The Dodge Challenger Message Board

I am picking up my first Mopar tomorrow. It is a 71 Challenger with a tired 318 in it. I am also picking a 440 engine from a junkyard this week to replace the 318. I have to talk to my machine shop on the rebuild but I am looking for something hotter than the stock 375 HP 440, but nothing so drastic that Ihave to constantly tinker with it and can't take it for an evening drive. There is a Hughes crank kit with pistons, crank rings etc that I might go with. I will clean the engine and pull the heads, manifolds and pan and take it to the machine shop for them to do the short block (except cam which I will do) and port the heads. I will put it together and install. Any words of wisdom on the swap? The car currently has an automatic, which I think will bolt up. How about motor mounts? I am getting the engine fully dressed so I should save on install parts. Any advice would be appreciated.

You will need new engine mounts.
www.engine-swaps.com for them
You will also need a new trans since the bellhousing cant be taken off an auto to put on a big block bell housing.
Probably will need a new radiator, one form a big block car, so inlet nad outlet are on same side.
If it doesnt have a 8.75 or dana rear end, you will need to get one sooner or later.
Cant think of anything else right now.

spitfire9137 wrote:Probably will need a new radiator, one form a big block car, so inlet nad outlet are on same side.

You will need a good radiator for sure and with the inlet and outlets on opposite sides!

I didnt mean on the same side of the radiator, the same side for intlet and outlet from engine

Thanks guys. I will call the junkyard tomorrow and see if I can get the transmission and radiator. Any ideas what these are worth? Mopar big blocks are getting scarce out here and this guy will stick it to me, if he can.

Thanks

Gary