Roadrunner engine swap
#1563446
01/15/14 03:05 AM
01/15/14 03:05 AM
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 4 New York
Paul112554
OP
member
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OP
member
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 4
New York
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Hello Moparts members, I know I'm gonna get hoots & howls over this one, but I have a 69' 383 Roadrunner that I would like to swap a small block into. I've owned this car since 1974, buying it from a NY State Police impound auction for $200 with less than 20k on the clock. It hasn't been numbers matching car since the late 70's when I striped & gutted it for the drags. These cars were still and dime a dozen, and I never figured all those years ago that I'd still have it way into the second decade of the 21st century! I last drove it in 2001, and the body is still viable...considering it has NEVER seen an salted Upstate NY winter road. That said...I would like to give my Roadrunner one last body make-over by patching a few minor holes, having it painted to match my silver 2012 Challenger, and upgrading the suspension. I would consider a small block crate motor, or if possible, a still running 5.2L from a 92' 4x4 Dakota that's rusting away in the back yard...if that's feasible. ANY helpful info and/or guidance would be greatly appreciated.
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Re: Roadrunner engine swap
[Re: Paul112554]
#1563451
01/15/14 03:49 AM
01/15/14 03:49 AM
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,751 Graham, WA
Polarapete
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,751
Graham, WA
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All the parts and pieces that you need are common to any small block powered B-body of that era.
I actually parted out a '69 Road Runner that had a 340 4 speed combo in the mid 80's. Then it was a rusty hulk, today the same car would be e-Bay material and commanding a big price...times change.
1986 Dodge Ramcharger 440 2wd, Bracket Racer Under Construction 1998 Ram 2500 QuadCab, new daily driver. 2008 Honda Element 2014 Carry-On 7x14 Cargo Trailer
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Re: Roadrunner engine swap
[Re: Sixgun]
#1563454
01/15/14 02:00 PM
01/15/14 02:00 PM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska
RapidRobert
Circle Track
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Circle Track
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,041
Lincoln Nebraska
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I'd suggest a 360 or the 5.9 (360) mag as you mentioned
live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
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Re: Roadrunner engine swap
[Re: RapidRobert]
#1563455
01/15/14 09:11 PM
01/15/14 09:11 PM
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,154 bethlehem pa
mikemee1331
master
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master
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,154
bethlehem pa
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i'm not trying to sway you in either direction but 383's are pretty cheap to pick up verses a crate small block. put a 2 barrel carb in it and i'll bet the money saved would more than make up for the gas savings. i'm not a small block guru but i don't think a big block trans will bolt up?
where abouts in Upstate? me and my Road Runner are from Rochester!
Last edited by mikemee1331; 01/15/14 09:13 PM.
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Re: Roadrunner engine swap
[Re: Paul112554]
#1563457
01/15/14 09:47 PM
01/15/14 09:47 PM
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,154 bethlehem pa
mikemee1331
master
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master
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,154
bethlehem pa
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Quote:
Ahhhhh a fellow New Yorker! I'm from the Albany area in what we refer to as the Helderberg Hill Towns.
and welcome aboard i might add
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Re: Roadrunner engine swap
[Re: mikemee1331]
#1563458
01/16/14 12:39 AM
01/16/14 12:39 AM
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 11,836 Florida
mopar346
Let me tell ya about fat chicks!
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Let me tell ya about fat chicks!
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 11,836
Florida
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SB & BB tranny is different. Go BB with a thermoquad, small primaries are capable of gas mileage is geared right and you stay out of it, that's the big IF. The fun is it is there when you want it. The other thing is how much are you really gonna drive it? 5 miles difference which is hopeful will only make a minimal difference useless you are gonna drive 10,000 miles a year. If you want mileage stay away from the modern 5.2/5.9 magnums, I have several Dakotas and had a Durango, only 14 mpg regardless how I drove and a RR is probably as heavy. 10000/15 = 666.6 10000/20 = 500 difference 166.6 gallons X 4.00 (guess on NY gas, mine is 3.20) = 666.4 If you use 10 vs. 15 miles the number doubles, the truth is probably somewhere in the middle AND that is if you drive it 10000 miles a year which is doubtful. I'd play that to have a BB under the hood.
Careful, your character's showing!
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Re: Roadrunner engine swap
[Re: mopar346]
#1563459
01/16/14 02:16 AM
01/16/14 02:16 AM
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 18,493 Granite Bay CA
Kern Dog
Striving for excellence
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Striving for excellence
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 18,493
Granite Bay CA
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Quote:
If you want mileage stay away from the modern 5.2/5.9 magnums, I have several Dakotas and had a Durango, only 14 mpg regardless how I drove and a RR is probably as heavy.
The Durango 4x4 surely weighs more than a 3700 lb Road Runner. A heavy truck/SUV with big tires sucks gas no matter which engine it had. My vote would be to stay with a 383, but if the OP wants to use a 318/360, you could build a mild 360 with Magnum heads and a Thermoquad, run dual 2 1/4" pipes, a lockup A-999 low gear trans and a 3.23 gear. You would have a relatively peppy car with 18-20 mpg capability.
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Re: Roadrunner engine swap
[Re: Andrewh]
#1563462
01/16/14 12:15 PM
01/16/14 12:15 PM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska
RapidRobert
Circle Track
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Circle Track
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,041
Lincoln Nebraska
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for the mag (5.2/5.9) in addition get an LA timing cover, a parts house mech fuel pump and the Hughes engines' cam extension (it's dirt cheap, only 15-20 ish iirc) and an LA water pump. EDIT both the early cast iron & the later alum pumps will fit depending on which side the rad lower nipple is on tho the alum pump is far better and I would definitely weld an anticav plate to the iron one & it's a good idea for the alum one also.
Last edited by RapidRobert; 01/16/14 12:25 PM.
live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
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Re: Roadrunner engine swap
[Re: Paul112554]
#1563463
01/16/14 12:33 PM
01/16/14 12:33 PM
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,154 bethlehem pa
mikemee1331
master
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master
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,154
bethlehem pa
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Quote:
It's a l-o-n-g story of well-intentioned friends, a project started then put on hold, making a car "disappear" because of divorce & family court...blah-blah-blah.
Bottom line is the engine & tranny was removed in '02, sat outside under a tarp, and is now just a fancy door stop.
That, the price of gas, having a car that you can visibly watch the gas gauge move as you drive...I just want to drive the car again.
if that engine isn't seized why not just do a cheapo rebuild, possibly change out the cam for a non-hipo one, put 2 barrel on it, get a lower stall converter, lower the rear gear ratio and call it done? if the objective is to get the car on the road again and get better mileage that's what i'd do. given the weight of the car it's only gonna get so good. the other option is to find a parts car that is already a small block and just swap out the parts?
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