I am looking for some tech help on swapping out my 440 in my cuda with a 426 Hemi..Can I use my existing K member and motor mounts and is there any other parts that will interchange?
I can use all the Tech help I can get.
Thanks
Bob

yes you can and there is a company that does make these mounts ...its a bolt in....Schumacher...206-364-7151...or go to engine-swaps.com....nice stuff

You can change to a hemi K-frame and use hemi mounts or use Schumacher mounts or mounts from John Aruzza on your 440 K-frame. The 440 mounts won't work on a hemi unless you have the Mopar Performance block with the wedge ears cast in. If you have that block you would need special headers. Your 440 trans will bolt up to the hemi but you will need an 8 bolt flex plate and you can use parts like the water pump housing and water pump from the 440 on the hemi. If you have a power brake booster you may run into interference problems with the hemi valve covers. Where are you located in Washington? What year is the Cuda?

I ran into no clearance between the A/C blower motor and valve cover. Had to shorten the blower motor housing and alter the air distribution box.
Curt

Bob, Just make sure you stick with the chrysler block and dont be a fool and install a Indy Block set up(dont ask how I know) Its been a nighmare.
I pulled a 383 out, had it been 440 I would be kicking myself, dont let me rain on your parade, I'm just giving my opinion.

depends on a lots of variables, what valve covers are you using? if your using stage 5 covers the passenger side will be right on the shock tower, you will need to massage that area for clearence, what exhaust will you be running, ttis work very good,the arruzza mounts work very well in a 440 k frame, but they are solid on one side so you will get a slight vibration not much but a little, you will need to install a milidon flexible dipstick and tube BEFORE you drop the motor in, you will also want to run the mini starter, and are you running a auto or manual trans? you will also need a 3 speed wiper motor to clear the air cleaner, also if you have power brakes your brake booster wont clear the valve covers on the hemi either, list the details of your project and we can help you better

Yeah I have Stage V covers as well. Definately a pass side fenderwell problem, Maybe my blower problem was cover related as well.
Curt

when i put my hemi in my challenger which was an original 440 car i left the stock wedge k-frame in and used the schumaker mounts.

i had to buy a b&m flexplate since my crank was an 8 bolt unit and i used the 440 convertor and trans.

when i built my engine i had the rotating assembly balanced and i used a stock forged crank (thin) damper from a 1963 361 that way i was able to use all of the 440 pullies and brackets.

if it is a non a/c car the blower motor will have clerance but you should remove it to install the motor, then reinstall it after motor is in, on the pass side shock tower if i had to do it again i would cut a small scooped shaped section out of the area and weld in a nice looking concave piece of metal(make it look factory) for clearance on that pass side valve cover, thats just what i would do, i would hammer it down that looks realy low class in my opinion, just make sure to install that dipstick tube before you put that motor in the chassis,dont ask me how i know. are you putting the motor in from the top or from underneath? i prefer from underneath a bit more work but well worth it, you can assemble the entire thing on the k frame, even the headers, and trans but........ i dont think those stage 5 covers will go up from underneath, they need to come off and be reinstalled after motor is in, if you go from underneath good luck, what are you doing for brakes? you should go with power disc, the correct stuff is avaialable here on this site hint hint

Good subject matter here. I too am thinking of putting a Hemi in my 70 Challenger RT/SE. It was an original 383 A/C car. Now if I understand right I will need the bracket behind the booster that angles it a little higher? Then where the blower motor is there (will be) or (might be) problems with clearance? I have the stock K-frame and had thought of going with the schumaker or the other engine mounts. Has anyone run the aftermarket A/C unit and mounted it down by the fuel pump and just run an electric fuel pump?? And I suppose if I understand right I cannot run the stock big block pullies etc. All this has me thinking twice now...... With the aftermarket engine mounts etc, would there be any issues with running a shaker setup? Questions questions....I just dont want to cut up fenderwells or have issues with the blower motor.

