Big Block change over...

[Khyron]

O.k... Working on a deal to get a hold of a 440. My car is a standard run of the mill 318 car <or it was > so here is the question.

I plan on continuing to drive the bored 360 for awhile as the car sits and slowly build the 440, nothing major. If I can get the deal I'm working on <Thanks Brian> it will be a nice mild built 440, maybe just a cam and intake change.

I digress, on for the question.

What needs to be changed over?

K frame to big Block
Engine <duh>
Transmission <double duh>
Most likely new drive shaft correct?
Car has a 2.76 geared 8 3/4 in it, that good enough?

What am I missing? I wish to assemble the parts before I’m ready to do anything.

[RD]

O.k... Working on a deal to get a hold of a 440. My car is a standard run of the mill 318 car <or it was > so here is the question.

I plan on continuing to drive the bored 360 for awhile as the car sits and slowly build the 440, nothing major. If I can get the deal I'm working on <Thanks Brian> it will be a nice mild built 440, maybe just a cam and intake change.

I digress, on for the question.

What needs to be changed over?

K frame to big Block

no, just get bb motor mounts

Engine <duh>
Transmission <double duh>
Most likely new drive shaft correct?

yes, your new driveshaft needs to be exactly 4 1/8" shorter than your old one, that is of course, if your old tranny was a 904.

Car has a 2.76 geared 8 3/4 in it, that good enough?

good enough for the highway, but after you install the BB you will want to go quicker and say to hell with gas mileage.  I would hold onto that 2.76 pumpkin and build a 3.55 or 3.91 pumpkin to replace it.

What am I missing? I wish to assemble the parts before I’m ready to do anything.

big block radiator or one similar, radiator shroud, good water pump and the rest is miscellaneous stuff like:

elongating your coil wire (distributor for SB is in back, BB in front), fluids, headers, exhaust... and well there is other tiddly stuff that you will come across yourself.  there always is.

[Khyron]

All really good information. Thanks.

I have a griffon 2 core aluminum radiator, so I’m not too worried about that.... but back to this distributor.

I have a new electronic distributor. You mean to tell me I can reuse this one? Or does the 440 take a different one?

Second, what about the torsion bars?

Third, you would recommend the BB motor mount conversation instead of a correct K frame? Are they as strong?

[Jon Smith]

I thought all v8 k frames were the same except hemis

have a look at the propshaft and u joints,you'll probably have a small yoke
mine lasted all of 3 runs on the strip with a decent 383 in front of them, although if you're going to have to swap for a shorter prop anyway thats no problem. to be honest I think mine was out of balance, but the problem didn't show until I had a bit more power

[cudaken]

 If your's is a 68 to 70 Charger (look's like 69 Grill in your logo) all K-frames are the same unless it was a Hemi or a 225 slant sick.

Hum, keep the stock 318, if your luck is like mine you would rather have stock. Want a $7,000.00 440?

                        Cuda Ken

[Troy]

The torsion bars for a big block are larger but some people prefer to keep the small ones on there for racing. If you upgrade those then you may want to look at rear springs as well. For the street I'd upgrade (but not like mine!). Youll need different exhaust manifolds and it may not hurt to get fuel lines if you haven't gone with larger ones for the 360. The engine mounts aren't a "conversion" - they are just the correct mounts for the big block. As stated, the k-frames for BB and SB are the same in 69. The 2.76 gears will live behind the BB in an 8 3/4 but you'll be better on the highway than from a standing start. If you want acceleration then switch the gears as mentioned and/or add a sure grip so the tires don't spin (as much). Obviously the pulleys are different and possibly some accessories (I don't know what all you have).

That's all I can think of for now.

Troy

[RD]

All really good information. Thanks.

I have a griffon 2 core aluminum radiator, so I’m not too worried about that.... but back to this distributor.

I have a new electronic distributor. You mean to tell me I can reuse this one? Or does the 440 take a different one?

Second, what about the torsion bars?

Third, you would recommend the BB motor mount conversation instead of a correct K frame? Are they as strong?

its not the distributor itself, but the wiring.  since the distributor is located at the rear of the motor on a SB, and a BB has the distributor in the front of the motor, you will need to elongate the coil and distributor lead wires on the wiring harness.  The SB and BB distributor's are different, as well as the B and RB engine distributors are different.

Torsion bars answered by Troy.

The SB and BB motor mounts are different due to the mounting bosses on the motors being located in different areas.  You just need the motor mounts, the k frames are the same.

[max]

here is a photo of the big block engine brackets. all you need is the big block brackets and you can use your insulators.
let me know if you need a set of them.

[Khyron]

Wow, all good information. Thanks

If your's is a 68 to 70 Charger (look's like 69 Grill in your logo) all K-frames are the same unless it was a Hemi or a 225 slant sick.

Hum, keep the stock 318, if your luck is like mine you would rather have stock. Want a $7,000.00 440?

Cuda Ken

Yes the car is a 69, so it's good to know that the Kframe is the same, this will be for street use. maybe a few track days but thats it. It's just something i've been tossing in my head. The original 318 is already out of the car, wrapped up, and under my work bench

I can get a big block wireing harness, so i'll have to follow up on that too. so sounds like a few little thinks I need to get... thanks guys.

[cudaken]

 Khyron, buy a new harrness, new is good and only $90.00.

                                       Cuda Ken

[Khyron]

well hell, for $90 I agree....

As I said, i'm just pondering it... But it's good to go into it with knowledge

[derailed]

If your interested, I ran into a guy last week that works up to the paper mill in ticonderoga that asked me if i was interested in a good running low mileage 68 440, complete with all brackets and everything. I think he mentioned around 7 bills for it but cash talks.

[Khyron]

If your interested, I ran into a guy last week that works up to the paper mill in ticonderoga that asked me if i was interested in a good running low mileage 68 440, complete with all brackets and everything. I think he mentioned around 7 bills for it but cash talks.

I may be getting this core a bit cheaper, but i'll keep that in mind, thanks...

gonna work out a multi engine deal, just having some problems gettin gahold of the guy I was pointed too.