Big block into early 65 Cuda ??

Posted By: HotRodDave

Big block into early 65 Cuda ?? - 11/27/11 03:17 AM

So I hate headers but lately I have been thinking about throwing one of my spare big blocks in my spare 65 cuda. I know the factory never put them in so there are no manifolds made for this. My question is what (if any) exhaust manifolds will work for this swap?

Posted By: HotRodDave

Re: Big block into early 65 Cuda ?? - 11/27/11 03:19 AM

and what about motor mounts?

Posted By: 69Mcode440

Re: Big block into early 65 Cuda ?? - 11/27/11 03:48 AM

Try Schumacher. http://www.engine-swaps.com/ He may have what you need.

Posted By: GO_Fish

Re: Big block into early 65 Cuda ?? - 11/27/11 04:06 AM

and get out the sawzall and cut those inner fenders for headers... not like non-formula S gen 1's command any money... may as well have some fun!

Posted By: HotRodDave

Re: Big block into early 65 Cuda ?? - 11/27/11 04:54 AM

No exhaust manifolds means I will not put a BB in it.

Now....

Has any one ever put a BB in an early A with ex manifolds?

Posted By: RapidRobert

Re: Big block into early 65 Cuda ?? - 11/27/11 05:14 AM

68-70 B body HP ex manifolds will fit w a B (383/400) IF manual steering. I'm doing one as we speak. reportedly max wedge manifolds will also & I saw a pic of an early A with MW manis and a 440. In rare cases a 727 will fit with only flattening the pinchweld on the firewall downward slope but most need a section of it to be cut/raised. Streetmaster mts (if still in business). regular center sump BB pan. Hooker fenderwell super comps 5215 or 5205 (one is 1&7/8, one is 2" forget which is which) will fit on the dr side and 1 or 2 tubes on pass side need reworked. Use as much alum items to reduce the front heavyness, water pump/housing/M/C/intake/rad/wheels/(fiberglass) bumper. www.speedwaymotors.com has 1&7/8 ex tubing extra bends for cheap. There's more varation/stackup of tolerances on early A's than any group I've ever seen & reportedly even an RB has in several cases fit w the above mentioned 68-70 manis.

Posted By: dogdays

Re: Big block into early 65 Cuda ?? - 11/27/11 10:09 AM

It makes so much more sense to build a 408.

R.

Posted By: HotRodDave

Re: Big block into early 65 Cuda ?? - 11/27/11 05:29 PM

I will trade you a 440 motor home engine, a good 413, a good 383 with 906 heads, 69 440HP bare block, a 71 230 casting 400 complete std bore engine, and a set of BB HP manifolds and you give me a 408 SB and 340 HP manifolds, so we have a deal? I have been trying to sell my BB stuff to buy SB stuff but no one is biting.

I can re-ring and bearing the 440 throw some 516 heads on with a little port work and make more TQ and HP than a bare bones 408. I am a dyed in the wool SB guy but for the budget on this car I can go high 11s real cheap and easy with a 440, any faster and it needs a roll bar and I don't want one. Beleive me I would rather do a stroker SB but I don't have a ton of parts sitting around for it. I would have to buy pistons and crank and pay for balancing, rings, bearings, gaskets, and boreing at a minimum. The 440 can just get new gaskets rings and bearing and be a good running motor. I can build a good trans with my spare parts for either motor, I have a couple 8.75 a body rears, either motor will need new exhaust because the car was a slant six, I want to ditch the funky drive shaft so either motor will need a different shaft. If I had the $$$ to build the 408 then why not use that $$$ to put the 413 crank in the 400? So unless someone wants to buy all my BB stuff and leave enough $$$ to build a stroker SB then the BB will probably end up in the car.

Besides, I have never really had a BB car so mabey I should take a sip of the BB cool-aid

Posted By: RapidRobert

Re: Big block into early 65 Cuda ?? - 11/27/11 05:44 PM

Quote:

I have never really had a BB car so mabey I should take a sip of the BB cool-aid

Doug Dutra the /6 guru the 1st time he popped the clutch on his 440 early A the windshield popped out and the back glass broke

(I may have that backwards but I want that

)

Posted By: 68GTS383

Re: Big block into early 65 Cuda ?? - 11/27/11 08:15 PM

A friend ran a 69 Dart SB drag car for years and upgraded to a 440.I asked him how he liked the 440 in the Dart and he said that it was like having a new girlfriend! Remember those days guys?

Posted By: slantzilla

Re: Big block into early 65 Cuda ?? - 11/27/11 08:17 PM

I've been 12.0's in an early A with no bar. Some things that can be done, shouldn't.

Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Big block into early 65 Cuda ?? - 11/27/11 08:22 PM

Once you've gone BB you'll wonder why it took so long!

The only smallblock I have is the 360 in my truck and that's just because it was there and has plenty of power. Too much hassle to swap.

BB's are dirt cheap to build on a budget if you're staying under 500 hp. and start with a good core.

As far as fitment into an early A, I'd go with the low deck block to start with.

