Am I Crazy? 5.2L/A518 -> B-Body
#1106013
11/02/11 03:00 PM
11/02/11 03:00 PM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 4 Holland, MI
craigtone
OP
member
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OP
member
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 4
Holland, MI
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Hello! I have spend the day searching online for Magnum swaps, 727 vs. A518, and found the best threads on Moparts, so I joined! I ended up with a 1973 Charger a year ago through a swap of various vehicles. The car is in good shape with solid floors and a running 318/727. The engine is not original, so not worth keeping since the previous owner put in a ridiculous cam and 360 heads ... i.e. No low end!
My goal is a retro rod with MPFI, 4-wheel discs and lowered. If I want power later I can re-gear or add a Jeep 5.2L supercharger setup.
I recently parted-out my 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee. I kept the engine, engine wire harness, PCM, A/C parts. I was thinking of dropping this in the Charger since I already have the engine and all the wiring, etc. I am now looking at either a 727 or A518 and saw a mention of a way to get an A518 into a B-Body with only modifying the case ... anyone have a link?
I have heard the starter is on the opposite side on Jeep vs. Dodge Magnums. Curious if anyone has a Jeep Magnum in their B-Body and how you handled headers with starter opposite.
Any tips, thoughts, concerns, comments, etc.?
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Re: Am I Crazy? 5.2L/A518 -> B-Body
[Re: RapidRobert]
#1106015
11/02/11 03:57 PM
11/02/11 03:57 PM
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 7,982 Scranton, PA
Montclaire
master
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master
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 7,982
Scranton, PA
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Well, I am looking at doing the same with a 5.7 hemi as opposed to a 5.2/5.9, but you already have the motor, so...
I don't see any issues with bolting the motor up, I'm pretty sure Schumacher sells mounts. I don't know about the 518 going in easy, I think at the very least you'll need some major trans x member surgery. And don't forget on the later Bs you have that extra cross member for the iso suspension, which might hamper things even more.
Mopar Action and MP teamed up to put out a complete FI swap kit for the magnum, and did a full write up across several issues. I would take a look at that and maybe get a few back copies. The project was called the "Savvy Savoy." I don't recall what they used for the trans.
In my opinion, four wheel discs are a waste. Most of the braking is done by the front rotors and even with 10 inch rear drum, if they are in good shape, you should be fine. I would recommend swapping to the newer manual master and upgrading to 11.75 unicast rotors (or rotorpros).
To lower the car, crank down the torsion bars a bit and get some de-arched leafs for the rear. Do it the right way.
Last edited by Montclaire; 11/02/11 04:03 PM.
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Re: Am I Crazy? 5.2L/A518 -> B-Body
[Re: craigtone]
#1106017
11/02/11 06:12 PM
11/02/11 06:12 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,376
dogdays
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,376
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It should be easy to get rear disks which, face it, look better unless you are using full wheelcovers! You should be able to do it with all OEM parts. Try www.doctordiff.com for a kit. Good luck, R.
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Re: Am I Crazy? 5.2L/A518 -> B-Body
[Re: dogdays]
#1106018
11/02/11 07:49 PM
11/02/11 07:49 PM
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,130 Dayton, Ohio
wldtm
super stock
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super stock
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,130
Dayton, Ohio
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I make a wiring harness to do this exact swap. It is pretty straight forward. I have helped with one swap, and the other one.
Look in the forsale section under Modern Mopar parts. Or I can add some tech assistance regarding wiring
Good luck, and cool project!
Interested in having you car wired? Drag car, street car, EFI swap?
PM for details
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Re: Am I Crazy? 5.2L/A518 -> B-Body
[Re: ralphie361]
#1106021
11/02/11 11:58 PM
11/02/11 11:58 PM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,327 Glendale, AZ
69L78Nova
Banned. Forever.
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Banned. Forever.
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,327
Glendale, AZ
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I built a mild LA/Magnum hybrid 360, and an A500 for my 78 Fury (same as your 73 underneath). The trans went in with ease and only had to grind one casting rib off of the case and modify my existing crossmember. I'm using pressure switches from PATC, and a factory GM vacuum switch. The trans swap alone was WELL WORTH IT. It gets unreal gas mileage for what it is (well over 20mpg) once i set the Thermo-Quad up right, cruises 80+ mph with ease with 3.55s, and will fry the tires for as long as you want it to (3.9 converter and 2.74 first gear). I'll never run anything else behind a small block again.
