture on the bulls eye of their dart boards, but I have given all of them away no charge, to those that like them, so they shouldn't be too dissed.

Just drop the whole k frame out, motor trans and all, get rid of it. A v8 k frame has never been more than $100 for me to purchase. Mounts are common, a complete ignition system with harness is less than $200, I am currently running a chrome box. I did splurge this time on a beautiful "Wizard Cooling" aluminum radiator for $750, and sometimes just set and stare at it.
 
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