Can a 318 fit in a chevy van engine compartment

I have a cube van chassis with a bad 350 in it. Since I have 2 good engines/transmissions (318/360) and can fabricate, would a mopar physically fit in the space using a motor plate setup? The 360 is completely rebuilt, and a used 350 or another engine build is not an option.

There is no good reason it won't fit. The engines are very similar in size.
Be sure the oil pan won't interfere.

Depending on which (318-360) you decide to use you may have to use a truck pan and pick-up as Feets hinted to. Dimensionally check the design of the existing pan and compare them.
As for the motor mounts, driveshaft and exhaust since you can fab you should be able to make something there work.
I'd say if its an older model without a lot of electronics it shouldn't be a big deal...
SBC's are everywhere for not a lot of money...I'm not sure a swap is the most fiscal approach...

I agree find someone to swap the 360 for a chevy motor.

You da Man!!!!!

Best post I've seen in a while. Please update with photos so I can rub it in gm fanatics' faces.

Actually both mopars are in vans so the oil pan issue should be ok. After gm guys tell you the engine comes out the door, etc. well that's WHY I ASK MOPAR people. OK, its a steel bus body that's why I wanted it. For fun I go look up the ProMod Camaros w/chry.440 for the engine... anybody really think those engines are ford, toyota or gm in their favorite funny car? Over N out!

I did an engine swap in a 74 B100 several years ago. IIRC, it had to come out the passenger door. I don't know about Chevy vans, but again IIRC, the radiator support is welded in. Even if its bolted in, it was easier coming out the door than removing the front of the van. YMMV

Scott

Sorry if I was one of the 5 that offended you, I will pass by your postings in the future

Size for the GM 350 and the Mopar 360 are about the same. Weight is about the same. The biggest issue will be the Mopar starter location. GM has the starter on the passenger side, Mopar is on the driver side. Usually, the driver side is pretty congested. If there is room for the starter, and you don't mind the hassle the Drive shaft will present, I'd go for it.

Years ago I put a 318 in a mid 60s Chevy truck because the guy kept blowing up 350s. I told him I had a motor that would outlast the truck if he kept oil in it and didn't overheat it. He pounded on that 318 and did everything he could think of, but the truck gave up before the 318.

The 318 in the mid 70s Pontiac was a bit of a challenge, and the 318 in an 82 Jeep J10 was another challenge. Gene

Hey all of you lookers, this is what I'm TALKIN ABOUT. I get 5 people for every one that actually KNOWS ANYTHING. And eventually, somebody has done this that's what I am really trying to find out...Im just trying to get a bit of information from any body that is the same situation, I could shred any body that has the time about mopar vs. whatever. I guess the ShermanTank was not a mopar? How about the turbine tank oh, yea the GM prototype could not get out of reverse during the trials at the GM Tech Center? I live two blocks from there. And I remember. The GM tank sucked and any body that say mopar sucks need to hit the library. Over N Out !

They're very close in size. If you have the equipment, and as time is free, you can make it work. I believe stock exhaust manifolds will be okay as well.

From where I'm standing, starter position could be helped when you custom fabricate the engine mounts. I'd be most worried about linkage to the transmission if I were doing it and using an automatic. Also there will probably be some universal joint tomtrickery needed.

Good Luck,
R.

Yes, I agree the starter and a couple other things, it has a HydroBoost is what they callled it, lines to the brake booster AND steering, THANKS GENEROUS MOTORS... and to everybody that had to bite their tongue I really appreciate it. Anyone catch the fact I fabricate...way back on the original post...Over N Out.

There was an Astro van that came to the Mopar Nats years ago that had a 360 in it. The guy said it was almost a bolt-in!

Kinda like a kick in the sack aint it...

Actually I love the Hydroboost. All it needs is a pressure line to the power steering pump (Y'd into the pressure line) and a return line to the power steering reservoir. Your truck already has the hoses, you just need to attach to the Mopar pump, which may very well have been made by Saginaw.

R.

Not offended, just that after 3 mopar engine swaps, all out the front, I know how it was done. Yes the chevy core support is welded in place and it looks like less room than a Dodge. When someone tells me it comes out the door on van I just figure they mean a chevy van or the old B100 type which is correct. Great info and I'll have to just see how it goes... Thanks to all.