Moparts

anyone put a 318 poly in a 41 frame?

Posted By: dart_451

anyone put a 318 poly in a 41 frame? - 08/02/11 09:51 PM

just checking to see if anyone put a 318 poly in a 41 frame.or any year close.im gettin ready to start to put one in and the push button trans in my 41 s/duluxe 2 dr. thanks loren
Posted By: moparpollack

Re: anyone put a 318 poly in a 41 frame? - 08/02/11 10:19 PM

No but it would look cool. I was looking at putting a push button tranny behind a newer 360.
Posted By: dogdays

Re: anyone put a 318 poly in a 41 frame? - 08/03/11 12:19 AM

I haven't but as the poly and LA are dimensionally about the same I can't see it being unusual. Now exhaust manifolds may be a trick, I'm trying to see if ford 400 headers will adapt to my '64 Dog100.
The poly stockers are quite small and might fit well. Don't forget there are different vehicles that may have a manifold that'll work better than others.
R.
Posted By: RodStRace

Re: anyone put a 318 poly in a 41 frame? - 08/03/11 12:30 AM

The main point on these swaps that are swapping in a V8 where a flathead 6 was is the steering column!
This is the main point of interference. The best bet is to look at A Body applications, since they also have a narrower engine bay and an intrusive column. I don't know of any A's that had a poly in them, so I'll bet that is going to be the stumbling point you need to address.
If you are going to do a stub frame, frame swap or change the steering, this can make more room. However, it will still be the tight spot (starter, steering, exhaust).
Posted By: dart_451

Re: anyone put a 318 poly in a 41 frame? - 08/03/11 01:57 AM

yea the steering is messed up.i have the motor just sitting on the frame and the steering rod looks like it would go through the valve cover when set in right. im looking at the 3 joint shaft and u-joints by borgeson that fat man fabs make. maybe that will do it.that poly is soo much wider at the heads than a normal small block.
Posted By: poorboy

Re: anyone put a 318 poly in a 41 frame? - 08/03/11 02:11 AM

You do have your poly offset towards the passenger side, right? I've put a few la small blocks in the late 30s & 40s cars, you can set them over far enough to clear any small block exhaust manifold. I don't know if you can set the poly over far enough, but if you raise it up and move it over, that might work. I'd prefer to move the engine around a little over buying a bunch of steering u-joints, but you got to do whatever it takes.

The LA motor series was developed so Mopar could install a V8 into the small engine compartment A bodys, the poly was too wide. As far as I know, Mopar never installed a poly into an A body. Gene
Posted By: RodStRace

Re: anyone put a 318 poly in a 41 frame? - 08/03/11 03:03 AM

The steering on these has the worm on the shaft that goes all the way up to where the steering wheel slips on. No easy way to splice in some offset unless you hack at it. Then you have to support the steering at the base of the shaft.
Probably better to use a later column then.
Posted By: Marty cRUIZer

Re: anyone put a 318 poly in a 41 frame? - 08/03/11 01:37 PM

In the '70's I put a '62 Dodge 318 Poly in a 48 Plymouth. Real backyard engineering! We found out the exhaust manifolds were interchangeable left to right and upside down! I put two left side manifolds on upside down. That took the exhaust straight out over the frame and out the fenferwell. I tilted the steering box down slightly in the rear (poor solution, DON'T DO IT!) to clear the engine and used a u-joint mating the steering shaft to a Chrysler tilt/telescopic column. The next owner claims he fixed the steering box, but he sold it before I could see what he did.

Good luck. It is refreshing to hear someone is putting a MoPar in a MoPar instead of brand X crap.

Marty
Marysville, OH
Posted By: dart_451

Re: anyone put a 318 poly in a 41 frame? - 08/04/11 01:37 AM

wow,never thought of the manifold switch.and what kind of motor mount set up did you use? did you weld boxes on the k-member where needed? and i will never put brand-x in any of my mopars!
Posted By: 65rbdodge

Re: anyone put a 318 poly in a 41 frame? - 08/06/11 10:53 PM

if you ever consider making your own headers for the poly, i have a set of flanges that i am willing to part with. send me a pm if interested.
Posted By: Marty cRUIZer

Re: anyone put a 318 poly in a 41 frame? - 08/10/11 03:31 AM

Quote:

wow,never thought of the manifold switch.and what kind of motor mount set up did you use? did you weld boxes on the k-member where needed? and i will never put brand-x in any of my mopars!




I had square tubing welded to the frame with biscut mounts. I got the engine side brackets from Chassis Engineering. Are they still in business?

Marty
Marysville, OH
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