If you want to go with a modern engine, XV Motorsports offers a kit where you can put a junkyard 3rd gen Hemi into an old Mopar for about $2500 or so. That includes all the stuff to make it run, but it is carbureted. The up side is that their computer includes programmable software so you can put any heads, cam, ect you want to run. One of their packages allows a 5.7l engine to make 440hp.
Considerably less than Mopar Performace crate motors but XV's is running a carb, not EFI.
There is a writeup on it in Mopar Action. I think it is the April '08 issue or thereabouts.
Also, the latest Hot Rod mag has an article on installing a 6.4l Hemi crate engine in an old GTX. Only thing is those things run about 16 grand or so.
The vin on the dash should tell ya what original motor was in it for starters. The K frame on the front end will be for either a small block v8 or a big block v8 not sure about the 6 banger k frame never fooled with those. Was jinxing around in the forum and found links to a complete modernized frame and you could specify what brakes were on it, that would support modern hemis without trying to fabricate engine mounts etc... So frame , engine tranny combo,probably an automatic. because even if it has the manual plate down on the lower inside frame for the clutch linkage to hook up into, will it line up with the current setups with out binding? Drive shaft length could be a factor, different tail shafts on it with matching splines for the tranny used, just some of the nitty gritty that can occur when modding like you are proposing. Good luck and enjoy it when ya finish.
I do not know what was in it, The lil 'ol lady we got it from said she thinks she remembers her late husband saying a 343 which to me says 340, but I don't think so... it's an RS not the T/A. I LOVE the 340 personally, ...........
What , nobody here think that it coulda been a 383 .... I mean if the old lady remembers the first and last digit more than the middle one
Ok I have a '71 Challenger in my garage, no engine, no back seat, front seats are shot, dash is split and dented, body is relativly ok w/ some rust on the rockers and a few dings and dents here and there. No tires, no right side window. Here's my question...
Should I try to get as many origional parts as possible and restore this car, or.....
Should I go a la Chip Foose style and go "modern retro" new brakes, electronics SRT8 crate, etc...
what do y'all think? And no, you cant buy it from me, so dont ask
I would also say go for the resto mod. You get the best of both worlds. The classic muscle car body style with the modern day technology and go fast goodies that are dependable and easy to maintain.
Does it still have the fender tag? If so that will tell you a lot about what your Challenger originally came with. You should decode it if it's still there and then decide what to do. It could have an oddball combination of options and turn out to be fairly rare. Me personally though, I'm almost kind of sick of everyone making resto-mods out of EVERY old car they get their hands on. Yeah, it's kinda cool, but enough is enough. If you want the perks of a late model car, then buy a late model car. Some modifications I can understand and let slide, like 4 wheel discs so you can actually stop because drums don't, and even the factory front discs are sub-par, and overdrive trannies so you can drive the thing a couple hours away to a show or whatever without turning 3k rpms on the highway. And about the K-frames, all non-Hemi, V8 B- and E-body K-frames from 66-72 are the same whether the car had a small or big block. There are 3 K-frames; slant 6, Hemi, and all other V8s.
The SRT8 will kill me monitarily speaking, but a 440 Crate sounds more like a way to go. Its got the RS hood, but I would love to find a T/A hood as I love that look. Year One has one on their website, so that is an option.
Just looking at this thread again.......my advice is to not drop the dough on a crate motor. Yeah, it's easier, but Jesus they are expensive. I'm not sure who else makes a 440 based crate motor other than Mopar and Indy. But Mopars 500" wedge motor is almost $9,500. Build your own motor. It will be cheaper and you will gain that knowledge. And if you have to buy tools, engine stand, cherry picker, or whatever else........so what, you'll have those tools for life now. Not to mention the satisfaction of being able to say you built the motor in your car. Also please don't spend $750+ on a T/A hood from Year One. You will find there are other places to source parts than Year One and be able save yourself quite a bit of money, too.
go with your heart. it sounds like you want a car that looks like the good-ol'-days, but cranks over with the twist of a key, will turn at semi-speed and will be a kick in tha pants to drive.
i, for one, am not a purist, and would not care if you hacked up an AAR 'cuda to make what you wanted. well, ok, i would care a little.
in the end, it is your car. do what you want with it. it'll be your blood, sweat and dough that goes into it.
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