I have started the restoration of my 81 Dodge Mirada CMX. 318 w/ 727 TF. I plan on a few upgrades under the hood, complete inerior overhaul, custom exterior mods. It may take a few years but hopefully I end up with a show car!

 

I hope it works out well for you. I don't see very many Miradas around anymore and it would be nice to see one all done up.

 

The mirada is a J body, a derivative of the F and M body cars. All F,M,J cars share the same platform. The M body was used a lot as a cop car, so a Diplomat cop car is a good source of parts. My current project is the F body, 79 Volare wagon, but all that I have done applies to your J body. If you can find an M body (any year diplomat, gran fury 82 and up) cop car, it will probably have the 1.125" front sway bar, .75" rear sway bar, 7" wide heavy duty 15" wheels (with 6 oval slots), bigger rear brakes, 2.9 suregrip 8.25 axle, and heavy duty rear springs. You want all of that stuff. I put an entire rear axle under mine, then upgraded the rear sway bar to the Mopar Performance 1.0" one that your dealer can get for you at about $90. The front bar was available new as well, but supplies for both are limited.
Bigger front brakes can be had by getting the rotors and caliper bracket from a late B or R body car.
If you have the lean burn ignition setup, you will want to get the Mopar Performance electronic ignition to replace it. If your carb is also controlled by the computer, you want to get an older one that is not, or just put on a 4bbl intake and carb.
I also put magnum heads on a 78 360 block, which will eventually replace the 318 that I have now.
Here is a link to the J body. The same site has articles on F and M bodies.
http://www.moparstyle.net/history/jbody.htm
feel free to email me directly if you have more questions wmemoore1@***.net

 

Hey Bill, he said 727 behind a 318. Thats odd for that year ain't it.

 

I suppose it is possible, especially if it has a towing package. Usually, the 727 was used with a 360 -4BBL only. I have seen the 904 behind 318 and 360-2bbl engines. My 79 wagon has a 904 behind a 318-4bbl. I have seen cop cars with 318-4bbl with 904 more than with a 727.
But like I said, a towing package might change that.

 

in my mirada, i have a 727 behind my 340...

 

Well, today I saw a 76 Cordoba with 360-4bbl, and a 904. So, weird things do happen with Mother Mopar.

 

Yep, I almost made my '88 Shelby Z a RWD with a 440 and A727B with an 8 3/4 rear. I didn't have the money to bother with it, because my Roadrunner comes first. I've also seen an '87 Conquest TSi with a 340 or a 360, one of the Mopar magazines had one as a project and did the same to it.

 

I've got a 1980 Mirada CMX...in kinda "eh" shape. the plastic in the rear around the bumper and taillights has all cracked, fallen off, and disappeared. The interior is certainly showing wear as well. But the baby runs well, and I'd like to restore it. The main problem I'm running into is the difficulty in figuring out how to replace those missing and worn plastic body pieces.

I'm such a n00b when it comes to cars, I know I'll probably get thrashed before this is over. But any help anyone can provide would be awesome. ^_^

 

man...i have a mirada too, and those pieces will likely have to be custom made...youd have to luck out in finding one at a scrap yard or even less likely, a dealership