Wide open drive train question
#778462
08/19/10 06:16 PM
08/19/10 06:16 PM
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,356
Kentucky
dfsmopars
OP
top fuel
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OP
top fuel
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,356
Kentucky
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I can't put this on an opinion poll because it is too wide open. Here it is: I am ready to do a drive train upgrade to my '72 Charger. This is new territory for me so I am hoping for some input from those with experience. Here are my mandates and you tell me which direction you would go. 1. 4 speed automatic overdrive tranny 2. Small block carbureted engine around 300-350 HP (Late model transplant or older rebuild) These are my only limits at the moment. My current set up is the original, running 318/904 combo with 75,000 miles with 3.55 gears. It is an A/C, PS, PB car that I will continue to run. My maximum budget over this coming Winter is $4000. Please tell which way you'd go in making this a reliable cruiser for the street. Any and all thoughts are appreciated. 
‘72 Charger, 5.9 Magnum, Tremec 5 spd., Pro-Touring
‘14 Big Horn, Quad Cab, 4x4, 1500
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Re: Wide open drive train question
[Re: dfsmopars]
#778464
08/19/10 06:52 PM
08/19/10 06:52 PM
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,848
Memphis
HemiRick
master
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master
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,848
Memphis
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Look for a good used 5.9 truck motor, they're plentiful and cheap. Swap out the cam put some headers on it and maybe 302 heads....You'll have $2000 left over...
Take care,
Rick
68 Coronet R/T 440 & 68 Charger 528 Hemi,and 5 Challengers! 6 cyl, 318, 360, 383, 451
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Re: Wide open drive train question
[Re: dfsmopars]
#778468
08/19/10 11:00 PM
08/19/10 11:00 PM
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,356
Kentucky
dfsmopars
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OK here is what I have so far:
A '94-'02 5.9 liter engine from a truck and a late '80s-'92 A518 tranny.
If it is low mileage install a small roller cam, headers and an intake with a carb. If the engine is doubtful then go through it.
For the tranny do a normal rebuild.
How does this combo and plan sound so far for a moderately priced drive train improvement?
So far I am liking it but let me know if I am off anywhere.
One big question, is the A518 going to require any modifications to the transmission tunnel?
‘72 Charger, 5.9 Magnum, Tremec 5 spd., Pro-Touring
‘14 Big Horn, Quad Cab, 4x4, 1500
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Re: Wide open drive train question
[Re: dfsmopars]
#778470
08/20/10 01:11 AM
08/20/10 01:11 AM
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 21,318
Manitoba, Canada
DaytonaTurbo
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 21,318
Manitoba, Canada
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Quote:
OK here is what I have so far:
A '94-'02 5.9 liter engine from a truck and a late '80s-'92 A518 tranny.
Sounds like a good combo. Get yourself the hi-stall converter MP sells for the 518 trans, it's around 2500 stall IIRC. Put in 4.10 gears. With the overdrive trans, a 4.10 rear end will be like a 2.87 rear on a 727/904 equiped car.
Rebuild the transmission and put in a transgo TFOD-HD2 shift kit. If desired, Cope Racing Trans can build you a custom governor for that transmission so at full throttle it shifts at the RPM you want. The transgo shift kit will also come with some instructions on how to do an upgrade to the oiling holes to the overdrive unit.
Take your 92+ magnum 360, have the roller cam reground, add headers, new valve springs(I know gm 3100 valve springs used to be the ticket for magnum heads, not sure what the deal on those is these days). Edelbrock RPM Air Gap intake will bolt right up to the magnum heads. Pick up a distributor and curve the advance for your application. If the 360 puts out good compression on the compression and leakdown test I would leave it. If not I would hone the cylinders with the drill mounted flex hone and throw on some hastings brand cast piston rings. That combo should run well and likely be in the 325-350hp range depending on how far you go with the cam. And yes the 518 will fit under your floor/torsion bar crossmember if you do some grinding on the transmission. Also you will need to make a new transmission crossmember from scratch because the mounting location is in a different spot on the 518. And you will need to have your driveshaft shortened.
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Re: Wide open drive train question
[Re: dfsmopars]
#778472
08/20/10 07:10 AM
08/20/10 07:10 AM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,862
the frozen wastes...
Pale_Roader
Swears too much
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Swears too much
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,862
the frozen wastes...
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Easy stuff.
Find a used, low-mile 5.9 Magnum from a truck, maybe even from an 'R/T' if you're lucky, it should be bolted to the OD trans already. How easy is that? Grab everything you can from the donor and get hackin'. Edelbrock makes an RPM intake for that application. A Holley 750 vac secondary should be fine. The engine is out, so buy some MODERN headers for it, something that doesn't go under the front suspension (TTI?). Put a good exhaust system on it.
I dont know much more about these engines, but a cam upgrade should be cheap enough? I also know that they actually sound pretty nice (for what is basically just a new head on a very old design), and that even big Rams with them can turn heads. They probably make more power than the good 340's did.
I also know that they're dated technology, and common as hell... thus cheap. The bolt-ons should cost you as much or more than the engine/trans combo. You should be able to keep that big 72 Charger on the lighter side ov 3500lbs with a SB combo...
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Re: Wide open drive train question
[Re: Pale_Roader]
#778473
08/20/10 12:55 PM
08/20/10 12:55 PM
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 21,318
Manitoba, Canada
DaytonaTurbo
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 21,318
Manitoba, Canada
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Quote:
Easy stuff.
Find a used, low-mile 5.9 Magnum from a truck, maybe even from an 'R/T' if you're lucky, it should be bolted to the OD trans already. How easy is that?
