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| I have a question I know all you smarties will answer easily for me. Will a LA 318 and 904 trans bolt in fairly easily into a 57 Dodge chassis. It does appear to me that the engine will swap fairly easily as the elephant ears look the same, but has anyone done this swap? |
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Location: Newark, Texas (Fort Worth) | What engine was in the car originally? Marc.
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Location: Ripon, WI | As swaps go, cake is the word I would say. You need to change the exhaust, motor mounts are the same, and you will need to change the trans mount and driveshaft. Depending on how the engine sits in the compartment, you may have to notch the heater box. |
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Location: N.W. Fla. | probably need a modern rear axle to get a parking brake. |
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Location: Kennewick Wa | Imperial Services has the shift cable to keep the buttons. |
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Location: Colo Spgs | Dallas
We are what you have labeled us because we have done this - helped with this or have learned what to do --- from others mistakes.
It does not mean we remember all the details.
The first question from Marc is a very good item to know. Also The Rear Axle and The Shift Unit Hint's.
1. The 1967 to 1974 Dodge Truck or Vans have the correct Design Routed Left Exhaust Manifold ( aka the center dump on the Starter Side ).
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Two Right Side Exhaust Manifolds will also work - from any place that you source them from. Remove The Flapper Unit and seal it for The Left Side usage.
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1a. After 1975 they all show they are from a "Smog Motor". The Exhaust Manifold's from #1 will bolt to a after 1975 Set of Engine Heads.
2. From 1958 to 1988 The 318 Series of Engines have several design location's of The Oil Pan slump. Make sure what you need is what you have.
3. The 1964 to 1974 Valve Tappet Covers from any LA Series Engine will not have "Smog Engine" item's tack welded to them.
4. Use any pre-1969 MoPar Small Block Water Pump with The Water Pumps In-let pointing to The Lower Left ( The Starter Side ).
4a. Pulley's Aligned is part of this.
5. The better swap's that you see will have The 1957 Engine Color.
Rodger and Gabby
COS |
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| The car in question is a 58 Dodge suburban wagon, with a factory 313/318 (not sure really how to tell the difference). The engine is seized in the wagon. I have access to a 74 Plymouth Valiant 318/904 with 49,000 miles on it with the only issue being the carb is shot. I figured it might just be a fairly easy swap to get the wagon back on the road. Plans are then to upgrade to disc brakes on the front, and swap in a Ford explorer differential. I have a friend that has a lot of scrap iron/ vehicles that will let me pick stuff over (I treat him well with my old stuff too and bring him scrap), so finding exhaust manifolds shouldn't be too hard. I do hope the oil pan will be the right one for an easy swap. Before anybody gets unhappy with my plans, just know that I originally bought this car to strip down and use for parts for my 57 D500 wagon, but the car is too nice to strip down and thus will see the road again in some form. The restoration of the D500 wagon will go ahead with other donor car parts.
Thanks for all the help so far. You guys are a wealth of knowledge!
Edited by red 2014-05-02 9:56 PM
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Location: N.W. Fla. | The LA sumps are either front(car) or rear(van & pick up) yours is center sump, isn't it? Someone else can join in on this...thinking the oil pans interchange between A & LA, if so you only have to figure out the oil pump pick up tube. If yours is rear the choice is easy just get a pan, pick up tube, dipstick & tube from a van or P.U. |
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Location: Colo Spgs | Hola Yo'll
You have The Right Side Exhaust Manifold. All you need to do is get The left Side ( aka Starter Side ) from a 1967 to 1974 Dodge Truck or use The right side from any
pre- 1975 LA Series of Engine. The need is to have "two center dumps".
The first year Dodge used Plymouths "Poly" Engine was 1959 ( and Dodge insisted it be 326 Cubes ). This means if you have The Plymouth V8 now --- it has already
had a engine change.
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The Inter-change ability of The Original Plymouth Design Engines Oil Pan ( and its matching Oil Pick up Unit will bolt to the 1974 LA-318 as said by George ).
The short nosed A-318 Water Pump is the same unit that you need on The 1974 LA-318. Just get a new Gasket. The "shallow" Water Pump Pulley from The Original
Engine also goes to The LA-318.
Do look for problems aligning The 1974 Crank Shaft Pulley with the short item's. The 1972 year was the change over year.
The Carburetor from The Poly will fit to the 1974 LA-318 ( another new gasket for it too )
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What is wrong with The Rear Axle that you now have ? The Ford Rear Axle is going to need some "fabbing" to attach it. What Gear Ratio is The FoMoCo Unit???
Rodger and Gabby
Colo Spg
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Location: WHEELING,WV.>>>HOME OF WWVA | red , scrape the block below the left side/drivers side head , you'll find what poly motor it is by the numbers you find there . sometimes it take a lot of scraping/cleaning and the numbers
might be shallow stamped ----------------------------------------------------------later |
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Location: N.W. Fla. | Rodger - 2014-05-03 12:42 AM
What is wrong with The Rear Axle that you now have ?