1969 Nova 454/M21/3.31 Mild mid-11 second weekend cruiser
1994 F150 XLT Super Cab 2WD 5.0/4R70W/3.55 (Daily driver)
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Re: Am I Crazy? 5.2L/A518 -> B-Body
[Re: wldtm]
#1106022
11/03/11 10:21 AM
11/03/11 10:21 AM
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 7,982 Scranton, PA
Montclaire
master
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master
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 7,982
Scranton, PA
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Quote:
I make a wiring harness to do this exact swap. It is pretty straight forward. I have helped with one swap, and the other one.
Look in the forsale section under Modern Mopar parts. Or I can add some tech assistance regarding wiring
Good luck, and cool project!
I was looking at your ad in the for sale section, do you only do harnesses for 94-95 dakota/ram engines, or does it depend on what you can find? Can you give us a typical cost for this type of swap? Thanks
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Re: Am I Crazy? 5.2L/A518 -> B-Body
[Re: Dragula]
#1106025
11/03/11 11:10 AM
11/03/11 11:10 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,123 Grand Haven, MI
patrick
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,123
Grand Haven, MI
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nope, not crazy. I have a mag headed 318 in my 4000lb 5th ave with 3.55's and a 42RH (A500). very fun combo, as fast as an AWD 300C. mine's carbed and modded with a reground cam, eddie air gap, 600 carb, and headers. wish I had EFI on it, I have 2/3 the parts to do it, just not the time.
if you want some more gusto, take the cam, send it out to bullit cams, and have Tim put the HR259/316 lobe on both the intake and exhaust lobe, keeping the stock LCA. then get the hughes engines #1110 springs and their retainers. it'll make a ton more power, but still be mild enough to work with a factory ECU. a stock high stall lockup converter will work great with it.
Last edited by patrick; 11/03/11 11:14 AM.
1976 Spinnaker White Plymouth Duster, /6 A833OD 1986 Silver/Twilight Blue Chrysler 5th Ave HotRod **SOLD!*** 2011 Toxic Orange Dodge Charger R/T 2017 Grand Cherokee Overland 2014 Jeep Cherokee Latitude (holy crap, my daughter is driving)
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Re: Am I Crazy? 5.2L/A518 -> B-Body
[Re: Montclaire]
#1106028
11/03/11 11:45 AM
11/03/11 11:45 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 75,274 A gulag near you.
JohnRR
I Win
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I Win
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 75,274
A gulag near you.
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Quote:
Does the 500 have a smaller case than the 518? Does anyone sell new trans x-members for these swaps?
The maincase is smaller but I want to say the OD is the same .
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Re: Am I Crazy? 5.2L/A518 -> B-Body
[Re: Montclaire]
#1106030
11/03/11 03:26 PM
11/03/11 03:26 PM
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,130 Dayton, Ohio
wldtm
super stock
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super stock
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,130
Dayton, Ohio
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Quote:
Quote:
I make a wiring harness to do this exact swap. It is pretty straight forward. I have helped with one swap, and the other one.
Look in the forsale section under Modern Mopar parts. Or I can add some tech assistance regarding wiring
Good luck, and cool project!
I was looking at your ad in the for sale section, do you only do harnesses for 94-95 dakota/ram engines, or does it depend on what you can find? Can you give us a typical cost for this type of swap? Thanks
the harness will fit most all magnum engines. Since it is not new, I use a modified dakota harness. then engine doesnt care what the harness is out of. I use the 94-95 dakota because of ease.
I have set up all ready to do for someone interested.
I have a harness and computer forsale I think for 300$ Fuel pump additional 130$ Regulator about 30-50$
The rest is finding mounts, oil pan, and misc hoses, fuel lines, fittings etc.
Ask ralphie361. He has a good idea I bet in what he had expenses in.
Thanks for inquiring.
Interested in having you car wired? Drag car, street car, EFI swap?
PM for details
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Re: Am I Crazy? 5.2L/A518 -> B-Body
[Re: ralphie361]
#1106032
11/04/11 08:42 AM
11/04/11 08:42 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,123 Grand Haven, MI
patrick
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,123
Grand Haven, MI
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ralphie,
what did you do for the fuel pump/fuel system? inline pump?
wonder how I could do this with mine, since I have a mag headed LA 318, so I don't have the crank sensor mount location....
1976 Spinnaker White Plymouth Duster, /6 A833OD 1986 Silver/Twilight Blue Chrysler 5th Ave HotRod **SOLD!*** 2011 Toxic Orange Dodge Charger R/T 2017 Grand Cherokee Overland 2014 Jeep Cherokee Latitude (holy crap, my daughter is driving)
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