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440 swap in 74 charger

64plymouth

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I inherited my Dad's 74 Charger 318. It is a Wisconsin car that he drove till 1986. So not to pretty, interior is nice an ok driver. He always had plans of fixing it up but is health didn't allow that. I put mags with 50s on it dual glasspack exhaust and have been driving a little for the last couple years. I have a 440 (my old bracket motor) that I want to put in. Looking for advice on motor mount , 1-7/8 or 1-3/4 headers would like to keep P/S. Shifter linkage. Will column shift from 904 to 727 be same? Any other advice.
 
You're going to need a big block K frame or conversion motor mounts, header clearance on the passenger side will be tight. I think the linkage will work, but not sure. Drive shaft length may also be different. Depending on what year water pump housing you have, you may have to change the housing or the radiator. Of course going to a big block, you may want to go with more cooling capacity, and you will defiantly want a shroud whatever you do.

Mark
 
I think you will have to go to a different oil pan on that 440. I think the 73-74 years are a different sump
 
Pretty much everything @Master Gunner mentioned and a 971 oil pan with pickup since the early ones will hit the k-frame. Conversion mounts are out there but no longer made.
 
I understand a Ca. cale7led MoTech Performance bought Schumacher conversions business and are in process of getting stock back up. Look up on FaceBook/
 
I inherited my Dad's 74 Charger 318. It is a Wisconsin car that he drove till 1986. So not to pretty, interior is nice an ok driver. He always had plans of fixing it up but is health didn't allow that. I put mags with 50s on it dual glasspack exhaust and have been driving a little for the last couple years. I have a 440 (my old bracket motor) that I want to put in. Looking for advice on motor mount , 1-7/8 or 1-3/4 headers would like to keep P/S. Shifter linkage. Will column shift from 904 to 727 be same? Any other advice.

I have done this same conversion with Schumacher conversion mounts. Regular oil pans for big block 74 Charger will not fit if you keep the small block K frame. You can keep the small block K as long as you use a center sump oil pan. The Miloden 7qt center sump race pan works. It does hang down quite a bit, so plan on keeping the nose up. I added a 2 inch deep skid plate to protect mine. You can also notch the K about 2 inches to clear a stock oil pan.

You will need a shorter driveshaft for the 727 and the correct 727 yoke. I used Hooker Comp headers which required clearancing at the PS box and T-Bars. I was pretty sure this would be the case so I purchased black painted headers instead of smashing up a nice set. You cannot keep your column shift and linkage if you install long tube headers unless you are willing to customize it. I converted to Slapstick on mine.

If the Schumacher conversion mounts are not available, then other options are finding a big block K-frame or fabbing some yourself.
 
On a positive note- they sold a LOT of 400 powered 73-78 B body cars and I still see them (usually Cordobas) from time to time at U-pull yards.
 
I have done this same conversion with Schumacher conversion mounts. Regular oil pans for big block 74 Charger will not fit if you keep the small block K frame. You can keep the small block K as long as you use a center sump oil pan. The Miloden 7qt center sump race pan works. It does hang down quite a bit, so plan on keeping the nose up. I added a 2 inch deep skid plate to protect mine. You can also notch the K about 2 inches to clear a stock oil pan.

You will need a shorter driveshaft for the 727 and the correct 727 yoke. I used Hooker Comp headers which required clearancing at the PS box and T-Bars. I was pretty sure this would be the case so I purchased black painted headers instead of smashing up a nice set. You cannot keep your column shift and linkage if you install long tube headers unless you are willing to customize it. I converted to Slapstick on mine.

If the Schumacher conversion mounts are not available, then other options are finding a big block K-frame or fabbing some yourself.
What size headers did you use? 1-3/4 or 1-7/8? Did you put an exhaust system on? I will have to look for conversion mounts or K frame. I have the Milodon pan on motor already. I will be swapping the 8-1/4 or a 8-3/4. I guess my biggest concern is headers and exhaust system. So 1-3/4 headers are probably the choice. Thanks.
 
On a positive note- they sold a LOT of 400 powered 73-78 B body cars and I still see them (usually Cordobas) from time to time at U-pull yards.
My problem is I'm in northern Wisconsin and big block k frames aren't sitting around like they were 25 years ago. And I don't think shipping would be to easy. Conversion mounts are probably my best bet.
 
My problem is I'm in northern Wisconsin and big block k frames aren't sitting around like they were 25 years ago. And I don't think shipping would be to easy. Conversion mounts are probably my best bet.
Gotta pay ta play! Shouldn't be too bad on a pallet through a FASTENAL or through a Greyhound hub. K frame may be easier to find anyway. Try Jimmy Boros. He is mostly 71 to 2 stuff but worth a shot. airgrabber.com
A1recharged on ebay I think.
As far as linkage, colmun shift will suck to make work. I also am using the Hooker 1 7/8 Comps. With a slapstick, I had to flip one of the rods upsidedown to work. Im running a B motor in a 71 Charger though
 
Also have your driveshaft cut to length if too long and look into a bigger radiator
 
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What size headers did you use? 1-3/4 or 1-7/8? Did you put an exhaust system on? I will have to look for conversion mounts or K frame. I have the Milodon pan on motor already. I will be swapping the 8-1/4 or a 8-3/4. I guess my biggest concern is headers and exhaust system. So 1-3/4 headers are probably the choice. Thanks.

I used #5903 which is 1-7/8 primary. Again, needed some massaging but they ultimately worked. Exhaust was Summit #68140 2-1/2 inch. It fit nicely once I figured out that one pipe in the package was wrong. I would buy it again.
 
I used #5903 which is 1-7/8 primary. Again, needed some massaging but they ultimately worked. Exhaust was Summit #68140 2-1/2 inch. It fit nicely once I figured out that one pipe in the package was wrong. I would buy it again.
You remember which piece it was. I am in the middle of installing the same kit. That would be nice to know if I ran into an issue. I have the same headers also in my 71
 
You remember which piece it was. I am in the middle of installing the same kit. That would be nice to know if I ran into an issue. I have the same headers also in my 71

I believe it was the pipe behind the muff on the passenger side. It was clearly not the right pipe, but I made it work sectioning a straight piece in. Was almost 10 years ago...
 
I believe it was the pipe behind the muff on the passenger side. It was clearly not the right pipe, but I made it work sectioning a straight piece in. Was almost 10 years ago...
So far I have just two section pieces coming out of the collectors and then to the muffler and that's it to keep the neighbors at bay, I noticed a piece that is supposed to go on the driver side after the muffler fits through the hump better at the crossmember before the muffler so I'm going to see how that pans out
 
I used #5903 which is 1-7/8 primary. Again, needed some massaging but they ultimately worked. Exhaust was Summit #68140 2-1/2 inch. It fit nicely once I figured out that one pipe in the package was wrong. I would buy it again.
Thanks!
 
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