• When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

LS Swapped 69 Charger

I once tried to swap a 318 into my 65' Pontiac Tempest just to get it to the Zip Tie Drags. Unfortunately, it needed too many mods and I ran out of time, but at one point, the 318/727 was sitting in the engine bay. The original Pontiac motor was siezed and I couldn't get parts in time to rebuild it either, so I ended up roadtripping the Super Bee to Tuscon. Cars are easily changed to whatever you want to build and putting a 440 back in your car is just as easy, if not easier, than swapping in the LS. I had that 318 sitting in the Pontiac in less than an hour.

I do gotta say I like what you're doing here. I respect the build and understand that not everyone has a $10k budget to throw in a modern Hemi in it. These things are meant to be driven and if an LS gets it on the road, f#@%ing send it!!! I was really hoping to see a L33 5.3 in there, or any aluminum block LS, to get the weight down off the nose, but those cost more.

I am more interested in what you are going to do to get it out on a road course. I've had my Bee out for some HPDE's and I gotta say the B-body platform is pretty good and relatively inexpensive to make it a decent track car. No need for expensive suspension kits, the stock platform works with simple/cheap mods. With the weight reduction and LS power, you will drive circles around my 440-6 Bee on a roadcourse. I'll be paying attention for sure. Again, glad to see you get the car driving and hope to see you at the track.
 
I agree, with others
it's your car, do whatever blows your skirt up

but with all the great engine choices out there
you go with a GM LS platform
It's like everyone else is all doing, in all kinds of builds
(follow the trendy BS)
it's not something new or fresh or even different

don't get me wrong I think they make great power
they are plentiful & less expensive to build

but in such an Iconic Car as a 69 Charger

the car does appear really nice

to each their own, I don't have to agree with it
I just don't think it's a good choice
But;
I didn't pay for it either

YEAH...
Budnicks has "NAILED-IT" again....
And to add to his seemingly infinite wisdom...
1. You have the Car.
A) It can always be returned BACK to the original configuration.
That is a good thing.
Or, if dissatisfied...you can put in a new Gen style Hemi, a 383 built molar fuel injected engine or a 440 or 400 Mopar...it is your car.
So:
I will wish you the best on your ICONIC build...
And to support your progress...
I have been a subscriber to "Hemmings Muscle Machines since the 3rd issue.
They entire Magazine/Philosophy has changed recently and NOT to my liking.
But YES, they are showing more Resto-Mods with transplanted GM corporate engines
Perhaps the new Trend?
(again not for me, but hey...it's OK with me)
So, to sum it up for me?
Enjoy!
 
I once tried to swap a 318 into my 65' Pontiac Tempest just to get it to the Zip Tie Drags. Unfortunately, it needed too many mods and I ran out of time, but at one point, the 318/727 was sitting in the engine bay. The original Pontiac motor was siezed and I couldn't get parts in time to rebuild it either, so I ended up roadtripping the Super Bee to Tuscon. Cars are easily changed to whatever you want to build and putting a 440 back in your car is just as easy, if not easier, than swapping in the LS. I had that 318 sitting in the Pontiac in less than an hour.

I do gotta say I like what you're doing here. I respect the build and understand that not everyone has a $10k budget to throw in a modern Hemi in it. These things are meant to be driven and if an LS gets it on the road, f#@%ing send it!!! I was really hoping to see a L33 5.3 in there, or any aluminum block LS, to get the weight down off the nose, but those cost more.

I am more interested in what you are going to do to get it out on a road course. I've had my Bee out for some HPDE's and I gotta say the B-body platform is pretty good and relatively inexpensive to make it a decent track car. No need for expensive suspension kits, the stock platform works with simple/cheap mods. With the weight reduction and LS power, you will drive circles around my 440-6 Bee on a roadcourse. I'll be paying attention for sure. Again, glad to see you get the car driving and hope to see you at the track.

Superbemike:
Is that Willow Springs on your Avatar?
 
I guess you could look at it this way even though many won’t admit it how many top fuel cars have Chrysler alky Hemis under the tilt up lid or under that gm or ford body... I guess those are boring too? But seriously a charger with a big block boring... ?

