1986 W100....engine swap questions

[DonFitzwater]

Hey boys, thinking about a winter project here......thinking about dropping a 440 in my 1986 W100 that’s currently powered with the mostly stock 318. What do I need to know about swapping besides the different transmission (already have a 727 for a bbc)? Any tips on motor mounts or radiators?

 

[DonFitzwater]

Judging from the silence I'll be doing this one by the seat of the pants...........I'm guessing I'll just have to do some digging around in old parts catalogs to get what I'm looking for. I'll post some pictures when it happens.

 

[EDankievitch]

You might want to reach out to Mark Warman at Graveyard Cars or Tony Dagistino(sp?) from Tony’s Mopar parts in Delaware. Those guys would have the knowledge and the parts you need.

 

[KPotter]

Judging from the silence I'll be doing this one by the seat of the pants...........I'm guessing I'll just have to do some digging around in old parts catalogs to get what I'm looking for. I'll post some pictures when it happens.

You will need 440 engine motor mount brackets, the oil pan from a big block truck, exhaust manifolds from big block pickup or motor home. You can modify the trans shift linkage. I think the trans mount will be the same, and you will have to measure the drive shaft I believe shorten it? I may have some of the parts needed PM me and I will look

 

[Mark31]

Don, I went the other way. I had a 74 2wd D200 with a 215 hp 440. It hated hot weather (especially hot humid) weather with its hard hot starts, vapor locking, and percolating. I finally pulled and rebuilt the tired 318 out of an old beat to death rusted out 70 Satellite that I was using as a sub on a 70 mi rural mail route. I got a trans out of a 72 big Fury. Within 50 miles, the 318 busted a rod bolt and sent it thru the pan. Put a new piston and rod in it and it ran sweet. I heard a few months it was still going. The 318 was a little slower with a load, but it was so much more pleasant to drive. SC Highway Patrol had some 440 Furies. To say it politely: The troopers hated them! A dry intake on a big block! What a laugh! No more hot days than you have, it might not be a problem. But, if you want a real honker, find a 340!

 

[DonFitzwater]

Thanks for the info fellas. Mark, if I could find a 340 I'd do it......my problem is two fold, no machine shop locally any longer so I'm going with a running motorhome takeout 440/trans that I got cheap. The 318 that's in the truck came danger close to becoming a 408 stroker but figured if I was going to spend the money on a stroker why not go ahead and build a strong 440 on basically a stock block?

 

[Mark31]

#!. I stumbled across a site the other day advertising rebuilt 5.7 hemis at a reasonable price. #2 No matter what you do to a 440, a smooth quiet economical LS motor will eat your lunch. #3 I greatly admire all of you guys that can pull something like this off. But what have you got when you get it built?

 

[DonFitzwater]

#!. I stumbled across a site the other day advertising rebuilt 5.7 hemis at a reasonable price. #2 No matter what you do to a 440, a smooth quiet economical LS motor will eat your lunch. #3 I greatly admire all of you guys that can pull something like this off. But what have you got when you get it built?

1. I've toyed with the 5.7 Hemi idea and have given it great thought........still not the support in the aftermarket for that engine compared to other brands unfortunately.

2. Every snot-nosed punk has a Chebby

3. A big block Chrysler that'll pull like a freight train and easier to install in my 1/2 ton than a Cummins 5.9!

Economy has never been in the equation as it's a local truck I don't drive often, just a fun project!