Rodger and Gabby
Colo Spg
Nothing, until he goes to work on the brakes.. |
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| I'm pretty sure the car has never had an engine swap. Remember here, we are talking a Canadian built car. My reasoning for going with the explorer diff, is that from what I understand they are very near the same width, and are an 8.8 diff which means plenty of strength. Also as said, the brakes are easy to get parts for as are any seals etc. Rewelding the spring saddle mounts on isn't an issue for me at all. I think the gear ratio hould be in the 3.55-3.73 range. |
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Location: Ripon, WI | If you need any LA engine parts, I am going to be parting out the 360 in my Dodge pretty soon. I want to go with a poly in mine, and I have a bunch of speed and dress parts on the 360 that will finance my poly build. |
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| Now that I've had all you guys scratching your heads to make that 74 318/904 swap into my 58. I now need your advice on doing a 318 magnum swap from a 97 1500 2wd pickup instead. I have a neighbor that has a insurance write off pickup and am now considering swapping in that drivetrain instead of the carbed 318. The benefits of swapping in the magnum is the fuel injection (I will need to find out how to delete the catalytic convertors and security system) and the overdrive transmission. Not to mention the increase in power in stock form. What will I need to do this swap? |
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Location: North of the 49th | Hi
I'm not familiar enough with the "new stuff" to be "parts specific" but I have played with a few fuel injected vehicles and from what I can see you'd have to consider the following: Modifying the fuel tank to install the pump and the installation of any new fuel lines , as I believe the fuel injection uses a circulating type system. The engine control computer and all of the sensors required such as the oxygen sensor , and any Electrical feeds from the ignition switch , the relays and so on. It would probably be prudent to get a copy of the service manual or at the very least the Electrical schematic for the '97. Mechanically probably very similar to to the '74 , maybe the other guys here can fill in stuff about what manifolds to use etc.
You mentioned that your '58 is a Canadian built version , would you be so kind as to post a picture as I' restoring a Canadian Built '58 Custom Suburban , it would be nice to get a view of another one ....its like they've fallen off the Planet.... THX |
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| This is the only picture I have on my computer right now. I'm not sure if it really helps you much. My "to do" list includes taking a lot more pictures of my stuff and better quality pictures.
 (58 Dodge at 15%.jpg)
Attachments
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 58 Dodge at 15%.jpg (189KB - 236 downloads)
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Location: Minor Hill, TN | No it will not bolt on the transmission I asked my dad and told me it would not work. You would be better off taking the motor apart a and rebuilding it. wrong subject sorry y'all
Edited by 1961plymouthfury 2014-08-03 8:02 AM
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Location: Vancouver, BC |
You have a Canadian 1957 Dodge with a V8 engine so you have a 303 V8 , if it is original. Engine number should start with D65. The Custom Royal had the 313 in 1957 and from 1958 to 1964 the 313 was the base V8 engine in Canadian-built Plymouths and Dodges.
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Location: North of the 49th | Hi red
Thanks for posting a pic of your '58 its nice to see that another one exists and with all due respect to Chrycoman , the car is a '58 the Sportone is
unique to '58 ...check out the Regent level Sportone for '57 and you'll see . So the model code is LE2 and not D65. I bet your eyes went right for the "V" on the fender which for U.S cars is a specific '57 piece. Early '58 Canadian built cars with V-8's got them as is the case with my car. I have a Canadian built Savoy that has them as well , its original as I'm the second owner going on 40 years. |
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Location: Vancouver, BC | grunau - 2014-08-03 10:43 PM
Hi red
Thanks for posting a pic of your '58 its nice to see that another one exists and with all due respect to Chrycoman , the car is a '58 the Sportone is
unique to '58 ...check out the Regent level Sportone for '57 and you'll see . So the model code is LE2 and not D65. I bet your eyes went right for the "V" on the fender which for U.S cars is a specific '57 piece. Early '58 Canadian built cars with V-8's got them as is the case with my car. I have a Canadian built Savoy that has them as well , its original as I'm the second owner going on 40 years.
Actually, my eyes were stuck on red's first post -
"I have a question I know all you smarties will answer easily for me. Will a LA 318 and 904 trans bolt in fairly easily into a 57 Dodge chassis. It does appear to me that the engine will swap fairly easily as the elephant ears look the same, but has anyone done this swap?"
Thus 1957 was stick in my mind.
Actually, the V was not placed on early production Plymouths and Dodges, but later after serial number 4182. The V is the same unit as used in 1957 - part number 1620575.
Chrysler Canada did much the same with the 1962 models, adding a V on each Pymouth front fender and one on the rear panel of the Dodge in October, 1961.
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Location: North of the 49th | Hi
I briefly owned a '62 and yes the small "V" was there , in fact it was the same piece as on the Tailgate of a '59 Dodge I had also owned for a spell. Now you have me wondering about the "V's" on my '58's as the Vin numbers are indeed lower than the one you mention, the Dodge wagon is much lower....
But this isn't helping red any with his car but if possible I would like to discuss this with a PM If that's Ok ....
Edited by grunau 2014-08-04 10:29 AM
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Location: Vancouver, BC | grunau - 2014-08-04 9:52 AM
Hi
I briefly owned a '62 and yes the small "V" was there , in fact it was the same piece as on the Tailgate of a '59 Dodge I had also owned for a spell. Now you have me wondering about the "V's" on my '58's as the Vin numbers are indeed lower than the one you mention, the Dodge wagon is much lower....
But this isn't helping red any with his car but if possible I would like to discuss this with a PM If that's Ok ....
That would be great.
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| My apologies to everyone. The black wagon in the picture is a 58 Canadian model and the one I am planning a powertrain swap. Thanks for all the technical help. |
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Location: Kennewick Wa | Is there a lot of different things to do when installing a 440/727, or is it pretty much the same?? |
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318 LA engine swap
