318 to 440

[xRickyBobbyx]

Hey guys. It's been a few years since I've been on. Life has a way of telling you NO YOU CAN'T DO THIS RIGHT NOW. So now I'm in a space to where I can finally start to make some progress. Long story short, I bought a '69 Coronet 4-door with a 318. It's literally been sitting for 3 years in my garage. Still started until the battery died on me. Haven't jumped or replaced it because....why. Anywho, I was looking at either building the 318 up to about 350hp, or swapping in a 5.7/6.1. However, I recently got into conversation with a guy for a '66 Coronet that has a 440 for what seems like a good deal. It's a crashed car (side damage) 7 years ago. He said he started it up 3 years ago and going to see if he can start it now. Initially I was just looking to get the engine and trans. But If I get the whole car, I'm guessing the rear end would be useful also since the one in mine would be a bit anemic. Not sure what else I might be able to use from it.

So my questions are:

What, if anything, should I be looking out for to do the swap? Is it a simple plug and play or are there going to be modifications?
Do I have to make changes to the K-member, motor mounts, etc?

 

[GTX JOHN]

Same K Member and everything would just drop
in your car with the right motor mounts.

 

[Don Frelier]

Perhaps you are unaware but a 66 would not have had a 440 originally.
It could have had a 383 (or a 426).

But you would need everything, radiator, engine, transmission, engine harness, exhuast and possibly a driveshaft as well.
Something as simple as the transmission linkage could be an issue if it's a floor shift vs a column shift.
But if it's all there it's possible, many have done it.

 

[xRickyBobbyx]

Perhaps you are unaware but a 66 would not have had a 440 originally.
It could have had a 383 (or a 426).

But you would need everything, radiator, engine, transmission, engine harness, exhuast and possibly a driveshaft as well.
Something as simple as the transmission linkage could be an issue if it's a floor shift vs a column shift.
But if it's all there it's possible, many have done it.

Thanks for the heads up. Is there a way I can find out which it really has? Not to sound like a jerk, but if by chance it's a 426, for the price I'm getting it for, I kinda don't want to let him know. LOL!! He sent me a picture of the engine. But I'm not enough of a gearhead to be able to tell the difference just by looking at it.

 

[Photon440]

Thanks for the heads up. Is there a way I can find out which it really has? Not to sound like a jerk, but if by chance it's a 426, for the price I'm getting it for, I kinda don't want to let him know. LOL!! He sent me a picture of the engine. But I'm not enough of a gearhead to be able to tell the difference just by looking at it.

Well first of all, show us the picture. Is the distributor in the front or the back of the engine?

 

[xRickyBobbyx]

Well first of all, show us the picture. Is the distributor in the front or the back of the engine?

Front

 

[xRickyBobbyx]

Front

 

[Don Frelier]

I can't say from that picture, might be a B and engine not an RB. (383 or 361)

Looks like a 5/8" return line on the power steering pump so it's possibly the original power steering pump.

 

[Sam69sat]

Ask if he can send you a photo of the 440 engine boss stamping. It's on top of the engine right in front of the intake.

 

[Don Frelier]

Either way I'd be looking for a new engine harness.
I don't think you want to re-use that one.

 

[xRickyBobbyx]

Either way I'd be looking for a new engine harness.
I don't think you want to re-use that one.

Yeah. I had intended on replacing all of the wiring front to back. This is a car I plan on passing down to my son.

 

[Don Frelier]

Yeah. I had intended on replacing all of the wiring front to back. This is a car I plan on passing down to my son.

Usually just everything in the engine compartment gets hot/brittle and suffers from corrosion.
I've never had any problems from the interior and rearward.