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Calling all shade tree engineers (move engine 1/2" to driver sidde)

JPrusinows

JPrusinows

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Guys,

Once again I need your help! Lots of demons in this current project. Long and short is I have an old school build with a 440 Wedge block, Stage V heads w/Rollers in a 65 Belvedere. Very cool setup with well over 700 HP and torque. It has a V-8 K frame (original 318 car). I am assuming it has some type of motor mount kit (different isolaters for a 440), not sure who's as it was done several years ago.

Anyway for my purposes (actually wanting to remove the valve cover on the passenger side) I need to move the engine 1/2" toward the drivers side. The headers and everything else that could possibly get in the way allow this to happen.

Just don't know the best method to achieve this? I have lots of thoughts and ideas but was hoping someone may have been faced with this before and engineered a solution! LOL!

Thanks again and in advance,

Jeff
 
Just thinking if you move it will that not throw your whole drive line off trans to rear axel? Good luck KB9GIB
 
I'd sure like to see a pic or two of this situation. Are you saying you can't remove the passenger
valve cover at all?
 
I think the engines are offset a bit to the right from the factory. Why can you not remove the valve cover on an RB engine? How will moving the engine over work with the transmission clearance under the driveshaft tunnel? Shift linkage? This doesn't sound like it will work too well, IMHO.
 
Pretty sure the main reason for the offset to the pass side, was clearance for the steering box.
Don't know for sure, but wonder if a Hemi k frame, for 65, is a little different?
 
The shock tower on hemi cars is different.
I think it is reversed because it does hit the valve cover.
 
Interested to see pics of this problem. There should be ample clearance to remove the valve cover with an RB block. '65 Plymouths were available with the 426 wedge from the factory and there is no physical difference (other than bore) betwen a 426 wedge and a 440 wedge so something else has to be going on.
 
Up and forward. Would it help you to take your transmission mount loose and jack up the tail shaft? That would move the engine forward and raise the rear of the valve cover up a little.
 
Thanks guys for the replies. May be as simple as adjusting all the way up on the driver side mount (up in the slot). I will post pictures when I can, car is in storage unit.
Engine is a 440 with Stage V hemi heads. 440 block I believe is 1/2" wider and that makes a difference.

All is not lost! LOL! Car has been running for years and was done during a period when you couldn't just buy a Mopar perfoemance hemi off the shelf and Hemi blocks were in short supply. Sort of the poor mans Hemi at full price! LOL.

Worst case scenario is the just loosen up mounts and trans mount and jack up a bit.

Keep thinking! Much appreciated.

hemisml.jpg
 
Cut out the section as in picture and flip it over and weld it back in. Looks like front corner is cut some.
dvw.JPG
dvw1.JPG
 
What is the valve cover hitting? I have to remove the passenger side shock to get clearance.
On the driver side, I offset the master cylinder to get clearance.
My shock towers are not inverted like Fran's photo from DVW.
Stage V heads.
.facebook_1528118937857.jpg
 
Steve Magnante did a stage V stroker into a 67 dart, a bunch of years ago, and wrote about it for popular hot rodding. He had to re-do the passenger side shock tower, but got it in. If i remember, he cut the top section back, then filled in with new metal, similar to the 68 SS/AA cars. I dont know if old PHRs are archived , might be worth a look.
I think the stageVs had to be used on a 440 block, (same deck height as a 426) the only low deck hemi intakes were very custom, and very expensive, pro stock pieces.
 
Last edited:
my 63 sfgc as a mw package and the engine is more on the passenger side then the drivers side . helps with the leave , its raided a bit too . you can see the offset on my hood .
05190027.jpg
Fury.png
 
Engine location for 62 to 65 b body for hemi tti headers. Forgot I had this but doesn't help fore/aft location.
tti.JPG
 
Slightly off topic, but...

The engine is indeed off set to the right (AKA Passenger side) as this gives the needed offset to the driveshaft to the rear end that is centered for equal length axles.

Clearance for the P\S box or anything else was not part of the thinking. Needed or not. All the 60’s+ MoPars are like this.

All K frames are family dependent in there design. Each engine family had there own K frame. Slant 6 had there own, A-LA had there own, B/RB had there own and the HEMI has it’s own.

miller said:
Pretty sure the main reason for the offset to the pass side, was clearance for the steering box.
Don't know for sure, but wonder if a Hemi k frame, for 65, is a little different?
Click to expand...
 
Slightly off topic, but....

I’ve never seen a B block Hemi intake.

FWIW
All of MoPars (DC) B & RB stage heads up to 5 are swapable between B & RB blocks. The stage 6 aluminum heads are altered that while they physically bolt to the B & RB blocks, the extended intake runners required a RB intake on a B block and spacers on a RB block.

Stage 7’s are Edelbrock castings, are completely swap-able.

33 IMP said:
I think the stageVs had to be used on a 440 block, (same deck height as a 426) the only low deck hemi intakes were very custom, and very expensive, pro stock pieces.
Click to expand...
 
rumblefish360 , don't forget the valley tray under the intake on stage 6 (chapman head) . mine are alum alloy mw ports .
 
Info from big block dart forum says early eighties for prostock, comp eliminator, experiments with low deck hemis. Iron 426 blocks drying up, added bosses to low deck block for top row of hemi head bolts.
From what i read, no success in pro stock, but apparently Dave Koffel held A/ dragster record for a few years with one.
Possibly one of the first fabbed tunnel rams. If you can fab a tunnel ram, the valley cover will be no sweat.
 
this was the earlies winning wedge digger , and my car did hold a record with a 383 in ihra in 73 .

Fury.png 2018-11-24_0069.jpg 2018-11-24_0070.jpg 2018-11-24_0071.jpg 2018-11-24_0072.jpg
 
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