Posted By: HotRodDave

Re: Big block into early 65 Cuda ?? - 11/27/11 08:36 PM

I can not afford to stroke the low deck so I would be stuck with the 400, I can use the 516 heads to bump the compression a tad and I do have a low deck torquer intake, only factory cast iron for the RB so the 400 would be a lot lighter but 10% less cubes

Posted By: Kern Dog

Re: Big block into early 65 Cuda ?? - 11/27/11 11:53 PM

Years ago at Sacramento raceway, I saw a 440 in a 64 or 65 Valiant. It was rough, but it all fit. The guy had passenger log manifolds on both sides. The one on the drivers side had an outlet below #s 1 and 3 spark plugs. The downpipe ran UNDER the K member. He had slicks and a roll bar, but I don't remember what ETs he ran with it.

Posted By: NTOLERANCE

Re: Big block into early 65 Cuda ?? - 11/28/11 12:17 AM

Somewhere I have pics of an early valiant with an early hemi.

No headders, log manifolds.

I'd have to power up the cold windows 98 computer (its in pieces) to find them.

Posted By: MR_P_BODY

Re: Big block into early 65 Cuda ?? - 11/28/11 01:05 AM

Quote:

I will trade you a 440 motor home engine, a good 413, a good 383 with 906 heads, 69 440HP bare block, a 71 230 casting 400 complete std bore engine, and a set of BB HP manifolds and you give me a 408 SB and 340 HP manifolds, so we have a deal? I have been trying to sell my BB stuff to buy SB stuff but no one is biting.

I can re-ring and bearing the 440 throw some 516 heads on with a little port work and make more TQ and HP than a bare bones 408. I am a dyed in the wool SB guy but for the budget on this car I can go high 11s real cheap and easy with a 440, any faster and it needs a roll bar and I don't want one. Beleive me I would rather do a stroker SB but I don't have a ton of parts sitting around for it. I would have to buy pistons and crank and pay for balancing, rings, bearings, gaskets, and boreing at a minimum. The 440 can just get new gaskets rings and bearing and be a good running motor. I can build a good trans with my spare parts for either motor, I have a couple 8.75 a body rears, either motor will need new exhaust because the car was a slant six, I want to ditch the funky drive shaft so either motor will need a different shaft. If I had the $$$ to build the 408 then why not use that $$$ to put the 413 crank in the 400? So unless someone wants to buy all my BB stuff and leave enough $$$ to build a stroker SB then the BB will probably end up in the car.

Besides, I have never really had a BB car so mabey I should take a sip of the BB cool-aid

I can build up a 396ci if you want to swap that stuff

Posted By: HotRodDave

Re: Big block into early 65 Cuda ?? - 11/28/11 01:07 AM

Quote:

Quote:

I will trade you a 440 motor home engine, a good 413, a good 383 with 906 heads, 69 440HP bare block, a 71 230 casting 400 complete std bore engine, and a set of BB HP manifolds and you give me a 408 SB and 340 HP manifolds, so we have a deal? I have been trying to sell my BB stuff to buy SB stuff but no one is biting.

I can re-ring and bearing the 440 throw some 516 heads on with a little port work and make more TQ and HP than a bare bones 408. I am a dyed in the wool SB guy but for the budget on this car I can go high 11s real cheap and easy with a 440, any faster and it needs a roll bar and I don't want one. Beleive me I would rather do a stroker SB but I don't have a ton of parts sitting around for it. I would have to buy pistons and crank and pay for balancing, rings, bearings, gaskets, and boreing at a minimum. The 440 can just get new gaskets rings and bearing and be a good running motor. I can build a good trans with my spare parts for either motor, I have a couple 8.75 a body rears, either motor will need new exhaust because the car was a slant six, I want to ditch the funky drive shaft so either motor will need a different shaft. If I had the $$$ to build the 408 then why not use that $$$ to put the 413 crank in the 400? So unless someone wants to buy all my BB stuff and leave enough $$$ to build a stroker SB then the BB will probably end up in the car.

Besides, I have never really had a BB car so mabey I should take a sip of the BB cool-aid

I can build up a 396ci if you want to swap that stuff

PM me if your serious

Posted By: NTOLERANCE

Re: Big block into early 65 Cuda ?? - 11/28/11 01:42 AM

Quote:

Somewhere I have pics of an early valiant with an early hemi.

No headders, log manifolds.

I'd have to power up the cold windows 98 computer (its in pieces) to find them.

FOUND IT!

Too bad its an ugly car...huh?

Posted By: RapidRobert

Re: Big block into early 65 Cuda ?? - 11/28/11 03:18 AM

What a monster

Posted By: pishta

Re: Big block into early 65 Cuda ?? - 11/28/11 05:01 AM

RapidRobert nailed everything, Its like I was reading and old post of mine! HP logs, Streetmaster mounts (I gotta set Ill sell) and the body seam. Shiii, I got a Std 403 stroker in pieces,new crank and pistons, I would trade you all that stuff EZ. You in So. Cal? Serious as a heart attack.

thses are supposed to fit nice, but they are probably worth more than the car...