What Would YOU Put in an A-body? Small or Big Block?
#1959976
11/29/15 11:27 PM
11/29/15 11:27 PM
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Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 20 Texas
pistonspeed
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OP
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Posts: 20
Texas
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Howdy,
I've got a little dilemma and want to see what you all would choose.
I have an A-body, bare shell on a rotisserie with practically no drivetrain parts. Whatever engine I choose, I'll have to buy all the associated parts for it (radiator, K-frame, brakes, rear end etc.)
Or it's a wash whether I go with a small block or a big block when it comes to parts.
The car will be a street/strip car that can at least do 12s while also being a semi-daily driver.
I am considering a four-speed, likely a Passon 4-speed overdrive.
What engine would YOU pick for it?
I can rebuild a 440 for it for probably $4500 to $5000. I'd lean towards a mild build with a lot of torque, basically a stock 440 Magnum rebuild with headers, carb and intake upgrades (Around 420hp, 500ft/lb torque.)
I could also get a 5.9 Magnum for the car. By switching the heads, intake, cam and adding a carb, it'd likely be around a 400hp, 435ft/lb torque RPM motor for $2500 or so dollars. Cheaper than the 440, but also somewhat less performance.
Or I could build a 408 Magnum with a 5.9 core. Similar power output to the 440 at a slightly higher RPM... but I'd imagine a full build including new heads (Magnum heads likely cracked) would cost around $6500.
For the hell of it, I could also rebuild a 383 Magnum or a 400, similar in performance to the 5.9 or maybe more for around the same cost as the 440... but slightly better gas mileage (so I'm not constantly stopping for gas all the time.)
What would YOU do?
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Re: What Would YOU Put in an A-body? Small or Big Block?
[Re: stumpy]
#1960054
11/30/15 01:05 AM
11/30/15 01:05 AM
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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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400 block/offset ground 440 steel crank/MW ex manifolds. 470 cubes. see Andys' 451 manifesto in the archives
live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
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Re: What Would YOU Put in an A-body? Small or Big Block?
[Re: stumpy]
#1960069
11/30/15 01:45 AM
11/30/15 01:45 AM
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Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 20 Texas
pistonspeed
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Why not just build a 408 LA block? Around here, it's easier to find a 5.9 plus you get the advantage of roller.
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Re: What Would YOU Put in an A-body? Small or Big Block?
[Re: pistonspeed]
#1960072
11/30/15 01:48 AM
11/30/15 01:48 AM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,785 Utah and Alaska
astjp2
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Posts: 4,785
Utah and Alaska
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There is no replacement for displacement. Put in the biggest motor you can afford. If you have a core, work with it. $5k will get you a long way with either. I like big blocks, mostly because I went from a 318 to a 572 hemi. If it were mine, I would build another hemi, but the availability of blocks makes it hard to do now. Tim
1941 Taylorcraft 1968 Charger 1994 Wrangler 1998 Wrangler 2008 Kia Rio 2017 Jetta
I didn't do 4 years and 9 months of Graduate School to be called Mister!
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Re: What Would YOU Put in an A-body? Small or Big Block?
[Re: pistonspeed]
#1960077
11/30/15 02:00 AM
11/30/15 02:00 AM
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 14,889 up yours
Supercuda
About to go away
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About to go away
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Posts: 14,889
up yours
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Well, you don't tell us what flavor of A body it is and it seems most assume it's 67 and up.
Which if that is so makes a swap easier. The early A bodies are much tighter in the engine compartment. If it's a later A body I'd go Gen III hemi, which you didn't ask about. If it's gotta be a SB or BB only, then it kinda depends on if you want a nose heavy ride or a more balanced, aluminum headed small block of however large you can build it would be my choice.
If it's gotta be a BB, then a poked and stroked 400, the B block fits easier than the RB.
If it is, indeed, an early A body, then an aluminum headed SB is the easiest to fit in there and is a more balanced package if you care to turn at speed.
They say there are no such thing as a stupid question. They say there is always the exception that proves the rule. Don't be the exception.
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Re: What Would YOU Put in an A-body? Small or Big Block?
[Re: pistonspeed]
#1960083
11/30/15 02:25 AM
11/30/15 02:25 AM
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 18,678 Fresno, CA
Jim_Lusk
I Live Here
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I Live Here
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Posts: 18,678
Fresno, CA
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Jim, could you give me some specs on that engine? Is it a late 70s 440? Cast crank? 452 heads? What power/ET?
When I calculated about $4500-$5000 for a mild 440 build above, I assumed cleaned up, ported 452 heads.
The 408 builds I have looked into would likely require aftermarket heads (meaning $$$$) due to the crack issue with stock Magnum heads and the fact that you'd have to get the Magnum heads machined for LA-style intakes anyway. 1970 stock 440 out of a wrecked New Yorker (replaced the cam with a stock 440 Magnum unit in the late 1990s and did rebuild the heads a few years ago). Backed by an 18-spline four speed and 3.23 Sure Grip 8-3/4. We've never put the car on the track so I have no idea what 1/4 mile times would be. It FEELS quite a bit faster than my 340/auto GTS. Both cars are convertibles. I pulled the motor out of the Fresno Pick-A-Part in 1994. It was still running well when we pulled it out of Jeff's Dart last year so that he could try to work on the body finally. The short block appears to have never been apart.
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Re: What Would YOU Put in an A-body? Small or Big Block?
[Re: Supercuda]
#1960113
11/30/15 04:30 AM
11/30/15 04:30 AM
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Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 20 Texas
pistonspeed
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Well, you don't tell us what flavor of A body it is and it seems most assume it's 67 and up. Correct! I thought about a 5.7 Hemi, and I'm not opposed to it, but it seems like the swap's a lot of money for 360 Magnum level performance. Although the fuel economy and other things are also a plus to be considered.
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Re: What Would YOU Put in an A-body? Small or Big Block?
[Re: pistonspeed]
#1960116
11/30/15 04:44 AM
11/30/15 04:44 AM
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 43,251 Bend,OR USA
Cab_Burge
I Win
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I Win
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Posts: 43,251
Bend,OR USA
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Last edited by Cab_Burge; 11/30/15 04:46 AM.
Mr.Cab Racing and winning with Mopars since 1964. (Old F--t, Huh)
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Re: What Would YOU Put in an A-body? Small or Big Block?
[Re: pistonspeed]
#1960117
11/30/15 05:05 AM
11/30/15 05:05 AM
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 5,399 Aurora, Colorado
451Mopar
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master
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Posts: 5,399
Aurora, Colorado
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I'd go Gen III Hemi. I picked up a 2008 6.1L with NAG1 trans, all accessories, computer and wiring harness out of a Magnum for $4,000 off Ebay. If you don't mind messing with the wiring, you get EFI, a good charging alternator, power steering, and A/C. I also got the OD trans, but the trans computer part is still a sticking point. A manual overdrive trans should make the conversion easier? I also see the new crate 6.4L Hemi engines for $7500?
I basically got something like this, but with lower miles: http://www.ebay.com/itm/2007-07-Dodge-Charger-6-1L-Hemi-SRT8-Engine-Auto-Transmission-108K-OEM-LKQNW-/272049647319?hash=item3f576c2ed7:g:JNsAAOSwpDdVBDCd&vxp=mtr
Like this place (may even be the same?) they have make an offer, when I offered $4,000 I didn't think they would accept the offer, but they did?
Last edited by 451Mopar; 11/30/15 05:09 AM.
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