Projects Chrysler Flathead 6 or V8 Swap Discussion

Hi Gene,yes she has been burning gas for a few years now.
Up here I can get away easily driving 60 ,mph on a highway 90% of the time, it is moving to that speed and beyond where a 6 may lack versus V8 power for sure.
Pinion angle is this not 6 degrees, diff is up +3 degrees, engine/trans down -3 degrees, as like factory. I adjusted the diff pinion angle with steel shims.
Brakes are really good, sel-energizing bendix type on rear, stock and all new for entire system, stops pretty damn good. I may or may not convert to disc up front later.

 

You might try another couple of degrees down on the pinion. Remember the pinion lifts when driving. Especially with those big long dodge springs.

I have a friend with a 251 in a 48 dodge sedan. Twin carbs on an edmunds minaifold. Edmunds head, Fenton cast headers and a bit of porting. Pulls 23 mpg and with his family of four and a large tent trailer it will still do freeway speeds.

 

You know for the amount of screwing around to put in a 318 you could drop in an early hemi and have something worth the effort.

 

....just not for the same cost......

It all depends on the desired goal.
You want cheap grunt? 400-440 with or w/o a stroker.
Good fuel mileage and mild manners? 318, Poly or wedge
Bonus points for eye candy? EarlyHemi
Glutton for electronic punishment? 5.7/6.1


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There is running 354 here for $2500 with or without the rest of the car.

Getting a 318 to not be underwhelming is gonna cost you that.

 

I am on the cheap here.LOL, gotta a nice LA 318/904, and most everything for the swap.
had truck out today, with a wicked west wind, on the highway doing 65 mph, to the floor, to get her up there, need more power...........LOL

 

I still don't think the 318 is gonna be very much of an improvement. What does your truck weigh? Near 5000lbs?

 

Hell no, maybe 3200-3300 lbs, if I am lucky 108 wb, not much too it.
While the 318 with dual exhaust and small 4 bbl carb won't be my 395 hp Hemi, it sure is heck will blow the friggin doors off of most flathead 6s like mine.............LOL Don't get me wrong , luv these engines, but mine is pretty much a dog, mind ya, I likes dogs....My 4 door Hemi Ram weighs 5500lbs

 

I resotored a 47 Chrysler Coupe about 10 years ago, flathead 218 long block, regular clutch 3spd trans and 3.73 rear end, was nice and peppy, cruised great at 65 mph.
Unfortunaely had to sell it 2 years ago....

 

I did some digging for you and found the water pump housing I mentioned this weekend. This is a very unique part and hard to find. This will bolt to your 318LA, and put the water pump up high where it needs to be to run a mechanical fan. The other benefit is, if you have the v-8 A-frame, You can mount your new engine with this, and there will be no fab work in making motor mounts for your engine to mount to the frame of the truck. This will put your 318 in a factory location to keep your driveline angles correct. However, you MUST make some sort of mount if you choose to use the 904 TF. And it shoud be supported on both sides, just like your flathead bellhousing is supported.

When I put the 360 in my 1959, I used the stock bell housing and transmission. I was lucky that my Bell housing was factory made(dual bolt pattern) to accept the flathead and the poly, so it bolted together easily. I used a 12" flywheel/clutch combo from a later dodge truck, and it fit. I had the starter rewound to handle the bigger engine, and I was ready to go after I found some exhaust manifolds that cleared the frame rails.

I hope you find this interesting..... And I hope that this will help you somehow.

 

Thanx for doing all this Jack, now I understand, what your saying.
My truck frame is the C series, same till what 59, came with V8s.
Now my truck bell housing, may be setup with the extra holes as you have mentioned, gonna check today, what do I need to look for?
I will be in touch....thanx

 

Here is a pic of the dual pattern bell.


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Thanx Gary, don't think mine is dual pattern. The smaller machined surface is for the 6 correct?

 

I put a 383 with a torqueflite in a 50s Dodge pickup and it wasn't all that big of a deal back in the 70s. Just buy a wreck and youll have everything you need

 

Yup, the somewhat cleaner/rusty part of the pattern is for the L6.
This bell is somewhat popular since it is 'kinda-easy' to mount an A-833, but they are also heavy.

I think that your 318/904 is a good starting point. If you later decide that you need to double the grunt then a stroker kit can get you 402 inches.....Plenty of new stuff for the LA.
....and of course a 62-66 (67 in Canada) Poly style 318 will bolt up to your TF.

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The V8 was offered in a Dodge pickup in May of 1954. Your truck could have been ordered with a V8.
The 54 Dodge pickup I had was one of the first V8 trucks in our area, unfortunately, the original V8 was long gone before I ever got the truck. Probably wouldn't have mattered though, I put a 360 in it. Gene

 

That frame was used until 1960. In 1961 they did a much needed revision that got rid of the hour glass shape in the engine bay. It then was revised again in 1971.... But that's not important or relevant to this discussion.

I used my flathead starter, it's the one that I had re-wound for more Torque. My 360 was 11:1 CR...

 

How is the project coming along?

 

I would like to bump this up.

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