Quick advice while I research. Magnum Swap

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Eworth

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Folks, promise I'll be searching while you reply to this posting. I'm on a time constraint (answer tomorrow AM)

I own a 1964 Dodge Dart, slant six.

I want to purchase a 1996 Dodge Ram with teh 5.9 Magnum V8, fuel injected. It is a 4x4.

Can I use this engine for my Dart? Can I use my push button tranny? Are there any problems bolting it to the 5.9 engine?

I would be buying the entire truck in running/driving condition so all electrical and other bits will be in my possession for the swap.

Any and all tips, advice, guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Will be searching other posts in the interim. Please help. Dont' want to be a good/great deal. (If it really is one for what I want to accomplish)

Thanks in advance,
Mark
 
The engine will work. It's just like any small block and they made 1964 A-bodies with 273's and the 360 magnum is the same size.

You cannot use your existing push button trans from a slant six with the 360. The bellhousing bolt pattern is very different.

You could use a factory V8 push button transmission if you can find one. You would then need a flexplate balanced for a 360 magnum, as the 96 Ram one isn't quite right and the balance weight is probably on the converter in that year.
 
Hi, thanks for the reply. What year flexplates would work since the 96 is a bit different?
 
If you are retaining the Mag EFI you will need the mag flex. My understanding is that one bolt is off from the older ones. Also, you'll want a neutral balance converter, as the flext plate balances the Mag engine

Also, if you score a 67 or earlier TF, the factory converter snouts were smaller, so you either need a converter with big snout, or a bushing ring to make up the difference in the crank register
 
goldduster318 said:
The engine will work. It's just like any small block and they made 1964 A-bodies with 273's and the 360 magnum is the same size.

You cannot use your existing push button trans from a slant six with the 360. The bellhousing bolt pattern is very different.

You could use a factory V8 push button transmission if you can find one. You would then need a flexplate balanced for a 360 magnum, as the 96 Ram one isn't quite right and the balance weight is probably on the converter in that year.
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From what I've heard, it's usually the OBD-Is that got the converter balance, OBD-II should be flexplate balanced. '98 should be 100% flexplate balanced though.
 
10-4. Better off with the earlier 90s set up I would think .. A bit less hassle. One with 2wd to boot.
 
Am I just better off finding an old 273 commando with tranny? Cost wise? and for simplicity
 
Luck of the draw, I'd say, and your budget. Finding a good 273 Commando won't be easy, you will likely have to rebuild it. Unless you actually want a 273, I'd go later. I would ALSO get an engine with the 68 / later crank so you have the big crank register......gives you more options for later transmissions
 
Yeah you would need a transmission and motor mounts either way. The magnum would probably be the cheapest as it would have all the brackets for alternator throttle cable ect...
 
Best bet is to scrap the antiquated push button crappola. I know it is super cool, but it is a serious hangup for better and much more modern shifters. JMO
 
RustyRatRod said:
Best bet is to scrap the antiquated push button crappola. I know it is super cool, but it is a serious hangup for better and much more modern shifters. JMO
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Frankly, Rob, I was never all that excited about them, and I grew up around them LOL
 
I want to thank everyone for their input. I think I need to first figure out what I exactly want this vehicle to be. Secondly, be patient for the right parts to come along and then research the heck out of it before I begin. Or, leave it as it is, a nice running fuel efficient 6 cylinder and enjoy it for what it is. Thanks again
 
Eworth said:
I want to thank everyone for their input. I think I need to first figure out what I exactly want this vehicle to be. Secondly, be patient for the right parts to come along and then research the heck out of it before I begin. Or, leave it as it is, a nice running fuel efficient 6 cylinder and enjoy it for what it is. Thanks again
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Wise choice. If you are going to do a Magnum swap, find one with OBD-II and enjoy the benefits of EFI. If you can do an overdrive trans, all the better too.
 
To me the early obdI is easier for a do it your selfer and is a very forgiving computer. The obdII isn't that much more work and can take reflashing. But at the cost of a reflash or a sct tuner for the obdII you could buy a mega squirt 2 and have all the support and tuning at a one time price of $450 instead of a reflash of the obdII that runs about $350 or a sct tuner that costs about the same. And diy auto tune has very good support for the ms2 and several forums, and doesn't cost a dime to reflash well whatever the power consumption is of your pc.

And the ms2 is adaptable to pretty much any engine.
 
I would recommend using the magnum, the 96 is a great year to use because it is obd II but doesn't have ccd buss so you can run tach, oil, MIL and temp gauges in dart. The 4x4 trans is easily converted to 2wd by swapping the tail housing. The magnum flex plate will need one hole slightly elongated to bolt right up. If you decide to use a V8 904 and not cut the tunnel, then its pretty much bolt in deal. You can always run a manual pcm from a 5.2 and then wont need a pcm flash. You can leave the auto trans stuff in the wire harness so you can always do the trans at a later date if you want to. Just geting it up and running quickly will be good motivation to go with overdrive.

we are currently doing a 64 in the shop, look under magnum swap thread as well as drive train to follow along. we plan on using the push button if at all possible otherwise we have a pair of buckets and floor shifter out of 65 we can use.

I have a 67 GT convert waiting its turn for a complete magnum swap, od auto and resto but was thinking of swapping a stock 5.2 magnum into it just for fun/demo first as it is a good driver except for noisy rod in brand new 318 la somebody built incorrectly. It has a 904 so it would be literally a bolt in deal, build a harness and install the tanks inc tank and drive it while it waits in line. I want to demo just how easy it is to do this.

The truck is a great deal, pick it up, get the parts to start and go for it. If you need any help, call the shop 541-955-0363. We have all the stuff to do it and will give you lots of advise. Evan magnummopar.com
 
hey magnummopar when are you going to offer a fi gas tank for the sweptlines?? I could use a few of those
 
I got overwhelmed by the costs involved with making the swap. Reflashing, cutting the tunnel, etc. My Dart will never be nothing special, just a fun distraction. As a middle aged man, growing up on the 80s, I guess the simplicity of parking my can on the fender and feet on the frame as I work on the engine brings back fond memories. I may change my mind, but for now, I'm regrouping and staying with the Slant for now. Tons cheaper
 
for just a stock spec daily driver the stock pcm would probably be fine no reflashing needed. It is fairly simple to do the wiring. The motor mounts and tranny would be additional cost.
 
jammied said:
for just a stock spec daily driver the stock pcm would probably be fine no reflashing needed. It is fairly simple to do the wiring. The motor mounts and tranny would be additional cost.
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Exactly what this guy said. You'll spend some on the rest of the car for the V8 swap, but it'll be night and day adding a good amount of power.

That said- knowing how cheap 4x4 318/360s are here I think that'd be a good donor. If not that one, there'll probably be another. People assume 4x4 means rust and more issues so the far end of fair 4x4s often end up cheaper than 2wds here at least. The 4x4 trans wouldn't really be a problem- the trans and the t-case separately or together should pay for a 904 or 727 small block for the car. For the guy that doesn't want to cut his tunnel or run steep gears, a 4x4 donor is probably not a bad deal at all.

There's not really any way you're better off with the early '90s setup. OBD-II V6/V8 vans also had hydraulic transmissions at least up to '99. The flexplate balance means you can just grab the EFI flexplate and if you never use EFI, you have it balanced. If you use EFI later- all that needs added is the crank sensor.
 
I really do need to print this post out. The wealth of information being shared is great. I really like the idea of the old classic with the convenience and reliability of modern technology.
 
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