Alcohol burning Hemis don't belong in Top Fuel cars...
 
I had to go back to the original post to see if he asked for anybody's opinion of his build. NOPE! I think back to when I was 18 (57 years ago) and put a small block Chevy in my 31 Ford Coupe. Nobody gave me crap about that. Then when I put a small block Chevy in my 51 Ford Coupe after frying my built flathead, nobody gave me crap either. I guess people were more respectful of a project that actually came to fruition.
Some of the comments on this thread are downright rude and insulting. What were you building when you were 18? I hear a lot of "your car, build it like you want to" followed by comments about how you would have done it or what engine you would have installed. Who gives a crap about your opinion if it's not asked for? I don't know what gives some people the idea that they can tear down a poster's ride because they think that their way is the only way. I guess it's the anonymity of the keyboard. Would they do that in person at a cruise in or car show? I wonder.
I, for one, applaud Pritchert403 for his forward thinking, depth of knowledge and ability to get his car on the road. Is hot-rodding dead for everyone or just the closed minded Mopar crowd that have to see everything their way?
BTW, I'm not asking for opinions...
 
Who gives a crap about your opinion if it's not asked for?
BTW, I'm not asking for opinions...

but you still gave yours here anyway too...

sort of hypocritical isn't it ?

who cares
 
Hope you guys didn't scare the kid away. While not my cup of tea, I would be thrilled if any of my kids showed as much interest in these cars as he does. And on top of that, his skills are outstanding for his age. IMO, an engine swap like this is easily reversible if a guy was ever so inclined. It is way better than chopping up the metal and trying to improve on Ma Mopars body lines. I give him 2 thumbs up and hope he sticks around :thumbsup:.
 
but you still gave yours here anyway too...

sort of hypocritical isn't it ?

who cares

Obviously you do! It's not hypocritical at all. I was commenting on all the negativity directed at a member's build. See? I gave an opinion on that and you gave an opinion on me. Are we even now?
 
Young gun this and that. Cant afford a BBM? Turbo LS swap = $1500? C’mon man.
No one seems to have asked how can an 18 year old afford a fairly nice Charger in the first place? This aint the early 90s...? Days of cheap 60s cars are gone, much less 2nd gen Chargers. Turbo’ing LS’s isnt a super cheap endeavor even from a ‘Sloppy’ standpoint (some of you guys may get this reference). It was difficult for me to buy my car as a daily driver, pay insurance, and buy a clapped out c body for its powertrain back when the stuff was cheap as a teenager. Im quite familiar w/ the LS platform - something stinks here.
 
...dang...this thread needs to be moved to the Political Forum....there be some serious side taking here...

:rofl:


watermelon
 
I once tried to swap a 318 into my 65' Pontiac Tempest just to get it to the Zip Tie Drags. Unfortunately, it needed too many mods and I ran out of time, but at one point, the 318/727 was sitting in the engine bay. The original Pontiac motor was siezed and I couldn't get parts in time to rebuild it either, so I ended up roadtripping the Super Bee to Tuscon. Cars are easily changed to whatever you want to build and putting a 440 back in your car is just as easy, if not easier, than swapping in the LS. I had that 318 sitting in the Pontiac in less than an hour.

I do gotta say I like what you're doing here. I respect the build and understand that not everyone has a $10k budget to throw in a modern Hemi in it. These things are meant to be driven and if an LS gets it on the road, f#@%ing send it!!! I was really hoping to see a L33 5.3 in there, or any aluminum block LS, to get the weight down off the nose, but those cost more.

