1964 Belvedere poly 318 to 440 swap...help!

[russty6]

Hey, I'm searching for a 440 and trans for to put in my 64 Belvedere and I'm coming upon truck/motorhome engines and transmissions. What works and what doesn't, and whats Ideal? Is the k-member an issue? My car is push-button/cable shift, so is there a compatibility conflict with column shift transmissions? Thanks in advance!
Russ.

 

[eric383]

Welcome Russ. You might want to post this question in the engine section.

 

[aldal]

russty6, if you search the old threads you should find information that will help you. Also check out engine-swaps.com

 

[67 B-body]

Welcome,,
Push button trans is different than column shift types.... The linkage is not the same and the early push button cars would have a ball / trunion type.

 

[Rich Kinsley]

Why not keep the poly and tweak it a bit? I was going to swap for a 440 and I had two of them. However I started to look into the poly and found it to be pretty interesting. It garners much more attention at cruise night as it's actually 1.5" wider than a 440 at the valve covers. People look in there and wonder what is that big engine?

Parts are available and a new "wind tunnel" manifold is currently under production and scheduled to be ready in a few weeks. Aluminum heads may be coming next and cast, ribbed valve covers are also being produced now. Cams are readily available. The bottom end has a forged crank and the block components from an LA small block are usable with the A engine as are the distributors.

Unless you are wanting to be extremely "bad" and all out race the poly is a great choice. You'll be surprised at just how much crowd appeal it draws.

The "semi-hemi" valve design makes it the second most efficient head design also. I was running mine up to 7500rpm's and was real close to the Challenger SRT8 at the 1/8th mile. It was fun with a '64 Dodge Polara 4dr!

Just a thought for you. Check out the site at 318poly@yahoogroups.com with about 700 guys involved in the poly.

 

[Budnicks]

russty6 welcome to FBBO

 

[Photon440]

Hi russty6, welcome to the forum! Good luck with your mods - the modified Poly option might not be a bad idea either.

 

[moparsteve636]

If your car is an original V/8 the K-frame and rear x member will work! You will need the early big block motor mount brackets and insulators! Along with either a 64 or 65 B-Block tranny, The 64 is a ball and trunion drive shaft, the 65 is a slip yoke! You can use your existing shift cables! Hope this helps.

 

[russty6]

Hey, thanks a lot. That poly looks awesome! I've been going back and forth about swapping or not. I like the idea of keeping the car all #s matching original but I'm also drawn to having a "Mean Machine" that means business! I once had a car that looked and sounded the part, but wouldn't burst a grape in a food fight!