74 B Body from 318 to 440...please help demystify it!

[Vegas_Nick]

Honestly this was worse than researching Trump V Clinton! So many opinions and thoughts out there. Looking at the Engine Swap .com site, it seems you have to do some grinding on the K-member mounts. Ok, I can do that. I get having to do some wiring harness changes. Ok... I can do that. Bigger radiator...check. Doing that any way. Power Steering pump and alternator.. "maybe" they stay the same?

Can I use the trans that is in the car now? What else would I have to do?

The 318 will last a year or so if I baby it. Seriously looking at just stroking a 360 and be happy with it due to the hassle of the swap over. I had really looked at building the 318 (because I really love challenges) BUT.. now that I see the 360 is a bolt for bolt swap, I have seen more options for stroker kits and aftermarket heads, etc. Seems easy to build a beast of a 360 and be happy.

Opinions here?

[justcruisin]

Certainly a larger displacement small block is the least hassle. The trans is different from big to small block, it wont bolt up.

[Kern Dog]

The 318 and 440 uses different transmission bellhousing bolt patterns. They do not interchange.
If you decide to go with a 383-440, you will need a different transmission. If you go with a well built 318 or 360, the stock transmission will fit but may not be durable to last without a quality rebuild and better converter.

[Nacho-RT74]

keep SB... cheaper and lighter, less problems

Change to BB... several stuff to do, as you noticed.

and if you are going to rebuild/stroke any of both engines will cost about the same

but is truth a BB under the hood is a GREAT VIEW.

Yes alt and Steering pump are the same, but not the brackets or pressure hose. Coil the same but not the dist. Engine wiring changes but just because the lenght to coil dist and maybe alt

K member changes due the engine mount locations but as you noticed, adaptors are available

diff radiator, Upgrade T bars is recomended, Sway bar, mmmm well there are two thickness, one for SB and the other to BB, diff tranny ( if it was 4 speed was to be maybe easier on swap ). If 8 3/4 axle, you can live with it for BB. 8 1/4 can live but is a compromise depending of the use you will give, however some 73/74 BB cars still got 8 1/4". I guess the change to dual exhaust... But everything is not due the year... any year will be the same on everything of this. Just K member is a deal being 73 and lates.


if you care for correctness inner passenger side fender is diff between SB and BB cars, but not a big deal

[Bad B-rad]

I had a 74 Charger at 17 years old and slapped a 440 in it where the 318 once lived and two things I will tell you right away. Change the torsion bars, my 74 handled like crap, it "nose dived" into every corner I took. And with out the "Power buldge" hood you got to watch the carb/intake combo. I had a stock 74 intake and stock 74 thermoquad on my stock 74 440 in the 74 Charger(org 318) and I had to use a pancake thin air filter/cleaner to get hood to close with out jacking up rear hood  hinges.

Other things to think about is the transmission are different as someone said earlier so you got that issue. The alt.and power steering pump should be  the same maybe different brackets .(think I just used all the accessories as they came on my donor 440 engine.)Starter is the same.
But if its a healthy 440, the stock 74 318 rear will not last long. I don't think my 74 had an 8 3/4 it was something else.
It isn't that bad of a swap but you need to get the thicker Big block torsion bars vs the stock 318 ones and get a hood scoop or the buldge hood.

[Vegas_Nick]

In just a few responses I think I'll just lean more towards that built 360. Seems simpler and I like a challenge!

And yeah, the tranny will get rebuilt at any rate. I am sure with 80K miles on it, and no idea how it was treated, it is time.

[Nacho-RT74]

And with out the "Power buldge" hood you got to watch the carb/intake combo. I had a stock 74 intake and stock 74 thermoquad on my stock 74 440 in the 74 Charger(org 318) and I had to use a pancake thin air filter/cleaner to get hood to close with out jacking up rear hood  hinges.

That is not truth... non bulged hood cars got 440s too. I.E. SEs

[ODZKing]

If you go to my website you can download the collision book and it will show many of the different part numbers between small block and bog block.
As mentioned, K-Frame, transmission, torsion bars to name a few.
http://www.retrorarities.com/1973-74ChargerCollision.pdf

[Vegas_Nick]

Great info!

[RallyeMike]

Nick, this only seems mystical because you don't know what you don't know. Many on this site have personally upgraded small block cars to big blocks (sometimes more than once) and it is not difficult. Help is at your fingertips. You have to bust out the wrenches and buy some parts - no big deal. The monsters 74 is just are not as much fun without a boatload of big block torque. Do it!

[Vegas_Nick]

Nick, this only seems mystical because you don't know what you don't know. Many on this site have personally upgraded small block cars to big blocks (sometimes more than once) and it is not difficult. Help is at your fingertips. You have to bust out the wrenches and buy some parts - no big deal. The monsters 74 is just are not as much fun without a boatload of big block torque. Do it!

Thanks man!

Sadly... I have been amazed at how much I have forgotten! I worked on these cars as a Dodge tech when they were just 10 years old. Sadly, I ended up doing most of work (and school) back then on the 2.2 Chargers, conquest, etc.

It may be the way I end up especially now that my wife is on board with a race/street build. All I had to do was show her Marty Robbins' 74 Charger.