I am more interested in what you are going to do to get it out on a road course. I've had my Bee out for some HPDE's and I gotta say the B-body platform is pretty good and relatively inexpensive to make it a decent track car. No need for expensive suspension kits, the stock platform works with simple/cheap mods. With the weight reduction and LS power, you will drive circles around my 440-6 Bee on a roadcourse. I'll be paying attention for sure. Again, glad to see you get the car driving and hope to see you at the track.
Thanks! The plan for right now is the usual hotchkis upgrades and better wheels/tires until I get a big enough space to tear it all apart and build something new. I’m thinking along the lines of C5 corvette based suspension but still pretty undecided
 
Young gun this and that. Cant afford a BBM? Turbo LS swap = $1500? C’mon man.
No one seems to have asked how can an 18 year old afford a fairly nice Charger in the first place? This aint the early 90s...? Days of cheap 60s cars are gone, much less 2nd gen Chargers. Turbo’ing LS’s isnt a super cheap endeavor even from a ‘Sloppy’ standpoint (some of you guys may get this reference). It was difficult for me to buy my car as a daily driver, pay insurance, and buy a clapped out c body for its powertrain back when the stuff was cheap as a teenager. Im quite familiar w/ the LS platform - something stinks here.
Ive got 600 bucks into the turbo and everything that goes along with it, I’d say that’s pretty damn cheap. You can think what you’d like but I bought the car with money I made by getting lucky and flipping a couple other chargers, a 1968 and a 1970.
 
Superbemike:
Is that Willow Springs on your Avatar?
Thunder Hill in Willows, California

Thanks! The plan for right now is the usual hotchkis upgrades and better wheels/tires until I get a big enough space to tear it all apart and build something new. I’m thinking along the lines of C5 corvette based suspension but still pretty undecided

Pritchert, C5 stuff would be awesome. Getting modern geometery and brakes is huge. I wanted to get all of the latest/greatest parts but things are just to expensive. Then I pondered the Crown Vic setup because its cheap and appeared to be minimally invasive, but I didn't have the time to sort something like that out. If you start with the factory Charger setup, I can give you a run down of parts I used. The upgrades on my car, including wheels and tires was in the neighborhood of $2500 and I had it on the track in a weeks worth of work. Its not the fastest car out there but it is the most fun and works really well.

IMG_3097.jpg IMG_6515.jpg IMG_8297.jpg
 
Following Pritchert403,

Pulling the Hemi from my 1970 Superbee,

Does anyone have a LS2 or LS3for sale?

IMG_3485.jpeg



image.gif


PS: Oh yeah, it is coming out......
Tuesday or Wednesday this week (Nov 23 or Nov 24)
 
Last edited:
I had to go back to the original post to see if he asked for anybody's opinion of his build. NOPE! I think back to when I was 18 (57 years ago) and put a small block Chevy in my 31 Ford Coupe. Nobody gave me crap about that. Then when I put a small block Chevy in my 51 Ford Coupe after frying my built flathead, nobody gave me crap either. I guess people were more respectful of a project that actually came to fruition.
Some of the comments on this thread are downright rude and insulting. What were you building when you were 18? I hear a lot of "your car, build it like you want to" followed by comments about how you would have done it or what engine you would have installed. Who gives a crap about your opinion if it's not asked for? I don't know what gives some people the idea that they can tear down a poster's ride because they think that their way is the only way. I guess it's the anonymity of the keyboard. Would they do that in person at a cruise in or car show? I wonder.
I, for one, applaud Pritchert403 for his forward thinking, depth of knowledge and ability to get his car on the road. Is hot-rodding dead for everyone or just the closed minded Mopar crowd that have to see everything their way?
BTW, I'm not asking for opinions...

coloradodave and Budnicks and many other members are "Right on"
Yeah, I understand both "points of view"
Bottom line (again I will say it as in a previous post by me)
Post 102:
1. You have the Car.
A) It can always be returned BACK to the original configuration.
That is a good thing.
Or, if dissatisfied...you can put in a new Gen style Hemi, a 383 built molar fuel injected engine or a 440 or 400 Mopar...it is your car.
So: Enjoy.
 
have a friend of mine who owns a scrap yard, he gets in running 5.3 and 6.0 all the time he told me he would sell me a motor that runs for scrap price, yep $75 4l60e for $50 figured the duster ls swap may become a reality. figured I moc up a twin turbo and run the **** out of it. just need to buy a better welder. then when i get it figured out build one.
 
Auto Transport Service
Back
Top