Trouble is, magnum 5.9's are 1992+ but the 1996+ transmission is not usable because it's electronically controlled. He may have to do a bit of mixing and matching across a few year span to get the right year transmission with a decent shape 5.9 magnum.
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Re: Wide open drive train question
[Re: DaytonaTurbo]
#778474
08/20/10 03:07 PM
08/20/10 03:07 PM
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,356
Kentucky
dfsmopars
OP
top fuel
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OP
top fuel
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,356
Kentucky
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Quote:
Quote:
Easy stuff.
Find a used, low-mile 5.9 Magnum from a truck, maybe even from an 'R/T' if you're lucky, it should be bolted to the OD trans already. How easy is that?
Trouble is, magnum 5.9's are 1992+ but the 1996+ transmission is not usable because it's electronically controlled. He may have to do a bit of mixing and matching across a few year span to get the right year transmission with a decent shape 5.9 magnum.
This is what I am hearing. The 518 sounds like the best candidate but I am concerned about the tunnel clearance.
‘72 Charger, 5.9 Magnum, Tremec 5 spd., Pro-Touring
‘14 Big Horn, Quad Cab, 4x4, 1500
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Re: Wide open drive train question
[Re: dfsmopars]
#778475
08/20/10 03:45 PM
08/20/10 03:45 PM
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 21,318
Manitoba, Canada
DaytonaTurbo
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 21,318
Manitoba, Canada
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Quote:
This is what I am hearing. The 518 sounds like the best candidate but I am concerned about the tunnel clearance.
It has been done and it will clear. 1_wild_rt had a thread several years back showing where to grind a little on the 518 case to get it to fit under the floors of his challenger. Tunnel on a challenger and your car are the same. Only area it really gets tight is fitting around the torsion bar crossmember, but it will fit if you can dig up his thread he shows how he did it. I talked to another guy(not on moparts) who got a 518 to fit under his 73 charger, which is the same floor/frame as a 72, but with that messy isolated torsion bar crossmember in the way and even he was able to get it in without chopping the car.
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Re: Wide open drive train question
[Re: DaytonaTurbo]
#778476
08/20/10 05:38 PM
08/20/10 05:38 PM
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,356
Kentucky
dfsmopars
OP
top fuel
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OP
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,356
Kentucky
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Quote:
Quote:
This is what I am hearing. The 518 sounds like the best candidate but I am concerned about the tunnel clearance.
It has been done and it will clear. 1_wild_rt had a thread several years back showing where to grind a little on the 518 case to get it to fit under the floors of his challenger. Tunnel on a challenger and your car are the same. Only area it really gets tight is fitting around the torsion bar crossmember, but it will fit if you can dig up his thread he shows how he did it. I talked to another guy(not on moparts) who got a 518 to fit under his 73 charger, which is the same floor/frame as a 72, but with that messy isolated torsion bar crossmember in the way and even he was able to get it in without chopping the car.
Thanks a bunch. That is assuring. I think I have located a '95 or '96 5.9 Magnum motor so now I need to find the tranny.
‘72 Charger, 5.9 Magnum, Tremec 5 spd., Pro-Touring
‘14 Big Horn, Quad Cab, 4x4, 1500
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Re: Wide open drive train question
[Re: dfsmopars]
#778477
08/20/10 06:23 PM
08/20/10 06:23 PM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,261
ILL
mark7171
pro stock
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pro stock
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,261
ILL
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Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Trouble is, magnum 5.9's are 1992+ but the 1996+ transmission is not usable because it's electronically controlled.
This is what I am hearing. The 518 sounds like the best candidate but I am concerned about the tunnel clearance.
Holley makes a TPS sensor carb adapter for electronicly controlled transmissions. Works for the 4L80e GM shifting, and the 518 might be similar working of the throttle position.
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Re: Wide open drive train question
[Re: DaytonaTurbo]
#778479
08/21/10 08:35 AM
08/21/10 08:35 AM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,862
the frozen wastes...
Pale_Roader
Swears too much
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Swears too much
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,862
the frozen wastes...
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Quote:
Quote:
Easy stuff.
Find a used, low-mile 5.9 Magnum from a truck, maybe even from an 'R/T' if you're lucky, it should be bolted to the OD trans already. How easy is that?
Trouble is, magnum 5.9's are 1992+ but the 1996+ transmission is not usable because it's electronically controlled. He may have to do a bit of mixing and matching across a few year span to get the right year transmission with a decent shape 5.9 magnum.
Okay, unless i am reading you wrong, that still leaves the 92-95 5.9 complete set-up. Thats four years. This stuff isn't rare by any means. If you cant find it you either live in Whitehorse or aren't looking hard enough.
Mix and match is fine too though. I'm just too lazy to do that. Thats 9 or 10 more bolts i dont have to turn... haha.
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Re: Wide open drive train question
[Re: dfsmopars]
#778480
08/21/10 09:03 AM
08/21/10 09:03 AM
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,356
Kentucky
dfsmopars
OP
top fuel
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OP
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How will I know when I have found an A518? What's the best source to go look? I know there has to be a lot of other models in the years we are talking about. How will the A518 go into OD in my car, by a swtich or will do it automatically from the Drive position? Thanks!
‘72 Charger, 5.9 Magnum, Tremec 5 spd., Pro-Touring
‘14 Big Horn, Quad Cab, 4x4, 1500
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AT least ... that's what I've been told (and why I'm planning a Gear Vendors for the van..) Good luck!
