73 roadrunner 318 to 440 swap project9

[adk-roadrunner]

Ok here it goes I am starting a winter project on my 73 roadrunner. The project is to swap the original 318 and 904 to a 440 with 727 which I will also be rebuilding during this project. I have started the project by rounding up a few of the big things I will need. First we have the 8 3/4 sure grip rear end with 3.23 gears from a 73 charger which I picked up complete drum to drum. Next we have a 440 from a 78 motor home with supposedly 25,000 miles but don't they all but I will be rebuilding anyways. With the 440 I also got a 727 out of a 67 new yorker and a weiand aluminum intake. These are just the beginning lots more stuff to come I'm sure.

 

[roadrunnerman]

Cool, You'll have to show us pictures when you get started.

 

[CoronetRTguy]

Would love to see pics of the Road Runner and motor. I'm looking at that 73 Road Runner that has been in the back of my mind.

Maybe your project will make me pull trigger and buy it.

Tell us more about the car? Congrats on the project.

 

[adk-roadrunner]

Here we go some pics of the stuff I have got already.

- - - Updated - - -

Here are some pics of what I got done tonight getting the engine stripped down as I want to get it all to the machine shop soon. Everything looks pretty good for the most part the wooden thing is a holder I made to hold all of my pushrods and head bolts in their original positions in case I reuse them

 

[Ron 73]

Looks like your off to a great start! Good luck with the build, the rear gears should be pretty good with this engine powering them.

 

[adk-roadrunner]

I hope so I will be washing sandblasting resealing and finally repainting the new rear end some time in the next couple weeks. I will also look at the brakes on it to see what needs to be replaced . The rear end also came with the rear sway bar which I am missing as some one removed it and never put it back on as well as some leaf springs. I think I will sand blast and paint all of these as well.

 

[adk-roadrunner]

Hey quick question I still need to pull the damper off will I need some sort of puller to do this.

 

[Sprag]

Yes, you will need a puller. A quick google search found this image from a MoparMuscle project that shows one type of puller in use. I have not use this exact type of puller for this but it looks like it would work fine. Just don't use a jaw puller that pulls on the outside diameter, that's likely to ruin the damper. Cool project by the way, keep us posted.

 

[adk-roadrunner]

So I was thinking I believe I read that to have a standard the crank my be drilled and tapped. I was think some day I may wanna go that route I'm thinking while my crank is at the machine shop I should have this done. Would this affect my auto build now ? I would think it would be the time to do it while its out and there.

 

[moparmarks]

Now is the time to drill the pilot hole if there is a chance of a 4-spd later on.

 

[adk-roadrunner]

Where would I get the specs for the pilot hole.

 

[adk-roadrunner]

Here we go another piece of the puzzle arrived tonight was sitting on the porch when I got home. It is my 971 oil pan the one I need to use to put my 440 in using schumacher's motor mounts to hook to my sb k frame. I found it on craigslist and thought for sure I was gonna get ripped as he would only ship if I mailed a money order. The price was so much better than the others I found so I took the gamble and it got here quick and for only $50.00 shipped I'm not complaining.

 

[Propwash]

Nice organization of the parts! Must not be your first Rodeo. Motor looks pretty decent. A standard steering wheel puller will get the dampner off for you. I believe the thread size is 5/16" (course)..

 

[adk-roadrunner]

I am trying to decide what to do as far as manifolds go I would really like HP manifolds but seem kinda hard to find and exspensive. I was thinking headers at first but everyone seems to have problems with them is anyone out there using them in your 73-74 B bodies and how is it going for you and what are they. also what should I expect to pay for HP manifolds Ive seen some crazy prices on them.

 

[72chrgrally]

Just a quick note of caution when using the conversion mounts, double check the dimensions they provided. I used a set of their mounts when I put the 383 in my '73 charger and followed their dimensions to the letter and my engine was crooked as hell. I think the quality control on my k frame was less then exceptional. I ended up locating a big block k member.

 

[adk-roadrunner]

how much did you pay for the k member. I hadnt heard of people having problems with their mounts.

 

[72chrgrally]

how much did you pay for the k member. I hadnt heard of people having problems with their mounts.

I payed $200 for the k member, my problem wasn't the mounts it was the sb k frame. Rather then messing with sorting it out I got a proper k member.

 

[adk-roadrunner]

so was the stock motor crooked as well it must have been was their QC really that bed or was there accident damage of some kind that tweeked it.

 

[72chrgrally]

Yes it was the angle was exaggerated by the wider bb.

 

[adk-roadrunner]

So I'm trying to figure out what I'm gonna do for manifolds I would really like hp manifolds but can't seem to find some for a decent price. The guy who sold me my oil pan has a set of manifolds off he thinks a 76 new yorker and he said he would let them go for 40 for the pair and ship them for about 40 more. Here's a pic of them not sure if they would even work for me though.