74 duster 440 swap

[sbh126]

I decided to contibute something to this site instead of always coming with questions to be answered. This is going to be my 318 to 440 swap thread.

Here's the duster in all her beauty.

Here's the 318. The car was originally a slant 6 but I rebuilt this motor in my high school auto class and put it in. Its ran great for the last 5 years and 15,000 miles but I just wanted something new.

Out with the old.

The empty engine bay. It will definately need some paint before I anything goes back in. Not sure what I was thinking when I rattle canned the whole thing.

 

[sbh126]

I'll go ahead and redo the suspension while I'm at it.

 

[sbh126]

original slant six torsion bars next to the new ones. I forget the diameter but they were slightly bigger than the stock big block ones.

 

[sbh126]

I had to cut up the k member a little bit to get the schumacker motor mounts to work.

 

[sbh126]

here's the k member after all the cutting is complete and getting powdercoated. It turned out great.

 

[sbh126]

Here's the long block. 440 with a custom ground cam, kb 237 pistons .040 over, forged crank, resized rods, high volume oil pump, stealth heads. rpm intake, holley 750 carb. I pulled it out of a 77 new yorker. Supposed to be 10.7 to one. I hope it'll run on 93 octane.

 

[sbh126]

Here's the k member on the engine with the schumacker torque strap installed. I had to take an inch off of eith side of the torque strap to get it to fit properly.

 

[sbh126]

I had to grind a little off the underside of the k member. It was rubbing on my oil pan,

 

[sbh126]

I'll be redoing my brake lines as well. I couldn't find a prop valve anywhere and since mine was working fine I just had it sand blasted to clean it up a bit. Turned out really nice. Good as new

 

[sbh126]

Thats all for now. Ill be painting the engine bay this weekend if weather permits. I'll post some more when its done.

 

[67valiant 100]

Looking Good:thumbup:

 

[74slnt6]

I did a /6 to 440 in my 74. using stealth heads also. nice lookin car though, is that 20% tint on the sides?

 

[mopar7172]

nice build.i'm in the process of puttin a 68 440 in my dart.i also have a 72 duster and i'm gettin 383 for free for it.thats cool your convertin your car into a big block to.its badass to see a big block a-body mopars.

 

[earthmover]

looking good there man .. im putting a big block in my 70 was going to do it with the 72 dart but was told its a little heavy so light a body will be where we go...are the small block and 6 k member the same in the 74??? if so would you be getting rid of the motor mounts...mikepm me if you like im outside of raleigh nc..by the way thats a nice clean car you have do you plan to race it some or street drive it????

 

[sbh126]

looking good there man .. im putting a big block in my 70 was going to do it with the 72 dart but was told its a little heavy so light a body will be where we go...are the small block and 6 k member the same in the 74??? if so would you be getting rid of the motor mounts...mikepm me if you like im outside of raleigh nc

From the research I've done a big block with all aluminum bolt ons and battery in the trunk will weigh less than an iron small block with ac and power steering. The k members are different. but you can buy motor mounts to fit a small block on a slant 6 k.

 

[sbh126]

I did a /6 to 440 in my 74. using stealth heads also. nice lookin car though, is that 20% tint on the sides?

I dont remember what the tint is. It was the darkest they'd let me go. I;m sure it's illegal. Any chance your running a 4 speed? what kind of power are you getting from your stealth heads. People seem to have mixed feelings about them.

 

[sbh126]

Engine bay has paint! I think it looks pretty good for a $20 paint job.

I dropped the engine and trans in yesterday. Running or not, it is now officially a 440 duster.

Here's the k member in place.

And the few suspension and steering pieces I have back from powder coating installed

 

[dustya_383]

What ever happened to this build ???

 

[unknownsnake]

Looks good. Hopefully you put headers in before its all bolted down :/