318 to 360

[drobertson]

My cousin is selling me a mopar 360 ci engine for $200 and a 727 tranny for 150. I'll be putting these into a 73 charger se (318 car). Will I need to change the suspension? or anything else? Thanks. Oh.... somebody should tell me how to post pictures from my android phone. Ok thats all!

 

[A383Wing]

is the trans from the 360? IF not, it won't work without adding balance weights to converter. You may have to change the metal motor mount brackets on the engine. Mounting boss's are in a different location. You will have to look at the oil pan sump, make sure it's the same configuration as the 318 pan, they are not interchangable

 

[Mopar-Charger]

My 1973 charger was an original 318 car and I have a 360 now. Only thing I can say that may be different is the oil pan like a383 said.

When it comes to the engine mounts, I'm pretty sure both the 360-318 are the same. If I recall when i purchased new engine mounts for my 360, it said 318,340,360 replacements.

Also, what was your original transmission? A 727 requires a smaller driveshaft? Balancing for the 360, you'll need a converter, if it came with one great, if not good luck. I was lucky so I can't tell you exactly what you have to go through to get it balanced. The wizz's on this site will happily help you with that.

Again, I have a 73 charger with a 360, 727. And a 73 SE with a 318 (my parts car). So if you have any other questions, I'd be more than happy to help you.

Jake

 

[A383Wing]

the rubber mounts are the same, it's the metal mounts that bolt to the block that are different from what I heard

 

[drobertson]

yeah it has a 904 tranny, but the 727 is attached to the 360 already. So basically I'm taking out the 318 & 904, and inserting a 360 & 727.

 

[Mopar-Charger]

yeah it has a 904 tranny, but the 727 is attached to the 360 already. So basically I'm taking out the 318 & 904, and inserting a 360 & 727.

Ahh, Then all you'll really have to do is shorten the drive shaft. While you're at it, I would compare the engine mounts from the 318 to the 360 make sure they bolt up alike. Like A383 said.

 

[A383Wing]

don't ferget the oil pan..check that very carefully...it would be a shame if you were lowering the engine and trans into the car only to find out the pan hits the K-frame or steering linkage

and the 318 pan will not fit the 360...

 

[mopar 3 B]

Oil pump and pick from you 318 will fit right in the 360 if you need to change pans.

 

[rumblefish360]

The oil pan only need be a passenger car oil pan.
The motor mounts are almost a non issue depending if it needs to look correct and perfect or not.
Adding weights to the converter is simple, so is a B&M flex plate instead. More work to get to it all.
The driveshaft will need to be shortened, like said above.

Been there done that many times.

 

[451Mopar]

As mentioned
#1 Engine balance, 360 is external balance, and 318 is internal. The factory added weights to the torque converter to account for the difference. There is a different balance weight between the older 360 and the magnum 360. Not sure which you have. The special B&M 360 flexplate is nice because it is drilled for stock and aftermarket converters.
#2 Motor mount brackets. Been a long time since I did a swap, but I think the drivers side motor mount bracket is about 1/2" different between a 318 and a 340/360. The lower drivers side engine to transmission bracket is also longer on the 360, but I think I just used the 318 one with a spacer between the bracket and transmission.
#3 Oil Pan. You need one with the sump in the center, if it is in the rear it is a truck oil pan. The oil pans do not interchange because the 360 has a larger rear main cap and (I think) timing cover. The oil pump pickup tubes will interchange.
#4 Transmission. The 727 needs to have the small block bellhousing (not big block), and if replacing a 904 the driveshaft needs to be shortened.

The engines weigh about the same so no need to change the suspension. If the suspension is old and really soft, then new or even larger torsen bars make a big difference.

 

[wahya]

My 360 didn't quite match my 318 mount, so I made a shim to fit.

 

[A383Wing]

exhaust is going to be different also...larger flange on the 360 compared to the 318...drive shaft will also be needed

maybe it's just me, but i never cared for the 360...it's a good truck engine, but it's the red-headed bastard stepchild of the small blocks....a good 340 will out do a 360 any day....

 

[challenger6pak]

The yokes are different between a 904 and 727. Just shortening the drive shaft won't do it. You will need a 727 yoke.

 

[Longroof]

maybe it's just me, but i never cared for the 360...it's a good truck engine, but it's the red-headed bastard stepchild of the small blocks....a good 340 will out do a 360 any day....

I could agree with you but then we both would be wrong.

I ran a 360 stock stroke cast iron j head motor with a mechanical cam that ran low low10's in an A body. 340's are fine for a restoration but the 360 will always make more torque.

 

[A383Wing]

360 is a truck motor, ...makes low end torque, but not high end power...340 is a better engine by far than a 360......I'm talking stock vs stock...not made up with tons of aftermarket parts to compensate for it's short comings...

but,, it's his car

 

[Longroof]

Yeah its such a crapy engine.... shares pretty much everything except it has a .040 smaller bore and a .27 longer stroke. Same cylinder head, same rods, same valvetrain.... you have never seen a 74 A body stock eliminator 360 car... they are pretty quick... quicker than the 340 low compression motors usually... but if you can't see the potential that it has they hey to each his own. But to say that they are nothing more than a truck engine is just plain ignorant.

 

[A383Wing]

Yeah its such a crapy engine....

well, at least we agree on that...it has a larger crank, which means more rotating mass, which means less HP....low compression smog motor basically...weak crankshafts also from the factory...340 was a much better small block between the two engines

also, I'm not resorting to name callin' like you are because you are wrong

 

[pentahead]

Just a side note: the universal joint on a 904 is 7260 while the 727 is the 7290, so make sure your drive shaft has 7290 at the front and you probably have 7260 at the rear......just watch the sizes

 

[Longroof]

well, at least we agree on that...it has a larger crank, which means more rotating mass, which means less HP....low compression smog motor basically...weak crankshafts also from the factory...340 was a much better small block between the two engines

also, I'm not resorting to name callin' like you are because you are wrong

I'm not calling you anything... just the idea that the 360 is a bad engine is ignorant. And what evidence do you have otherwise... Low compression cast crank... The 340 LOW COMPRESSIION engine came with a cast crank too... Oh yeah and low compression. .. are those crap too?? Don't pin all your hopes of horsepower on a smaller crank journal....

 

[wahya]

Truck motor? I know I test drove a Diplomat back in late 78 or early 79 that came with a 360 and it was comparable to the 440 Fury that I was driving. The Fury was a bit heavier, but that 360 was pretty strong.