Mine is a 70 Cuda, I have a power brake setup for it but I might be having second thoughts about this swap..Im not to sure I want to start cutting up the engine bay to get a hemi in it. I have a lot to think about now.
Thanks much for all the great help.

ok first off the brake booster and bracket pictured in the above attachment is the only correct assembly in apperance and function for hemi cars, in other words that is the correct one, not the only one that will work it just looks correct and functions correct and bolts to a stock location, ok, now as far as cutting up the engine compartment, it is not needed to install a hemi in those cars. the factory did it so can you without any cutting at all, my point was if you run the stage 5 heads and covers they are very tight on the pass side shock tower, and I myself, would make a slight modification, that is what I would do you dont have to do it, my current set up is basically right on the shock tower and it doesnt seem to affect the cars performance at all, i just said if i had to do it again, which i am sure i will, i would do the slight mod i spoke about, now with the a/c deal the blower motor may be larger i dont have an a/c e body so i dont know, but the a/c compressor can be low mounted and you must run an electric fuel pump with the custom hemi motors anyway, as the fuel pump pushrods and the cams dont get along, dont ask me why, just belive me its easier to install an electric fuel pump than change a motor, so with a stock v-8 k frame you can install a hemi engine with a simple motor mount kit, i like the arruzza kit myself, i have used the schumacher kit but it seemed to lift the motor slightley, others have had good sucess with the schmaucher, i just like the solid arruzza, just my choice, the shaker unit should fit no problem, agian it may need slight mods if the schmacher kit is used, other may know this better as my car car is non shaker, rememeber the factory made these cars on assembly lines, the hemi cars didnt have any differant engine bays specifications, they are the same as 318& 6 cyl cars, so if the factory did it using stock parts you can as well, the stage 5 stuff is just bigger, especially the valve covers and mods need to be made to fit them in there, shock tower, battery box etc, so it really is not a hard swap just seems that way since so few people have done them up until recently, hemis are not cheap or plentiful, even when they were new back in the day, so go for it, use the correct parts and you will ok

just another quick note i have used the tti exhaust on hemi k framed cars and on wedge k framed cars with hemis and they basically fell into place easy install no problems, and use the mini starter they work well clutch guys use the scatter shield prett basic install really

or just put a motor plate in it and be done with it

Sound like I have my work cut out for me..thanks for explaining this so clearly, I think I will start collecting my parts. What do you think of the year one 426 Hemi as a starting point?
Thanks
Bob

I learned that the "Ray Barton" valve covers are really Stage V's rebranded. What a pain. Lots of mods on my Barracuda. Use anything but those if you don't want to modify the pass inner fender.

I have a new set of wedge ear Hemi headers if anyone interested.

Dont forget you also need a new $225.00 battery cable, my 383 cable was to short.

$225 for a battery cable that has less than $12 worth of materials.... Ok yea big deal its identical to the original one. But the Hemi scams on products is terrible. I know many here derive a living from selling replacement or identical replacement parts and the market place determines the price, but relatively few people are making alot of money off others in the hobby. Say what you will but $225 is friggin ridiculous. The cost of a Hemi is outrageous when you consider a bigblock chevy crate motor that develops 750 horsepower for the same money. But if your a Mopar man like most of us, well then you simply bite the bullet and "have" to pay the piper if your going to play the game.

Another tip: lose the power brake booster and go with manual disc brakes. I did this when converting my 70 Challenger from a 383 to a Hemi, and I like the brakes a lot better this way. They were way too touchy with the booster. Just use a master cylinder for a '72 Challenger with manual disc brakes to get the smaller piston.

BTW, I designed the Hemi conversion mounting brackets that John Arruzza sells. They should set your engine in the exact same position as the factory Hemi brackets.

Which Stage V heads do you have? I went from a 318 to a 472 Hemi in a 70 Grand Coupe. I used the conversion mounts. The problem I had was my heads were early heads, 1978 castings. TTI had the only headers that fit those early heads with the conversion mounts. Yes and had to buy a Hemi brake booster as well. Also had to get a Hemi P/S mount to line up with the thick balancer. Also needed the small water pump pully. Used a Hemi dip stick. I added a shaker hood which you'll need to find small dia. carbs or find a base plate for the larger carbs.