My experience has been the same. Since I purchased my SRT 8 Charger, I have visited a few Mopar forums. NOTHING like this board. Instead of helping and sharing performance information, if one guy reports his car is faster, 10 guys tell him he is full of $hit instead of asking "how did you do it?". For these new cars like mine, it cound be because many of the owners are a bit younger :ball: o No: . But it makes me appreciate this site and the Buick community even more :beer
H-e-l-p S.O.S. send help, I have money in my pocket, and an internet full of car's for sale ou: ou: ou: ou: :laugh:
I guess its not as easy as it is on tv where they go down to the local mopar shop and just pick up a 426 hemi engine.....hmmm got an extra 20g's layn around? oh ya this is the real world.
If you go to Moparts the Drag Racing forum and Question and Answer forum are much more informative and friendly than the General Forum. The General page is like a day care center. Try www.440sixpack.com The North Oakland Mopar Muscle page. :TU:
Eddie, please don't take this the wrong way, but this room has been set aside for the PS guys and its offshoots. Brand X thrives here. We're grateful for the space that's given to us. And we all help each other out. Isn't that the spirit of this place? Paul's post is completely appropriate here. That being said, Paul, why in the hell are you modding a 383 4-speed Charger? They are not too common. They are probably rarer than a 440 car with the same tranny.
I would have said the same. I am more of an original car type person generally speaking. And I have fond memories of the 383s that my buddies had back in the day. Also the 440 6 pack. The 383 is no slouch either. I don't think you're picking up much in performance per dollar spend doing something like this. To me, it wouldn't be worth it. I'd be proud to have a 383 version too. I sure wish I had the yellow 383 4spd 70 Cuda that my buddy wrapped around a tree in 1973, fortunately just broken bones and stiches for the three of them in the car and nobody was killed. It was too fast for the headlights and brakes already.
But you say that like if it is some rare 318 car. It's a 383 4-speed. I don't think many people would get a 383 'Cuda and make them Hemis, right? ou:
Moparstyle???? do they all have on leisure suits while sitting at their keyboards??? Fine Coriiiiiinthian Leather?? Patton
Not saying it's not without value. It is less desirable than a 440 version. As long as he doesn't Pro Street it, The car will still retain it's rare 383 standing. And be more desirable with the Hemi. The vin number will remain unchanged......and that is the intrinsic value anyway right? :laugh:
I just don't like to see musclecars bastardized to make other musclecar. A 318 Charger would be better IMHO but, hell, it ain't my car.
Best of luck Canuck. The Hemi is still hard to get. Have you considered an aluminum headed 500ci Wedge? :Brow:
Ok, I'll try to fill you in as much as possible. I think the Hemi swap is a great idea. Hemi's are a marvel, you can't go wrong with one. You will love it! Now, if you want a good hemi, and you want it soon, and you don't already have a crate motor lined up, Call Chuck Lofgren at 763-753-7573. He can build you a Hemi that will be better and cheaper than a crate motor. Don't mess around with a 426. A 426 is 4.25 bore, 3.75 stroke. It dosen't cost a dime more to use a 4.15 crank, getting you 474 cubes. The Hemi heads are the best flowing heads ever put on a production car, and the extra cubes allow you to use that head flow much more efficiently, at lower rpm. A 474 Hemi is a torque monster compared to a 426, plus mkes gaiant power up to 7000+ rpm. For mounts, you can get conversion mounts at Shumachers http://www.engine-swaps.com/ They do not look original, but they are good, they fit, there is not cutting or welding involved. If you NEED a perfectly original look, You can get a repro Hemi K frame from Newcombs http://www.rockymountainmopar.com/hemiprod.html Newcombs can also provide a brake booster and bracket, but if it was me I would ditch the power brakes and convert to manual. Other wise you have to pull the brake booster every time you remove the valve cover. Your tranny and rear end will hold up, IF you don't beat on them too hard. If you want to preserve those original parts, put in a an 18 spline Hemi 4 speed. You will need a hemi flywheel, they have 8 bolt holes instead of 6. Get a steel or aluminum one, not an OEM iron. Also, get it as light as possible, they are easier on parts and the hemi dosen't need a heavy flywheel with all that torque. You can get new, bolt in dana 60 from Strange Engineering. http://www.strangeengineering.net/catalog/index.html Year ONe sells the repop Hemi exhaust manifolds, they are quiter and more durable than headers, and hold their value better. You only loose 25 horse over headers with Hemi manifolds. If you want a pretty stock look, you can get 2x4 intakes, carter afbs, and Classic Haulage is repoping the Hemi Chrome DOme air flter housing. 26" b-body radiators are pricy. You can get a 26" radiator out of a C body mopar for cheap. The only difference is one shroud mounting stud. Just use a C-body shroud (cheap) or buy a repop B body shroud from Year One for about $75 and redrill one hole. I hope this helps, if you have any questions PM me and I will give you my cell # Joel
To Hemi or not to hemi Thanks for all the input and suggestions. At this point the wait list for a Hemi may dicate just restoring the car with the original engine anyway. My plan is to restotre the car with a color change to Black (now white),black Vinyl top amd keep the stock black Interior. The original engine only has 65,000 miles and does not require a rebuild. The decision to put the Hemi in will depend on its availability. If this car was an R/T I would not change the engine. What ever I change could be unbolted if I sell the car someday and 383 Chargers are more desireable than one with a Hemi.
The New 426 Hemi out of Ma Mopar has had a lot of problems since they, Chrysler have changed who cast this equipment.These blocks should be sonic tested before they are used period.There have been many problems with the new block casting with core shift.If you plan on just putting a mild 426 together get the block tested and go from there. Now for some modern tech with real horsepower for a 426 Hemi go to this web site,www.forhemisonly.com. This is Tim Bannings web site and Business, he is one of the top four Hemi builders in the World and also is from the same Country (Canada) as you.He has built a few motors for me,and the one in my 1965 Dodge he built.I myself use the Stage V Hemi Head in this motor and I do not use the MP block, crank or rods,only my 64 is an all factory motor. Use www.moparts.com for your questions on this swap,good luck.
i bought a crate hemi last year . joel good stuff , a couple things , first the C body rad does bolt in but the pass side bracket is different and it cocks the rad to one side , the lower bolt hole is in a different spot , also the shroud will hit the strut rod bushing , thats why the b body setup is different . another source for repop K members is megaparts , he will also have the correct mounts , not the generics that MP sells . now onto the crate HEMI , buy a gasket set with it if you buy from MP. IT MUST come apart , there are so many things not correct , valve springs , retainers and the machining for them on the heads , the head gaskets , RTV on the head gaskets oozing into the cylinders , the rings on the pistons lined up , leaking oil from the rear main seal . mines in pieces right now it was supposedly run but i don't think it would have lasted very long .
