Customs 1949-1951 Dodge engine/ tranny swap (maybe 331 dodge hemi)

Any one ever done a good engine /****** swap on 1949-1951 Dodge Coranet

 

Yes.

How about you nail-down the general location of where you are?

The USA is 3,797,000 square miles. Shipping engines and transmissions can get spendy.

 

Vernon, Ct, U.S.A.

 

860's in 'da house!

Born in Middletown, grew up in Higganum and Haddam. Lived in Middletown, Portland, and South Glastonbury!

My brother is still out that way. Runs a couple of shows there.

 

860's in 'da house!

Born in Middletown, grew up in Higganum and Haddam. Lived in Middletown, Portland, and South Glastonbury!

My brother is still out that way. Runs a couple of shows there.

 

Ya man good hearing from another Swamp Yankee

 

A Real Connecticut Swamp Yankee

 

Yup, from right a**** the thorn bushes by the river!

 

Ok what info. Can you share on doing this swap , do you think the front end is strong enough for the hemi, or scLling back to 383/440/wedge combo ,727 883 o erdrive

 

Info on surrounding clearances, firewall, steering box exhaust manifold clearance, fender skirt clearance radiator?

 

In a 1949-51 Dodge you have a lot of space to work with, more if you don't mind making new inner fenders. The only real place you will run in to trouble is the steering box/ drivers side header.

 

With just about any V8, something will have to give.

That may mean a recess in the firewall, moving the radiator forward, running a pusher fan in the front of the radiator. Side-to-side should be ok.

You may have to offset the engine to the p***enger-side to clear the steering box, depending on the exhaust.

 

Of course, that does not address the transmission or axle issue.

I am not a fan of any automatic from this era, on a Dodge engine. I have always used an adapter to a later Mopar automatic, or a GM automatic. A manual transmission is a whole other can of worms.

The rear axle is likely not up to the task. Look for a Ford 8.8.

 

Stepfather #2 had one of those when he married my mom and from doing a valve job on it the engine compartment was more than tight.
V8 wise I'd be thinking more on the lines of a 316,340 or 360 than a big block.
Or maybe a later six like a 4.0 out of a Jeep which still keeps it somewhat Mopar and are plentiful. Geared out right one of those would let you run a lot of V8's into the ground on the long roads without working hard. It may not burn rubber at every stop light but could cruise in the bigger numbers all day long.

As Gimpy said the original rear axle and trans probably aren't up to the task but getting into the later torqueflites gives you a deadnuts reliable trans or there are plenty of later mopar stick setups in the line up. I'd almost bet that the rear out of a 70's something Dart or Duster size car would be close to a bolt in under one of those.

 

I ran the 4.0L in my Jeep to 262,000, and then sold it. It is still going.

Tons of torque. Good transmission choices. All parts plentiful, cheap and available.

They are "legacy engines". Even the EFI ones, until 1996, have a distributor.

Swap that one for one that is not computer-controlled, and put on a carburetor, and you are good-to-go.

 

Sounds like a good start, we, do have years of garage service , and other hotrods and projects early fords checked just haven't done any of these dodges, only ,a ,40 New Yorker many years ago,

 

The 46-54 Mopars are pretty much the same. plenty of Threads on updating the front end & doing engine swaps on them. The easiest swap is the rear sump 318 with 904 out of a pick up or van. fits in the 46-8 with only minor inner fender trim & a dent in the firewall for p*** side valve cover clearance. Saw a 392 in a '48 Plym, owner said he had to recess the firewall something like 7". The Dodge 331 hemi is a truck hemi, the Chr car version would be better, unless you already have the truck hemi. swapping one in would be easier with a subframe swap with something that comes rear sump. My '48 Plym has a '73 (or so) Cutl*** clip. The 331 hemi fit in where the 455 had been quite nicely. 65-7 C body axle is a direct swap, others fit with relocated spring perches, 71-3 Mustang, 70s Ranchero, 70s Challenger/Cuda, Dusters, various GM.

 

As said, the Mopar A-LA is an easy swap and steering is not a huge issue with the correct A-body exhaust manifold.
Check these swaps:
http://p15-d24.com/topic/25759-318-into-my-50-coronet/
http://p15-d24.com/topic/37426-360-magnum-nv3500-in-my-48-plymouth/

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