- Local time
- 3:23 PM
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2012
- Messages
- 39,184
- Reaction score
- 143,259
- Location
- Granite Bay CA
I'm considering all options for this car:
Currently, it has it's original 383 with a MP 280/474 cam and it isn't that impressive. It has a decent 727. I want to retain an automatic transmission of some type.
I've thought of a stroke kit from the 440 source, I've thought of going with a stroked LA or Magnum 360/5.9 to take advantage of the anxiety reduction I'd feel with a stock based roller camshaft. I'm also open to the idea of a 5.7 Hemi. The advantage of the LA/Magnum or Hemi is that I could use an A500 or A518 trans to get that great overdrive gear. Big block automatic overdrives mean aftermarket stuff that will cost a lot more to do.
The only people that I have seen do the late model Hemi seem to really go all out with it....so much so that it is far more expensive than I want to deal with. I've seen nobody do a build with factory manifolds, a carbed intake and a Chrysler OD Trans.
I have no immediate plans for any of this, I'm just curious about the options.
The absolute simplest and cheapest would be a roller cam and stroke kit for this engine so the exhaust and induction can be retained and a 500/518 with a B/RB aftermarket bell housing attached to it. THAT or a Gear Vendors to tack onto the end of this 727.
Low tech but it would work.
The 5.7 Hemi swap is interesting though. I'd retain the stock K member and suspension. I'd use the 6.4 exhaust manifolds that a buddy gave me.
The engine mount brackets and transmission crossmember from Holley....
The 5.7 I have is still in my 2007 truck and is still running great even at 407,000 miles. Of course, it will need to be rebuilt so a longer stroke crank kit would be great. Still, it is a truck engine so the oil pan is wrong,
and so is the front end accessory drive...add in the costs for those:
That alone makes it a deal breaker. NO way I'd pay $3400 + for all of this stuff. I'm at $4300 just to get the engine in place and I still don't have a computer to run it or a fuel system to feed it and the engine internals have not been touched. No wonder people go BIG when they do this swap....They must figure that if they're spending $6000 before ever touching the inside of the engine, they might as well go all the way and use a new crate engine.
At this sort of expense, I'd be much better off going with the stroked 383 with a roller cam and Gear Vendors. I'm just looking for more power, some comfortable freeway driving and reliability. The old fashioned engines are not high tech but they can still work good enough for me.
Currently, it has it's original 383 with a MP 280/474 cam and it isn't that impressive. It has a decent 727. I want to retain an automatic transmission of some type.
I've thought of a stroke kit from the 440 source, I've thought of going with a stroked LA or Magnum 360/5.9 to take advantage of the anxiety reduction I'd feel with a stock based roller camshaft. I'm also open to the idea of a 5.7 Hemi. The advantage of the LA/Magnum or Hemi is that I could use an A500 or A518 trans to get that great overdrive gear. Big block automatic overdrives mean aftermarket stuff that will cost a lot more to do.
The only people that I have seen do the late model Hemi seem to really go all out with it....so much so that it is far more expensive than I want to deal with. I've seen nobody do a build with factory manifolds, a carbed intake and a Chrysler OD Trans.
I have no immediate plans for any of this, I'm just curious about the options.
The absolute simplest and cheapest would be a roller cam and stroke kit for this engine so the exhaust and induction can be retained and a 500/518 with a B/RB aftermarket bell housing attached to it. THAT or a Gear Vendors to tack onto the end of this 727.
Low tech but it would work.
The 5.7 Hemi swap is interesting though. I'd retain the stock K member and suspension. I'd use the 6.4 exhaust manifolds that a buddy gave me.
The engine mount brackets and transmission crossmember from Holley....
The 5.7 I have is still in my 2007 truck and is still running great even at 407,000 miles. Of course, it will need to be rebuilt so a longer stroke crank kit would be great. Still, it is a truck engine so the oil pan is wrong,
and so is the front end accessory drive...add in the costs for those:
That alone makes it a deal breaker. NO way I'd pay $3400 + for all of this stuff. I'm at $4300 just to get the engine in place and I still don't have a computer to run it or a fuel system to feed it and the engine internals have not been touched. No wonder people go BIG when they do this swap....They must figure that if they're spending $6000 before ever touching the inside of the engine, they might as well go all the way and use a new crate engine.
At this sort of expense, I'd be much better off going with the stroked 383 with a roller cam and Gear Vendors. I'm just looking for more power, some comfortable freeway driving and reliability. The old fashioned engines are not high tech but they can still work good enough for me.
Last edited:
