How much would it cost for a 318 to 426 Hemi Crate Conversion in a 69

[472 R/T SE]

I have all my receipts but I'm 2000 miles away so I'm going on memory.

a. 472 crate 14,300.00, picked up at dealership.
b. Schumaker mounts to mate to your K member 350.00
c. tti exhaust manifolds  650.00
d. Stage 5 intake with 2 carter 650's, baseplate and fuel lines from FHO 2250.00
e. exhaust tips for the 3" 200.00
f. new engine wiring harness 200.00
g. new plug wires 200.00
h. correct wrinkle valve covers 350.00
i. my tranny was recently rebuilt.
j. msd 6al black box 200.00
l. valve cover gaskets 50.00
m.  3 " tti exhaust, can't remember for sure 600-700
n. I need power brakes, so the booster with the Hemi offset bracket 495.00
o.  vaccuum pump for the brakes. 400.00

That's $20,290 give or take.  A lot of the stuff isn't needed for some.  I NEED the reliability of the MSD box and power brakes and wanted a correct appearing motor.  In case the motor dies, I need the vaccuum pump to keep the brakes up plus I only had 6lbs. of vaccuum.

One thing I noticed right away is anything that says Hemi in it, you just as well plan on it being twice the amount $$.  Could I have sold my car and got into an original DRIVER Hemi car for the money I've sunk into this car...quite possibly.    

[GeneralLeeTESH]

Forget the Dana 60. Get real. Drop in a 500.00 1977-80 Lincoln Versailles DB rearend (comes stock with a posi)...and it'll easily handle 600 H.P. without blinking. A versailles or Granada rearend from 77-80 has a spring perch to perch measurement of 44" and will put each tire 1.0" closer to the rear leaf springs..allowing MORE tire in the rear wheel-well.
I did this with mine and am Happy now !!!

[DodgeChargerNeeded]

If I were to do it I would definately go with a Dana 60, I'm not gonna spend all that money and put a ford rearend in a mopar. Never happen

[Hemidog]

Forget the Dana 60. Get real. Drop in a 500.00 1977-80 Lincoln Versailles DB rearend (comes stock with a posi)...and it'll easily handle 600 H.P. without blinking. A versailles or Granada rearend from 77-80 has a spring perch to perch measurement of 44" and will put each tire 1.0" closer to the rear leaf springs..allowing MORE tire in the rear wheel-well.
I did this with mine and am Happy now !!!

pictures?

[firefighter3931]

That extra 8 grand buys a lot of respect. 

Not at the drag strip 


Ron

[69Chrgr]

Last I read the quickest F.A.S.T. class car was a Hemi.  :yesnod:I don't think the Wedge even cracked the top 5.

[firefighter3931]

Last I read the quickest F.A.S.T. class car was a Hemi.  :yesnod:I don't think the Wedge even cracked the top 5.

Who's talking FAST racing ? Those are blueprinted stroker race builds. The wedge engines are handicapped with a factory head, restrictive intake and exhaust manifolds. 

I'd put my 446 against any "crate" 426 or 472 hemi any day of the week.  Oh ya, and it cost about half to build what most people pay for the MP crate junk. 


Ron

[6pkrunner]

Ron, you're going down the road we've already been down. The timeslips know the difference.

[69Chrgr]

Last I read the quickest F.A.S.T. class car was a Hemi.  :yesnod:I don't think the Wedge even cracked the top 5.

Who's talking FAST racing ? Those are blueprinted stroker race builds. The wedge engines are handicapped with a factory head, restrictive intake and exhaust manifolds. 

I'd put my 446 against any "crate" 426 or 472 hemi any day of the week.  Oh ya, and it cost about half to build what most people pay for the MP crate junk. 


Ron

Easy, easy now. I'm not anit-wedge, however your 446 isn't a crate. A well built 426, not to mention a well built 472 would probably hand you your ass. No offence.

