SBM in a BBM car

[maccole]

Ive searched through the pages because I hate to repeat a question. But will a 360 fit into a 76 newyorker that originally had I assume a BB? or what do I need to do to bolt it in. thanks

[louie38]

With a truck pan and bendind steering down for clearence yes

[hemi1]

I put a 360/727 out of a cordoba into a 440 big block newyorker a few years back.Bolted right in.Car won a feature and was ran twice with no problems.I didn't change oil pans or fab any different mounts.

[STROMI 121]

I put a 318 out of a dippy into a shocker that was a big block car, and I had to bend idler and pitman arm for clearance.

[hemi1]

If I recall this one was very close,but it did clear.I used factory trans mission mount location also.We built this car 7 years ago,but I know for a fact it was a factory 440 shocker we bolted this 360 into.

[dm440c]

I'm pretty darn sure you guys had to do more than that; maybe the memories faded a bit over the years... the distance between the motor mount saddles and the trans mount is shorter on a big block by an inch or two. It has to do with the external oil pump on the big block and as a result they kicked the motor mount back a tad.

You can drop a SBM into the frame as the saddles line up side-to-side but the trans cross bolt will miss by about that much, so you will probably have to re-drill for that. Tried a couple of times in the past to make the trans mount line up by loosening the bolts etc. but it wouldn't quite do it.

This sets the engine closer to the firewall so distributor clearance needs attention. Plus the note about the steering cross link since it will be extremely close to being jammed into the oil pan, if not in direct contact it is certainly closer than you want for a derby car that will have to get bent up without binding. The driveshaft length will be different too.

All of these items are nothing a competent derby builder cannot overcome but it will happen. Set any big block with spool mounts next to any small block with spool mounts and run a tape measure from the engine mounts to the trans mount, tell me I'm lyin'.... I guarantee it is a shorter distance on the big block

OR set a factory SBM equipped 74-78 frame next to a factory BBM equipped 74-78 frame and run the same tape measure... BBM is shorter by a couple...

OR compare the driveshafts for a 74-78 360/727 to a same year 400/727... trans mount is in the same spot but the big block shaft is shorter...

etc etc etc

[louie38]

Arn't dobas a pinch framer that might the difference for clearence

[louie38]

We also used a different mopar trans mount on the tranny but does make it line right up just cant remember which one it was or flipped around I cant remember exactly

[dm440c]

the difference is the distance between the motor mount cross bolts and the trans mount cross bolts. They are closer together on a big block -in any 74-78 chassis- than they are on a small block. Years ago I wanted to understand what the conflict was and this is what it turned out to be. Take some careful measurements and you don't have to take my word for it.

[derbydad14]

Ah yes, Mopar trivia, aint it great?? It seems to me there is no rhyme or reason as to what works & what doesn't, all you can do is good old fashioned trial n error. Will this oil pan work in this frame, what engines were internally balanced, will this flexplate work w/ this torque converter, etc, etc, are just a few of the Mopar questions Ive encountered over the yrs that seemed as though the answer was never the same twice. Welcome to the world of Mopar.

[hemi1]

I'm not questioning dmc440,I'm just stating that we bolted up a 360/727 into a factory 440 77 new yorker in the past.I know what the 360/727 came out of and the newyorker left the factory with a 440 for a fact.The shocker had a factory 9 1/4 rearend under it.

I loosened factory trans mount bolts and slid it, used the factory driveshaft,and yes the factory spool type engine mounts took a little fukn around to get them to slide into factory engine mounts on engine cradle,but they did drop in.We always cut firewall out for distributor on smallblocks,so that wasn't a issue.This shocker won powder puff in Richland Center,WI. at the Richland County Fair and 5th in feature,and won a feature in Ohio after that.

Just stating what I have done in the past and it worked for me.

[chadcline22]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe the factory big block mounts are taller and could keep you from dropping the steering. I always ran the small block ones and bent the steering down until we started running cradles.

[Punisher 66J]

I am very interested in this thread for the reasons stated. I am wanting to run a 76 New Yorker in bone stock this year and can't weld engine mounts in so I am curious if I can get my 318 in it with little to no mods. I can't do a lot of modding because they won't let it in.

[maccole]

Mar 21, 2014 19:00:50 GMT -5 Punisher 66J said:

I am very interested in this thread for the reasons stated. I am wanting to run a 76 New Yorker in bone stock this year and can't went engin mounts in so I am curious if I can get my 318 in with little to no mods. I can't do alot of moding because they won't let it in.

LMAO....this is the exact same car im running but im doing a 360 lol.....that was my reasoning for the question....sounds like to me the mounts will mount up fine but the difference is going to be where tailshaft hits (or doesn't) on the trans x member

[Dan-Ervine-383]

We all got the same idea going. lol. I'm getting ready to drop my 318 in a 78 Newport that I think had a 400 in it factory. Was hoping to bolt it in, use the stock driveshaft, and go. We'll see how it goes I guess. Planning on trying it today. . .