'41 Dodge p/u engine swap??

I figured some here may have already done this so here goes..

I have a '41 Dodge truck and want to install an LA 318 into the original straight axle front end and k member. If anybody here has done this, would you share with me how you installed it? I am curious if the starter would clear the original steering box?

Thanks for any help or suggestions that can be offered.

 

IIRC, there was some recent conversation about a similar swap over at www.p15-d24.com , but then it could have been a dream too....

.

 

good luck using the stock steering box. Biggest problem. Its mounted in the worst possible place for a V8

 

Possibly meaning that the starter will contact the box?? well...crapola..

 

Why not check it out the old fashioned way? With a tape measure...

If the I6 is still in the truck, then you can get a rough idea from this pic...


You can guesstimate where the starter will be based on how it sits against this 230 block. That is an A-904 TF.....
On the pass cars it is common to shift the engine to the pass side to clear the gear box.

.

 

Cool, so you make the adapter to bolt a 904 up to a flathead 6?

I am kinda curious about this now...

 

...................................................Doesn't that mean, that an A-518, ( overdrive 904), would fit as well?????
Which it seems, would work well, with the 6 banger gearing.

 

Guys use to move the engine over to accomodate the starter or you could get a kit to swap the starter to the other side. i don't recall who made the kit it was like 40 years ago.

Now you can overcome the problem with a mini starter. It isn't as traditional but it is a viable solution.

Another thing that I used to see done with a straight axle and starter problem was a switch to a corvair box. You could also maybe use a vega box with a cross steer setup.

 

Yes we make the adapter.
The overdrive version of the 904 is the A500. Do Not use the 727 or 518 with a flathead six...they have alot more parasitic loss than the 'little' units. When you only have 110hp you can't affort to waste any.

Here is a pic with a mini starter:


Either starter unit fits the engine/trans but the mini many help in a swap.

Send a note if you need help with an adapter.

.

 

You said 'A 904', that's the small block version..correct?

 

Yes, 904's came with smallblocks and slant 6's...

BUT, 727's came with small block's as well. So, just the fact that it was attached to a small block doesn't necessarily mean its a 904.

 

Thanks for the correction there, 73 RR, I knew it was "5" something!

 

318 was set in yesterday...Mini starter still hits BUT barely. It's kinda of a pricey option but I think a clockable mini starter will fix the problem for sure.

 

Well...it's about done. The starter is no longer an issue but believe it or not, the bigger starter fits better because of the design of it after one simple modification to it. We cut one of the plastic ears off the starter and used two bolts instead of a stud setup and a bolt to install it. It's kinda of a tight fit and the top starter bolt is well "intresting" to install because it is tight for sure.

It lines up in the trans tunnel nice as well. Chopping the one of the plastic ears of the starter doesn't effect anything. We then hooked a battery to it and it turned over just fine. This can be done. I have heard to many people to tell this can't be done and that I should just put a SBC in it. I could not find anything anywhere about putting a Chrysler small block into a vintage straight axle truck. Maybe this will help somebody out. I hope so...

 

Excellent!!

.

 

Good work! Keep those SBC's out of the old Mopars!

 

Thanks guys!

The swap was extremely cheap to. I used 1970's Dodge truck motor mounts and kept flipping them around till it lined up to the original mounting holes on the stock k member. Get the appropriate bolts and washers...done!

My buddy John was a huge help in this swap...