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Re: My first Mopar what should i do with it
[Re: Jonny Vette]
#1274041
07/26/12 08:16 AM
07/26/12 08:16 AM
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 9,336
South-Central (Sebring), FL
Commando1
master
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master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 9,336
South-Central (Sebring), FL
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Quote:
Jonny Vette is a nick name my friends gave me. I have owned corvettes since I was 16 and I still love them. But when I decided I wanted a muscle car and after doing some research Mopar just seemed to be the epitome of muscle.
You did research to pick a muscle car.
So the Mopar gene is not really in your DNA...
But I'm glad you're here. 
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Re: My first Mopar what should i do with it
[Re: Jonny Vette]
#1274042
07/26/12 09:29 AM
07/26/12 09:29 AM
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,187
CT
GTX MATT
master
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master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,187
CT
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Quote:
Quote:
Read this thread and keep in mind that low compression 440s can be found for between 500 and 750 bucks pretty easy as a starting foundation. Sometimes (but not often) quite a bit less, sometimes more.
https://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/show...&PHPSESSID=
I found a 1974 RV 440 with everything water pump, alternator etc.. with a 727 for $500 and I found a rebuilt 1980’s 360 with 727 for $450 all within a 3 hour drive
I have heard some debate over using a RV big block that there only built for torque not power. what would I need to do to make it mean and is the k member an issue?
Believe it or not the RV big block is the same as a non high performance 440, theres nothing special about it.
There are two kinds of 440s. HP (or High Performance) versions which were rated at 375 horsepower prior to 72. These came in Charger R/Ts, GTXs, Challenger R/Ts, 'Cudas, Coronet R/Ts, and optional in some full size cars. Then there is the non-performance version, the 350 horsepower version prior to 72. This came in full size cars and in your case, RVs(Chrysler New Yorkers, Chrysler 300s, Imperials, some Plymouth Furys, some Dodge Polaras, etc.)
In the later years the compression ratios dropped and emissions equipment was added and the horsepower ratings changed, but the parts are all generally the same. There are two differences between the low performance and high performance version.
The high performance version came with a bigger (but still very small) cam. In 68-70 the low performance version used a Holley 600, which the HP version used an ~750 cfm Carter. Later on they all used Thermoquads. The HP version also had the HP exhaust manifolds and a windage tray. Other than that the engines are identical.
You would probably be replacing the stock cam, carb, and exhaust manifolds anyway so it doesn't matter where you start. The only thing to be aware of is that some later RV engines used a special head casting with special cooling passages. If you have those they will work fine, but most people ditch them for the regular passenger car heads.
If the tranny is from the RV it is probably a truck tranny with a short tail shaft. It will have heavy duty internal parts, but the tail shaft wont work in your car. You can use it in combination with any 727 to build a beefy unit though. All you really need to do is have the tail shaft changed.
Now I need to pin those needles, got to feel that heat
Hear my motor screamin while I'm tearin up the street
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Re: My first Mopar what should i do with it
[Re: pa340dart]
#1274044
07/26/12 11:35 AM
07/26/12 11:35 AM
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 12,481
Chino Valley
RodStRace
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 12,481
Chino Valley
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Before diving in and swapping out stuff, get to know local mopar guys and hopefully ride in a few BB and SB cars. There are a lot of little things on these cars that confuse people that come from a different background. Get to know it before diving in. If you have spent much time here, you may have seen a comment about the seller or previous owner of a car being a 'chevy guy' or 'Camaro guy'. This is not praise, it's shorthand for someone doing something to a Mopar that is not viewed favorably. Try not to be that guy. 
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Re: My first Mopar what should i do with it
[Re: pa340dart]
#1274047
07/26/12 12:16 PM
07/26/12 12:16 PM
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,564
St. Clair Shores, Michigan
bigsbigelow
pro stock
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pro stock
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,564
St. Clair Shores, Michigan
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Quote:
I totally agree with you RodStRace
Don't start tearing into it until you have a plan and know what you want AND document all changes
Although in his first post he mentions a 741 rear
I thought 741's only came in a-bodies and had a small bolt pattern
Maybe its a typo and a 742 rear
I bet the 741 was swapped in for a broken sure grip or to replace a peg leg.
The tech archive write up on Mopar diffs
http://www.moparts.org/Tech/Archive/axle/1.html
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Re: My first Mopar what should i do with it
[Re: Jonny Vette]
#1274048
07/26/12 12:18 PM
07/26/12 12:18 PM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 18,166
Mass
DAYCLONA
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 18,166
Mass
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Go right to the issue, if you want HP, drop in a 440, you can always add a 6pak later, if that floats your boat....I've had my share of smblk E bodies, they can be fun in 340/340-6/360 combos...but the 440 is where it's at for HP, the $$$ you start throwing at the smblk later on to up the HP could be spent on an intial install of a 440.....if a 4spd is your desire, save up/collect all the parts required, then when your ready, do the swap...
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Re: My first Mopar what should i do with it
[Re: RodStRace]
#1274051
07/26/12 02:40 PM
07/26/12 02:40 PM
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 14
Kansas City MO
Jonny Vette
OP
member
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OP
member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 14
Kansas City MO
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Quote:
Before diving in and swapping out stuff, get to know local mopar guys and hopefully ride in a few BB and SB cars.