[Hemidoug]

Being that this is a very subjective argument I'll just add one thought. I own both and I can tell you that both are strong running engines. My 71 6 pack car was running 12s on street tires, I don't know what my Hemi is running yet. Both engines are about equal when both are well tuned. A strong running 6 pack will trounce a badly tuned Hemi, no doubt about it. The Hemi comes on real strong on the top end of the track and this is where a Hemi will walk away from a 6 pack, everything else being equal. Yes, it is less expensive to build a stout 440, but you can get more out of modifying a Hemi. 440s are a better street engine, easier to tune and keep it that way, Hemis are better race engines. 

One thing about Hemis that hasn't been mentioned yet....Be prepared to spent a lot of time under the hood tinkering. Learn Carter carbs like the back of your hand, learn to read spark plugs, and learn to tune. I am speaking from experience here. I have learned more about the finer points of tuning in the past 5 years then I did in the prior 25. If you want a good running engine, you are going to have to know it like you were BORN with it. THAT is the real price of owning a Hemi.

[69Chrgr]

There. We can all be friends again.

[Daytona R/T SE]

I'm seriously considering a Hemi for my Daytona clone that I'm putting together.  From what I've heard MP has resolved most of the quality issues of the crate motors, now the problem they're having is availability.  When I asked the guys from Mancini racing about a crate Hemi at the nationals, their answer was "Well... we can put your name on the waiting list, but we don't know how long it will be" 

The well-groomed teenage pretty boy at the Mopar tent was totally clueless when I enquired about the availability of the Hemi engine he was leaning on   

I saw an ad in the latest MCG for this place   http://www.realhemi.com/    Anybody ever heard of them?

[firefighter3931]

Easy, easy now. I'm not anit-wedge, however your 446 isn't a crate. A well built 426, not to mention a well built 472 would probably hand you your ass. No offence.

No offence taken...as for handing me my ass, sure there are lots that could do it. But, i've seen a lot of street hemi's that i could smoke with 2 gears. 

The point being is that Hemi doesn't necessarily mean fast.    The reality is that in street trim, they are Slugs. 

Don't get me started on the QC issues of the MP crates. One guy i spoke with dynoed his mighty 528 and it made a whopping 430hp.  Not too impressive for an engine that's advertised to make 600+ 


Ron

[firefighter3931]

Ron, you're going down the road we've already been down. The timeslips know the difference.

Sorry Mike, I'll shuddup now ! 


Ron

[Hemidoug]

The point being is that Hemi doesn't necessarily mean fast.    The reality is that in street trim, they are Slugs. 

I agree with the first part. I DON'T agree with the second one. A PROPERLY TUNED street Hemi is NO slug. If you really think that, you will have some surprises when you take one on. I'd like to get a little of that action when that happens, I know where I'll be putting my money.......

[69Chrgr]

Easy, easy now. I'm not anit-wedge, however your 446 isn't a crate. A well built 426, not to mention a well built 472 would probably hand you your ass. No offence.

No offence taken...as for handing me my ass, sure there are lots that could do it. But, i've seen a lot of street hemi's that i could smoke with 2 gears. 

The point being is that Hemi doesn't necessarily mean fast.    The reality is that in street trim, they are Slugs. 

Don't get me started on the QC issues of the MP crates. One guy i spoke with dynoed his mighty 528 and it made a whopping 430hp.  Not too impressive for an engine that's advertised to make 600+ 


Ron

Yes, and there are also plenty of small blocks that would also hand you your ass on a platter,(mine being one ) so I hate to tell you this but 440 also doesn't mean fast. We could go on and on here, but it seems that there is a little jealousy from the 440 owners regarding Hemis. Please don't let your lack of funds blur your perspective on engines. Now, we can be friends again.

[firefighter3931]

Yes, and there are also plenty of small blocks that would also hand you your ass on a platter,(mine being one ) so I hate to tell you this but 440 also doesn't mean fast. We could go on and on here, but it seems that there is a little jealousy from the 440 owners regarding Hemis. Please don't let your lack of funds blur your perspective on engines. Now, we can be friends again.

Ahh a smallblock guru.  How fast is the car ? What's it weigh ?

So let's here it....breakdown on the build. Pump gas ? Inquiring minds want to know ?   

You're gonna have to do better than say "my smallblock can hand ya your ass".   



