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65 Belvedere II - motor rebuild

JamieBIdaho

Active Member
Local time
2:43 AM
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Jul 22, 2012
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Location
Hayden, Idaho
Hey guys, I don't come by here often, or as often as I'd like, since I have no time to work on my plymouth in the last two years. But, circumstances have forced me to do something. I blew the slant 6 on this car last week. I've had a 440 with 727 tran in my shop since I bought the car. I want to put that in the plymouth.

I have a new kmember, front suspension and drum to disc conversion coming as well. So I think I have all the parts to do the conversion.

Here are my questions for all you much more knowledgable mopar guys than I:

1. I've rebuilt for straight 6's and vw motors in the past but never a 440. I am looking to do the rebuild, minus machining, myself and have a decent shop to do it in. Would you recommend against that, if so why? I'm looking to spend some time with my growing boys showing them how it's done as I learn how its done. I have a mechanic friend of mine that would be available, although he doesn't think I should do this, and a fellow gear head that would love to do the project with me. Thoughts? I think I'd really enjoy doing it now that I have a big shop and some cash.

2. Converting to a big block v8 from a slant six - replacing the suspension, kemember and discs - does that cover all the mods I'd have to do on the front?

Thank you all so much for your assistance!


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Thanks! Got it three years ago. Inside looks just as good. No rust on the car and only one area in the back quarter that will need to be fixed at some point. Got real lucky on this one for only $2,500.

Slant six ran really well for a long time, but after an oil and coolant mishap, this sucker is ready for some power.

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I'm just throwing this out there and basing my knowledge on my Charger. Going from a slant 6 to big block. Beefier Torsion bars? Upgraded rear leaf springs?

Patrick
 
You may be right on there. They built this car to drag in the 6 cylinder class and put the 8 3/4 rear end on and it looks like beefier springs. But I don't think anything was done with the torsion bars.
 
I am doing the same conversion on a 65 Post car (2-door). My understanding is that the slant 6 torsion bars don't work well for a driver. It will bottom out too easily with the added weight. Mine is a bracket car and I may just leave the lighter bars in for now but change to some V-8 torsion bars later (I don't have any right now anyway).
-Matt
 
I say go for it! Would be a great project for you and the boys that they'll never forget!! My dad would have some input on this for he has done it as well. I'll tell him to read it.
 
I say go for it! Would be a great project for you and the boys that they'll never forget!! My dad would have some input on this for he has done it as well. I'll tell him to read it.


Thank you SuperShu, I would greatly appreciate that. Even if I screw it up, man I know I'll learn a lot.

When I pick up the front end, hopefully next week. I'll post the pics. I'm not sure if it includes new torsion bars or not, but he did say the new suspension is coming with it. Not sure what that includes.
 
Thanks! I can't take credit for much of anything up to this point, well except for blowin' up the slant 6 so that my wife and I could better justify slapping a 440 in it :)

This weekend I'll be getting my shop ready to pull the motor next weekend, see what I screwed up in it and starting taking apart the 440 to rebuild. Fun!
 
I have a 440 i want to "have" built someday, but i would love to have a slant 6 hear, maybe someday if i could find a little Dart or Duster that needed a power plant, i wouldn't think twice of putting it in, my brother in law just sold his 71 Cuda with a /6 and he took some crap from a lot from guys up town but as they had there cars sitting when gas prices went up, he had one very cool looking Cuda he was cruising in most every day! I always got a kick out of it, outside of his Harley, the best thing he owned for gas mileage lol... :)
 
I have a 440 i want to "have" built someday, but i would love to have a slant 6 hear, maybe someday if i could find a little Dart or Duster that needed a power plant, i wouldn't think twice of putting it in, my brother in law just sold his 71 Cuda with a /6 and he took some crap from a lot from guys up town but as they had there cars sitting when gas prices went up, he had one very cool looking Cuda he was cruising in most every day! I always got a kick out of it, outside of his Harley, the best thing he owned for gas mileage lol... :)

Totally agree on that one. Was getting 19 mpg before it blew. But I'm a little tired of getting dropped at the line by a mom in a mini van. Need cubic inches :)
 
I really like the color of your Belvedere, I had a slant 6 that I grew up learning to drive, 3 on the tree 225ci. What a great motor!

Good luck with your conversion and keep us up-to-date with progress reports and pics.
 
I really like the color of your Belvedere, I had a slant 6 that I grew up learning to drive, 3 on the tree 225ci. What a great motor!

Good luck with your conversion and keep us up-to-date with progress reports and pics.

Thanks! I hope to pick up some more parts this week and get my shop ready then we'll start and I'll have pics up all over the place!
 
So, with a little cash windfall, I'm thinking of taking in the 440 and having the long block completed. It's $1900.

s&J motors in Spokane.

What questions should I ask? Is there anything I should make sure I have done? Anything I shouldn't have done? Any guidance would really help me out.
 
So I've done nothing with this car since July. I opted not to go for the big block because I don't have the time to redo the front end. So, I have an opportunity to pick up a 360 with 727 that is running and in great condition for a great price. My question, the seller says it is a 360 big block out of a motor home, but my local car expert says mopar didn't make a big block smaller than 383. Could this 360 be a big block?
 
They made a 361, 383, 400, 413, 426, 440. Well, these are the most common. They actually made some 350's (Big block) but they are not that common. If it is a 361, it is a big block, basically a 383 with a small bore. If it is a 360 (LA block) then you will still need to swap K frames but use a different mount for the engine.
 
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