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Which engine for a 56 pickup #1568755 01/25/14 09:54 PM 01/25/14 09:54 PM
Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 233 MN S Skid_Demon OP enthusiast
Skid_Demon OP enthusiast S Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 233 MN	Just picked up a 56 short box half ton. I have a line on a 79 Aspen, 318 2bbl, auto with 69000 miles. Very nice clean 2 door body, but I need the rear end and engine/tranny. Maybe someone needs the sheet metal. Also have a line on a 1985 fifth avenue with 109000. 318, auto. Anyone have any experience with these? Price about the same for each.

Re: Which engine for a 56 pickup [Re: Skid_Demon] #1568756 01/25/14 11:17 PM 01/25/14 11:17 PM
Joined: Sep 2011 Posts: 2,042 colorado S savoy64 top fuel
savoy64 top fuel S Joined: Sep 2011 Posts: 2,042 colorado	if this is a budget build you can use the volare/chrysler front suspension clip on the dodge pu frame----there are a number of articles about it---that way your engine and everything will mount up exactly----the modern clip unbolts----but you need to notch the truck frame into it then weld it on-----if you just lay it on there the truck will be too high----seen guys do it for a shortcut then they have to let out all the tension in the torsion bar bolts to get it back down----then the truck handles very poorly ----for a more time than money approach it works ok.....bob

Re: Which engine for a 56 pickup [Re: savoy64] #1568757 01/26/14 12:03 AM 01/26/14 12:03 AM
Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 14,889 up yours Supercuda About to go away
Supercuda About to go away Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 14,889 up yours	The Aspen and 5th ave use the same front suspension and most likely the same rear axle and trans. The engines are pretty much the same. However, Chrysler made changes over the years to the front suspensions to improve them. All else the same got for the 5th, unless it's all wore out. The 5th and the Aspen both likely have the 7 1/4, though an 8 1/4 was possible. Dimensionally, the axles are the same in either car, dependent on type of axle that is. The trans is most likely the same too, but the 5th might have a slightly heavier duty unit. They say there are no such thing as a stupid question. They say there is always the exception that proves the rule. Don't be the exception.

Re: Which engine for a 56 pickup [Re: Skid_Demon] #1568758 01/26/14 12:19 AM 01/26/14 12:19 AM
Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 415 Indiana P Pentastar440 mopar
Pentastar440 mopar P Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 415 Indiana	I would go with the '85 5th Avenue. Engine will be a 'roller motor' , la with roller cam. Master cylinder would work fine, good alternator, probably has a tilt steering column, big radiator, etc. '65 Belvedere II - 446-Indy,727 transbrake,Dana 4.56 '38 Plymouth 4Dr - 408SixPack, A518, Dana60 4:10

Re: Which engine for a 56 pickup [Re: Pentastar440] #1568759 01/26/14 12:28 AM 01/26/14 12:28 AM
Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 14,889 up yours Supercuda About to go away
Supercuda About to go away Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 14,889 up yours	Quote: I would go with the '85 5th Avenue. Engine will be a 'roller motor' , la with roller cam. Master cylinder would work fine, good alternator, probably has a tilt steering column, big radiator, etc. Maybe a roller motor, that debuted in mid 85. They say there are no such thing as a stupid question. They say there is always the exception that proves the rule. Don't be the exception.

Re: Which engine for a 56 pickup [Re: Supercuda] #1568760 01/26/14 10:59 AM 01/26/14 10:59 AM
Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 233 MN S Skid_Demon OP enthusiast
Skid_Demon OP enthusiast S Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 233 MN	Thanks for the info. How would I tell if its a roller motor without tearing it down?

Re: Which engine for a 56 pickup [Re: Skid_Demon] #1568761 01/26/14 12:02 PM 01/26/14 12:02 PM
Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 14,889 up yours Supercuda About to go away
Supercuda About to go away Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 14,889 up yours	Quote: Thanks for the info. How would I tell if its a roller motor without tearing it down? You can't. Closest you can get it to pull a valve cover and look at the pushrod holes. In roller motors they are much larger than non-rollers, but even that does not guarantee you have a roller setup, and the block is different, the lifter bores are taller in a roller block. You have to verify roller lifters to be sure. They say there are no such thing as a stupid question. They say there is always the exception that proves the rule. Don't be the exception.

Re: Which engine for a 56 pickup [Re: Skid_Demon] #1568762 01/26/14 01:17 PM 01/26/14 01:17 PM
Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 2,648 GA Boosted master
Boosted master Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 2,648 GA	I say buy which ever one is the cheapest with the best motor and trans in it. Roller motor vs non roller motor does not matter unless you are going to rebuild it and want the advantage for HP that a roller cam can give. Both being stock... No big deal at all.. If you really want a roller motor I would look towards the mid 90 dodge trucks.. Grab the motor and trans from a 2wd and enjoy some highway cruising in the old truck. FI and od is the way to go if you have the time to do it. 2011 RAM3500 1967 Fastback Barracuda with some go fast goodies.