Ron

[firefighter3931]

If you really think that, you will have some surprises when you take one on. I'd like to get a little of that action when that happens, I know where I'll be putting my money.......

Douggie, so how about it : your street hemi against my street wedge. I will have the car back together before the summer. 

I've got a case of Canada's finest waitin for ya ! 


Ron


Dang, i said i would shuddup....now look what's happening ! 

[69Chrgr]

Yes, and there are also plenty of small blocks that would also hand you your ass on a platter,(mine being one ) so I hate to tell you this but 440 also doesn't mean fast. We could go on and on here, but it seems that there is a little jealousy from the 440 owners regarding Hemis. Please don't let your lack of funds blur your perspective on engines. Now, we can be friends again.

Ahh a smallblock guru.  How fast is the car ? What's it weigh ?

So let's here it....breakdown on the build. Pump gas ? Inquiring minds want to know ?   

You're gonna have to do better than say "my smallblock can hand ya your ass".   
68 Cuda
408"
Eagle Crank
12 to 1 Comp.
Custom Grind Bumpstick
Indy Heads and Intake
Demon Carb
3.90 Gears
A990 Trans
3200 Stall

Best Time @ Texas Motorplex 11.20 @ 116 on an 87 degree day

Now you buddy boy.


Now you?



Ron

[firefighter3931]

Nice combo !  It runs hard too, but it ain't a pump gas build and the car is an a-body....not exactly an apples to apples comparison is it ?  Pull 2 points of compression out of it and throw 800 lbs in the trunk and see what you run. 

No times yet on mine, car is still in the build stage but the engine is complete, broken in and dyno tuned.  The car is a full bodied, all steel 68 Charger, 8pt bar, frames tied etc... It's an easy 11 sec combo....how deep into the 11's it goes will depend on the knucklehead that's tuning it. 

Nice ride....luv them 68 Cudas  Fastback or Notch ? Post a pic if you can....


Ron

[69Chrgr]

Mine is a notchback. I'll post pic's. I think it would be a very interesting race between you and Hemidoug. Would be very interested in seeing that!

[DodgeChargerNeeded]

Well I didn't mean to start a fight. I wouldn't be doing it to make a race car. Just a street driver. I also think it wouldn't hurt the value of the car too much. How much do you think it would be worth with the 25k put into it.

[Hemidoug]

If you really think that, you will have some surprises when you take one on. I'd like to get a little of that action when that happens, I know where I'll be putting my money.......

Douggie, so how about it : your street hemi against my street wedge. I will have the car back together before the summer. 

I've got a case of Canada's finest waitin for ya ! 


Ron


Dang, i said i would shuddup....now look what's happening ! 

Sure, just make sure you are running stock heads, stock cam, stock exhaust, stock pistons, in fact stock everything....I wouldn't want to compare apples and oranges now... slicks allowed! Just give me a buzz when you get to Jersey, we have a nice track down here....

[69 OUR/TEA]

Last I read the quickest F.A.S.T. class car was a Hemi.  :yesnod:I don't think the Wedge even cracked the top 5.

           I beleive that was when they  altered the class for a one time race with slicks,and changed out their torque converters,etc.When in regular rules I beleive the vette still has it.And on another note,BBC's and Hemis are race proven,so alot of props to the Stage One Buicks for even being there.Did'nt Gessler with his buick win the overall for points 3 years in a row?

[Hemidoug]

Last I read the quickest F.A.S.T. class car was a Hemi.  :yesnod:I don't think the Wedge even cracked the top 5.

             
           I beleive that was when they  altered the class for a one time race with slicks,and changed out their torque converters,etc.When in regular rules I beleive the vette still has it.And on another note,BBC's and Hemis are race proven,so alot of props to the Stage One Buicks for even being there.Did'nt Gessler with his buick win the overall for points 3 years in a row?

I think he was only comparing the Hemis vs Wedges. I don't think he was comparing everything.....

PS..... How ya doin' 69 OUR/TEA?  Been a while! I'm thinkin' of taking another ride up your way in 07. Had a great time last time. Finally found that vacuum leak...brake booster was guilty! Running MUCH better now!