There are a lot of little things on these cars that confuse people that come from a different background.
Get to know it before diving in. If you have spent much time here, you may have seen a comment about the seller or previous owner of a car being a 'chevy guy' or 'Camaro guy'. This is not praise, it's shorthand for someone doing something to a Mopar that is not viewed favorably. Try not to be that guy.
I agree I don’t plan on jumping in head first not knowing what I’m doing or what I want. The 318 that is in the car now is currently getting cleaned up and will work just fine for the moment. And then after doing plenty of research I will hopefully find the best combination for the car and for me. So I really do appreciate all the help you guys are offering.
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Re: My first Mopar what should i do with it
[Re: bigsbigelow]
#1274052
07/26/12 02:42 PM
07/26/12 02:42 PM
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 14
Kansas City MO
Jonny Vette
OP
member
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OP
member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 14
Kansas City MO
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Quote:
Quote:
Although in his first post he mentions a 741 rear
I thought 741's only came in a-bodies and had a small bolt pattern
Maybe its a typo and a 742 rear
I bet the 741 was swapped in for a broken sure grip or to replace a peg leg.
The tech archive write up on Mopar diffs
http://www.moparts.org/Tech/Archive/axle/1.html
741 is what I saw on the case I have had the car for a week now and all I have done is cleaned it up and searched for numbers still no idea what the gears in it could be
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Re: My first Mopar what should i do with it
[Re: moparjo68]
#1274053
07/26/12 02:54 PM
07/26/12 02:54 PM
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 14
Kansas City MO
Jonny Vette
OP
member
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OP
member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 14
Kansas City MO
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Quote:
Have you considered a 383? They are more easy to find than a 440 and cheaper in price. I built my 383 with the same specs as the Road Runner 383. Plenty of power!!! If you look on Craigslist right now, they probably have several for sale.
There is one for sale nearby but I know less about the 383 than the 440 but I can’t say I know a lot about it. So what could be some of the advantage of the 383?
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Re: My first Mopar what should i do with it
[Re: pa340dart]
#1274054
07/26/12 03:01 PM
07/26/12 03:01 PM
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 14
Kansas City MO
Jonny Vette
OP
member
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OP
member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 14
Kansas City MO
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Quote:
That 741 ?? rear WILL have to be changed if you go with Big Block
I have seen others using a 741 with their big blocks. I did plan on putting a 3.55 or 3.91 sure grip in it but would I really need to replace the case?
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Re: My first Mopar what should i do with it
[Re: Jonny Vette]
#1274055
07/26/12 03:03 PM
07/26/12 03:03 PM
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,358
St. Louis, Mo
318 Stroker
master
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master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,358
St. Louis, Mo
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Quote:
and is the k member an issue?
K-member is the same for small block and big block
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Re: My first Mopar what should i do with it
[Re: Jonny Vette]
#1274057
07/26/12 04:04 PM
07/26/12 04:04 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 488
Sonoran desert, Arizona, USA
moparjo68
mopar
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mopar
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 488
Sonoran desert, Arizona, USA
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The 383 is LESS prestigious than the 440. But, they are more plentiful and if you build it, for example, to the specs of the Road Runner engine, you would have one heck of an engine with loads of torque and horsepower. The 383 was discontinued after the '71 model year but thousands of them are still around and awaiting to be "reborn".
I believe the K member is the same for 318 and 383. If not, please correct me. And if K member is the same, the mounts will be the same as 318.
Last edited by moparjo68; 07/26/12 05:00 PM.
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Re: My first Mopar what should i do with it
[Re: fiddlerfingers]
#1274059
07/26/12 05:57 PM
07/26/12 05:57 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:
Its alot of work changing over to a big block.
Not really. Most of his 318 stuff would need to be replaced anyway. His stock 904 transmission won't take any serious HP. To swap the big block in you're need a set of readily available motor mounts, new rad which you'd want anyway if you built a hot small block, new transmission, shorter driveshaft, then just the nuts and bolts. I dunno, I swapped a small block magnum into a 6cyl jeep wrangler and didn't think it was too bad a job, so calling a challenger SB to BB swap a "lot of work" seems laughable to me.
Quote:
Have you considered a 383? They are more easy to find than a 440 and cheaper in price.
Waste of time and money IMO. Even if he was to buy a rebuildable core 383 for 150 bucks versus a core 440 for 600 bucks, that $450 cost difference is a drop in the bucket by the time you have the rest of your parts bought and the engine built. Better piston choices for the 440 and the rest of the parts/labor will cost the same between a 383 and 440.
Drive the car as-is for now and build a 440 on the side. Or a 400 with a 440 crank = 451.
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Re: My first Mopar what should i do with it
[Re: DaytonaTurbo]
#1274060
07/26/12 06:07 PM
07/26/12 06:07 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,886
Lost and Spaced
bboogieart
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,886
Lost and Spaced
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Like said b-4, drive it awhile. You will get a better idea of what you want. E-body cars can be great canyon carvers with a small block and some suspension upgrades or a great drag car with the big block and some totally different suspension up grades. Get to know your car and decide what you want to do with it. You can chase down and tromp mustangs either track. Nice car by the way. Glad you have seen the light.
I have mechanical Aptitude.
I can screw up anything.
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