I was going to sub-frame my 55 Plymouth Plaza with a camaro frame and take the 305/350 combination and try to fit a chevy rearend under it too. But now I have been offered a 72 Plymouth 318 v-8 out of a Duster with 35,00 miles on it. There is no transmission included with this. Can the 318 fit in the 6-cyl. engine bay without much trouble, and can I bolt it directly to my stock 3- speed transmission. Is that too much motor for the stock rearend? All answers would really be appreciated. Really would like to keep it all mopar if possible.
Engine will fit in your engine compartment with modification to the motor mounts but will not bolt to your ******. You may need to use a rear sump oil pan like those used on 318 truck engines. Just make sure it is a post 1968 318(LA Wedge) and not a pre 1967 318 (poly). Although the 318 poly will fit your car too. Rear end will need to come out as well even if you go with the chevy engine. There are plenty of ****** choices for the Duster engine - 3 or 4 speed stick and 3 speed automatic 904 or 727. Check out moparts.org or forwardlook.net for some build threads about this swap. Good luck
That will be a great cheap swap! Use an early Dodge Dart exhaust manifold on the driver's side, it curls around the column, set the engine 1" off center away from the steering box, and it's nearly a bolt in. 904 automatics are cheap and good. 8 1/4 rear ends are cheap and will work fine for you. Watch for a musclecar guy upgrading to an 8 3/4 and get one really cheap. A custom driveshaft will probably be the most expensive thing, and you'd need this regardless what engine you chose.
Just to clarify on the Dodge Dart exhaust manifold el Scotto mentioned, I believe he is talking about the '64-'66 273 manifold. Should be able to find it on any early '60's A-Body (Dart,Valiant,Barracuda) Mopar. I've got one I would be willing to let go of if you can't find one, but it should be fairly easy to find. And just out of curiousity, what happened to the '72 Duster the 318 came out of?
I know a guy....... Anyway he took an entire 74ish(?) new yorker front k member with trans and all and grafted it to the bottom of his 55 frame. I put a 440 in my original frame, some modifications but it fit fine. You will probably need a truck oil pan.
Nothing wrong with using the Camaro front clip & rear axle, yuo'll have matching bolt patterns that way. You would need the rear sump pan, oil pump pick up, dipstick & tube from a van/truck for the 318. The dr side ex man from the 318 Dart/Valiant up to @ least '74 will fit the steering collumn. Modern Mopar ****** of your choice & have a drive shaft made.
An 8 3/8 rear out of a Volare will work under your '55, as will the front suspension setup, much easier and better than a Chev frame clip. Get a Volare with a 318 and 904 trans and you're laughin'! I have an '81 Cordoba that would work, too, if you can find one. BTW, it is possible to hook your '55 trans to the LA, but you wouldn't be happy with it. No synchro in Low, and parts are hard to find. And you WILL need parts! If you want a stick, get an 833 overdrive 4-speed.
I forgot all about the regular ol' 318 manifold for some reason. Either way, 273 or 318, it should look something like this. And I'm guessing the 8 3/8 rearend mentioned is actually the 8 1/4. Never was a Chrysler 8 3/8 and Volare's didn't get 8 3/4.
While were at it....What Mopar rear ends will fit the 55 Plymouth? I have heard that 66-70 B Body 8 3/4 fit well and that Volare/Aspen 8 1/4 fit. What about the Diplomat/Fifth Avenue 8 1/4? Or do any truck rear end fit? Also how hard is it to put a floor shift on a 727 or 904 ******? I have been looking at 360/727 combos from Vans and trucks and haven't seen any with a floor shift. Not trying to steal the thread just add to it as I think i am going the same way as XHOTRODDER but without the subframe swap.
Yeah, that 8 3/8 was a brain fart, I meant 8 1/4. The trans can be made to fit, I have done it, but they are ****py anyway. Like I said, find an 833.
I have a 318 in my 54 plymouth savoy and it was a very simple fit. I bought the hockey puck style motor mounts that everyone seems to use on here. You do need those weird wrap around manifolds or a set of custom headers to get around the steering box. I put the engine in my car and could not get everything to line up and then, one day, every single thing fit like it came from the factory that way. I didn't have to cut up the floor or the firewall at all. I have lots more pictures of the swap if you need em. I'm about to get a driveshaft cut, plumb fuel and brakes and then she's a driver again. I would highly advise the swap because it isn't that difficult or expensive and it will make your old mopar so much friendlier on the freeway. hope that helps let me know if you get stuck and I can hopefully steer you in the right direction.
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