Re: Which engine for a 56 pickup [Re: Boosted] #1568763 01/27/14 12:25 AM 01/27/14 12:25 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 10,670 Freeport IL USA poorboy I Live Here
poorboy I Live Here Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 10,670 Freeport IL USA	Either car will provide a lot of parts to swap to a V8, but please look real hard before you cut up the truck to put the front suspension under it. They are not a bolt in of any sort, and are not a simple weld on deal either. If you want to do a front suspension clip, there are many much better swaps then the F, M, & J clip. I know because I have done one of those clips on a 54 Dodge 1/2 ton. Gene

Re: Which engine for a 56 pickup [Re: poorboy] #1568764 01/27/14 11:58 AM 01/27/14 11:58 AM
Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 233 MN S Skid_Demon OP enthusiast
Skid_Demon OP enthusiast S Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 233 MN	I am looking at the cars for the engine, tranny and perhaps rear end. I used a volare k member for a 1947 dodge, but now searching for a Dakota k member for this truck. Gene, Is that what went in your 54?

Re: Which engine for a 56 pickup [Re: Skid_Demon] #1568765 01/27/14 08:38 PM 01/27/14 08:38 PM
Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 415 Indiana P Pentastar440 mopar
Pentastar440 mopar P Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 415 Indiana	Quote: Thanks for the info. How would I tell if its a roller motor without tearing it down? If it's a roller you should be able to see the 'spider plate' if you pull the distributor and look through the hole. Also, I think all of the roller engines were painted black. '65 Belvedere II - 446-Indy,727 transbrake,Dana 4.56 '38 Plymouth 4Dr - 408SixPack, A518, Dana60 4:10

Re: Which engine for a 56 pickup [Re: Pentastar440] #1568766 01/28/14 12:40 AM 01/28/14 12:40 AM
Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 14,889 up yours Supercuda About to go away
Supercuda About to go away Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 14,889 up yours	Quote: Quote: Thanks for the info. How would I tell if its a roller motor without tearing it down? If it's a roller you should be able to see the 'spider plate' if you pull the distributor and look through the hole. Also, I think all of the roller engines were painted black. I totally forgot about the lifter retainer (spider). Doh! They say there are no such thing as a stupid question. They say there is always the exception that proves the rule. Don't be the exception.

Re: Which engine for a 56 pickup [Re: Skid_Demon] #1568767 01/28/14 02:46 AM 01/28/14 02:46 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 10,670 Freeport IL USA poorboy I Live Here
poorboy I Live Here Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 10,670 Freeport IL USA	Quote: I am looking at the cars for the engine, tranny and perhaps rear end. I used a volare k member for a 1947 dodge, but now searching for a Dakota k member for this truck. Gene, Is that what went in your 54? My 54 had a Volari (F body), 5th Ave (M body) and Lebaron (J body) clip under it. Though it worked and drove well, the suspension was a pita to install correctly. I also had to do major surgery to the firewall, the steering column linkage was real tight,, and the suspension was mushy under a hard corner. Sure rode nice though. Since then I've installed 2 Dakota clips and a complete Dakota frame. My big blue truck that got wrecked was a 50 and it was mounted on an 80 Dodge full sized frame, which was also a ton of work to make correctly. Lots of body modifications on that one. The Dakota frame lends itself so well as a doner for 40s through the 60s trucks there is not even a close 2nd, especially if you actually want the truck to perform any type of work. Gene

Re: Which engine for a 56 pickup [Re: poorboy] #1568768 01/28/14 09:25 PM 01/28/14 09:25 PM
Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,444 NEW JERSEY D dynamite pro stock
dynamite pro stock D Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,444 NEW JERSEY	I have the 5 th ave K frame under my 56 Plymouth ..was a fairly easy swap for me ...Been in for about 5 years now..with a RB Motor.. ,,the steering column fit nicely from the 5 th ave and anything else I could use...I have an 8 3/4 rear so I scrapped the rest 8016034-get-attachment(9).jpg (82 downloads)

Re: Which engine for a 56 pickup [Re: Skid_Demon] #1568769 01/31/14 12:22 AM 01/31/14 12:22 AM
Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 228 Kentucky F Flipper1938 enthusiast
Flipper1938 enthusiast F Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 228 Kentucky	A fiat v8 would be cool if you could find one. Perfect for a FCA hotrod.

Re: Which engine for a 56 pickup [Re: Flipper1938] #1568770 01/31/14 07:42 AM 01/31/14 07:42 AM
Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,757 levittown pa fstfish66 top fuel
fstfish66 top fuel Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,757 levittown pa	i thought the 318 roller came out in 88 and the 360 in 89 ?? the fifth ave will probably have a hydrulic lock up convertor and possibly a low first gear,, and its newer then the aspen,, 1966 barracuda prostreeter super charged 340(SOLD) 1940 dodge coupe 241 hemi street rod 2014 ram express hemi 4x4 dailey driver 2015 cherokee 2013 R/T classic

Re: Which engine for a 56 pickup [Re: fstfish66] #1568771 01/31/14 04:25 PM 01/31/14 04:25 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 16,376 D dogdays I Live Here
dogdays I Live Here D Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 16,376	The roller engine came out sometime in 1985, and there were some roller blocks built into flat tappet engines at the beginning of the run. My Mom's '86 Fifth had NO ridge after more than 100K miles, valve guides were good, even the bearings looked usable. I'd go that direction. The 904 definitely has the low First gear and would be properly called an A-998. R

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