i have a 71 charger 500 (hence my name) with a 318 in it. i was eating lunch and reading the paper when i noticed a 71 chrysler new yorker with the original 440 in it. ad says that the car ran when it was parked last year and they want $900 for the whole car. now, my car doesnt have its original motor but the original was a 318. what amount of modification to the front end/suspension if any would it require to put that 440 into my charger? i know that id have to replace the tranny as well but thats why i wanna buy the whole car.

 

Hi 71charger500,

Since you are not keeping the '71 500 stock...

If I am not mistaken, you will need to change a few things.

First you will need to change the "K Member". This will allow you to mount the 440 in where the 318 was.

You will want to make sure that you either have a radiator with at least 3 rows in the core or if you are going aftermarket...a good aluminum unit.

You will also need to change the exhaust to allow better flow for the 440.

Behind the 440 you will most likely find a 727 transmission. If you are planning on reworking the tranny...now would be the time to do it (including an aux. transmission cooler and a deeper finned aluminum pan). An absolute MUST if you are planning on running a higher stall converter.

What rear is in the '71 Charger 500? You may want to change it out for an 8 3/4" (sure grip). You may need to change the rear leaf springs. The 440 will wind up that rear faster than the 318 would and that could cause you some wheel hop.

The fuel sending unit (pickup) will need to be changed while you are upgrading for the engine... You will want a 3/8" feed instead of the 5/16" feed that comes on the 318 models. You will want to run new 3/8" lines to the engine from the back...otherwise you are just choking off the supply.

You may also want to look into front disc brakes if you do not already have them. Going is great...Stopping when you need to is even better. You may need to make (or have someone experienced with adjusting) the front torsion bars.

You do not mention how much modification you are planning on making to the car but this should help get you started.

 

Do you plan on keeping it stock or modifying it and if so how much are you modifying it? The best way to do it is by using a big block K member and torsion bars for proper mounting.

 

in 1971/72 there are no such thing as bb or sb K frames. For 73/74 there are sb and bb k frames. You will need BB motor mounts though. The torsion bars in your 318 car are smaller than the stock 440 bars. most people recomend a bar slightly larger than the stock 440 (.92") anyway, but don't do to big you will not like the ride. Your 318 most likely has a 904 behind it. Even if it did have a 727 it would not bolt up anyway due to the diferant bellhousing bolt patern. You will want to build any type oh HP, you need at least a 8 3/4 rear. Although some 383/400 2 brl cars came with 8 1/4 rears, I would never run a BB with a 8 1/4 rear, I broke 2 behind stock 318s. Your drive shaft will also need to be changed or shortend with the new 727 and 8 3/4. If your car cam with the small radiator (22") I recoment a new radiator support and radiator (SB with A/C came stock with the larger radiator). In B-bodies the radiator had the hoses connect opposetly on the SB and BB radiators (SB=top on driver side, botom on pass/BB t on pass, b on driver). you can use a SB radiator if you use a BB waterpump housing thay alows the "SB" stile. those can be found on a few non-b-body cars/trucks. I do not remember wich models came with that stile waterpump, so you will have to research that (I am running that setup with my 72 Charger). I also recomend going to www.dodgecharger.com, that is the best charger (real Chargers have 2 doors) site I know of. make sure you take the time to go through the site. you will get fast answers if you post engine questions in the engine section. That should be the big stuff, you will also need a BB engine wire harnes, or make one.

Ian