Question regarding swapping a 426 Gen II Hemi in 69 Superbee
#2947261
07/26/21 11:01 AM
07/26/21 11:01 AM
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 581 Texas
Texican
OP
mopar
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OP
mopar
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 581
Texas
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I need some help and guidance on a engine swap I'm about to undertake while my #s matching block (440 +6 - A12) goes to the machine shop to undergo cleaning, machining and rebuilding. Quality parts alone are going to be costly, plus the labor, etc.. since I can't afford to throw down several thousand dollars overnight, I plan on swapping in a 426 Hemi for about 6-12 months while this work is being done.
I've had this fully rebuilt / fresh Hemi for a couple of years for another project that I have already sold, so there it sits screaming to power my 69 Bee for a while.
My 90s block 426 Gen II Hemi is complete from top to bottom and front to back. I already have a set of Hemi Conversion Mounts from Azzurra that will allow it to mount to my 440 Wedge K-Frame with (they say) near perfect placement (from those that have used them). I'm using my original 11" 440 bell housing from my 440. I already have a new (8-Bolt) flywheel from Brewer's 11" 143 tooth that will bolt to my Hemi and Tranny/Clutch I also got a Clutch, Pressure Plate and TO Bearing from Brewer's that goes with it all. I'll be using my Original 18-Spline Tranny.
Questions:
1.) What Exhaust Headers should I use for best fitment ? I've heard that the Hemi manifolds will not fit around the 11" Bell without Grinding and Headers are much easier to ding and bend to fit. TTI / Dougs, etc..?
2.) As I pull my 440 out of the cradle and replace it with the Hemi, are there any recommendations as far what I should do first ? - Can I just pull the 440 engine while leaving the tranny in place or should I drop both the engine and tranny and mate them up outside the engine ?
3.) Is the only way to install the new Hemi Engine/Tranny from the Bottom up after it's already connected to the K-Frame, etc, or can it go down from the top ? - The bottom up method looks easy but I've never done it. I've always gone in from the Top Down (old school). 4. Is it possible to go in from the Top Down with Hemi engine only (1) Mount the engine to the Bellhousing (2) Install Starter (3) Tilt Engine so I can Bolt in Headers, Bolt to K-Frame, connect Clutch Linkage, etc.. ?
4.) If not, then how & when do I put the headers on ? In what order and when ? Looks like a tight fit with the headers/inner fender/starter, etc... When do the headers & starter go on ?
I'm open to suggestions from those that have done this before.
Many Thanks in Advance
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Re: Question regarding swapping a 426 Gen II Hemi in 69 Superbee
[Re: Texican]
#2947346
07/26/21 01:34 PM
07/26/21 01:34 PM
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 43,163 Bend,OR USA
Cab_Burge
I Win
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I Win
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 43,163
Bend,OR USA
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I've installed many 426 hemi into both B and E body cars with the stock K member and with elephant ears and front motor plates on non original Hemi cars, A, B and E bodies. On your deal pull the 440 with the tranny and put the bellhousing on the hemi motor and check it for run out on the hemi block, if it has more than .008 run out fix it with offset block dowels. I would use a good to decent set of headers, not the cheaper ones and install them from the bottom after removing the steering linkage from either the passenger side lower ball joint and idler arm and steering box and lay it out of the way or due the other side as long as you can get it out of your way while installing the headers and hooking up the starter. I bolt the starter in place with the bell housings on stick shift cars before sliding the motor in the engine bays I use a short piece of 2x4 wood place under the oil pan with the steering linkage hook back up so the oil pan has something to lay on while installing the tranny from the bottom, I then jack the tranny up and install the tranny X member and remove the 2X4
Mr.Cab Racing and winning with Mopars since 1964. (Old F--t, Huh)
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Re: Question regarding swapping a 426 Gen II Hemi in 69 Superbee
[Re: dragon slayer]
#2947414
07/26/21 04:07 PM
07/26/21 04:07 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,713 North Dakota
6PakBee
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,713
North Dakota
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If the Hemi is only going to live there for 6-12 months, save the money for headers and get a set of repop stock exhaust manifolds. Life will be so much easier regardless of how you proceed on the rest of the project.
"We live in a time when intelligent people are being silenced so that stupid people won't be offended".
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Re: Question regarding swapping a 426 Gen II Hemi in 69 Superbee
[Re: Cab_Burge]
#2947669
07/27/21 08:27 AM
07/27/21 08:27 AM
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Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,322 VA
dragon slayer
pro stock
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pro stock
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,322
VA
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I don't remember any issues with the stock starters on the stick shift Hemi cars I worked on with headers or stock exhaust manifolds Same thing on the automatic cars That is because Automatics are 10.5" starter rings, just like 70-71 hemi stick. All those stick hemis 66-69 you worked on had direct drive starters made to fit the 172tooth ring. Yes you can make the 143t 11" work, but the 10.5" 130 tooth is the stock fit for a hemi 70 up. I guess they just thought they needed that bigger flywheel and clutch for the early street hemi even while the super stocks ran the 130 tooth and 10.5" clutch for NHRA. I have even seen race hemis and headers that required some grinding on block and starter to fit without interference of the power lugs. It will be easy enough to mock it up before install with the 143 he is doing and stock manifolds. He can see if the stock starter works. If not the mini should fit.
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Re: Question regarding swapping a 426 Gen II Hemi in 69 Superbee
[Re: Texican]
#2948281
07/28/21 07:36 PM
07/28/21 07:36 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,138 East Aurora (Buffalo) NY
RoadRunner
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,138
East Aurora (Buffalo) NY
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I dropped a hemi cross ram into my Road Runner on stock V-8 (383/440) K frame. I used the conversion mounts. In addition to the above I recommend TTi Headers. Mine fit well. The conversion mounts add about 1/4" in height to the placement of the motor. At least mine did. The TTis worked perfect. Also, double check the dipstick you use. Once the headers are in, it's impossible to change. As for dropping in assembled, only advice I can offer is that its easier to drop in a hemi without the transmission. But it take a couple of people to poke in the transmission or a good transmission floor jack. If dropping in assembled, it gets tight with the heads hitting the rear of the shock towers. I had a cross ram, and dropped it in assembled. I had to remove the items on the firewall (wiper motor, voltage regulator, engine wiring harness as the cross ram needs every fraction of an inch to drop in when angled.
68 Road Runner (383/4speed, post car w/decor pkg) - Major Project 69 Road Runner w/472 Hemi & 4 speed. 70 Challenger R/T SE EF8 w/ V9J, U - A32 - Major Project 2023 Ford Mach 1
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Re: Question regarding swapping a 426 Gen II Hemi in 69 Superbee
[Re: dragon slayer]
#2949958
08/03/21 10:51 AM
08/03/21 10:51 AM
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 581 Texas
Texican
OP
mopar
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OP
mopar
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 581
Texas
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Agreed, I'll be hooking up the bell housing, flywheel, starter, clutch, linkage, manifolds and hitting the fuel starter & coil with +12v to make sure all is good before installing it. I'll probably remove the valve covers to ensure they don't get dinged...
Last edited by Texican; 08/03/21 10:52 AM.
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