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Expert
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Location: Alaska | There was a recent discussion about about putting a newer 318 in the older FLs. There was some disagreement about using the older motor mounts on the newer engine to make the swap easier. I will post a couple of pics. that may help. These pics. are of a 1997 5.2 (318) out of a Dodge Dakota. As can be seen, these engines still have the mount ears on the front of the block just like the older engines. I didn't have a 57-61 mount to try but I believe the older mounts would bolt on without mods.
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 20151016_180618.jpg (136KB - 134 downloads)
20151016_180557.jpg (224KB - 140 downloads)
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Expert
Posts: 3035
Location: N.W. Fla. | looks like it might work |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1102
Location: Hayward, Calif | I'm putting a 360 in a 59 Dodge. I'm using the the 360 eng mounts but had to modify them a bit to fit the angle of the front xmember. Previous owner made an ugly mess of these mounts so I cut everything off flush on the xmember and starting fresh. I also couldn't get the eng to set forward enough to set dr line angle so had to slightly modify the oil pan. I don't know if the 318 and the 360 share the same block length. I posted pics of this in the ' Pacific Northwest,,,' section. Hope this info may be of some help. Jerry |
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Expert
Posts: 1740
Location: Alaska | The 318 and 360 have the same external dimensions but the 360 has slightly different dimensions for the mount ears on one side,IIRC the right. The 318 and 360 oil pans are not interchangeable because of the size of the rear main. I believe the 360 truck engine oil pan would give you more clearance because of its rear sump. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1102
Location: Hayward, Calif | The 360 rear sump looked like it was going to have clearance issues with the tie rod so I got a pass car pan. Jerry |
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 8947
Location: WHEELING,WV.>>>HOME OF WWVA | any a-poly center sump should have worked for ya . i had to do pretty much the same deal using a 69 383 . the sump was to far forward on the 69 . so i had to use a 64 mid sump 383
oil pan fits just like the 318 poly did , luckily i had one left ---------------------------------------------------later |
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 9697
Location: So. Cal | 58coupe - 2015-10-18 12:13 PM
...but the 360 has slightly different dimensions for the mount ears on one side,IIRC the right...
Actually, it is the left that is different. And it uses the same mount as the 340 motor. But the important thing to keep in mind is that even though the mounts will physically bolt up, the old blocks are quite a bit wider than the new ones. So the LA motor doesn't interchange with the poly's & hemis easily. |
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Expert
Posts: 1740
Location: Alaska | I don't think the 318 poly block is wider that the LA318 block as the same casting was modified and used. Why would the block be wider when the deck height and the rods are the same length? |
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 9697
Location: So. Cal | You obviously haven't tried the swap or made the measurements. I can assure you that they are. The LA motor was specifically designed to go into the '64 A-body, which had been designed only for the slant 6 motor in the past. Thus, they needed to narrow the motor to make it fit better. That was the whole purpose of creating a new engine casting (along with reducing it's weight so they can save money) instead of continuing on with the poly motor like the bigger cars used through 1966. Also, narrowing the motor was a significant part of reducing it's weight because it can use a smaller intake & head.
Edited by Powerflite 2015-10-20 1:35 AM
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Expert
Posts: 1819
Location: Vancouver, BC | Powerflite - 2015-10-20 1:15 AM
You obviously haven't tried the swap or made the measurements. I can assure you that they are. The LA motor was specifically designed to go into the '64 A-body, which had been designed only for the slant 6 motor in the past. Thus, they needed to narrow the motor to make it fit better. That was the whole purpose of creating a new engine casting (along with reducing it's weight so they can save money) instead of continuing on with the poly motor like the bigger cars used through 1966. Also, narrowing the motor was a significant part of reducing it's weight because it can use a smaller intake & head.
The poly A block is not wider than the wedge LA block. The poly heads are wider which makes the complete engine (block and heads) wider than the LA. And it was the switch to a wedge head instead of poly that permitted a smaller (narrower), and lighter, head for the LA block. Chrysler also added a small scalloped area down by the steering box to permit more room.
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 9697
Location: So. Cal | Show me the measurements. When I measured it in the past, I had around 17.5-17.75" mount to mount for the LA, and 18.25" mount to mount for the poly/hemi. This is the upper bolt position.
Edit: Although, it could be true that the mounts are closer to the crank on the LA or, that they stick out from the block less so that it may be possible for the two motors to have the same angular spread, I'm not sure.
Edited by Powerflite 2015-10-20 11:01 AM
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318 engine swap
