Ok, suppose one decides to do a build similair to Slantenstein's suggestion. Let's talk about cost effectiveness as compared to a V8 swap. I have read other threads that seem to suggest it may be "less painfu$$" to swap to V8. When I considered the fact that this would require a transmission change also, I dont see how that can be. Even if you choose a 318, any decently built motor and trans combo combined with all the nickle and dime stuff needed for the 6 to 8 conversion would run at least 4K. I'm not counting the rear end change that would probably be done in either case. Does the s/6 buildout come close to that...

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72 Dart Swinger....One toke over the line

Cost effectiveness? To do what? Run a certain ET?

I bought a running 440 and 727 for the grand sum of $450. I got a Duster parts car for that donated it's disc brakes and rear end to my '67 Valiant for only $200 as it was engine less. I could have had the 440 in the '67 Valiant which cost me $1100 and had it running and driving for less than $2500.

It's far easier to go fast with a larger engine. You have to work very hard to make 300hp with a normally aspirated /6. It's easy to do that with a 318. The 440 is there bone stock.

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Joshua

Wow... a 440 and 727 for $450 !? Wish I could find that kind of deal. When I find engine/trans combos in the local boneyard for that price, they usually need to be gone thru carefully and $$$ spent to make them reliable and moderatley hi performance (relatively speaking). I'm really talkin about an engine/trans (V8) combo thats not just limp'in down the road Slantenstein's build is what it is...a reliable streetable car that has V-Good performance relative to the engine type. Now, if I throw a 318 in my Swinger, what I would call "V-good" performance for THAT engine would be equal to the upgrades done to the slant 6. . and that would not be all that cheap. Same goes with any V8 I put in it. I guess you can get lucky and find a V8 / trans that has already been upgraded and is in very good shape for a crazy low price, but that seems to happen to others a lot more often than me My /6 auto Swinger would need all the usuall stuff to do the swap and that all adds up pretty quick. Im not including the rear end and disc brake into the equation 'cause that would need to be done in either case ( for my car).

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72 Dart Swinger....One toke over the line

Well, I shop carefully and keep money in the bank so I can jump on good deals when they come along. The 440 is actually going into a '52 Packard along with a B-body 8 3/4, 12x1.25" disc brakes with some old 4 piston JFZ calipers, and a barely used $240 NOS Super Powershot system. Not only are we going to do some bracket racing, but I will take the car out to a track day to see how fast it will lap PIR. Other deals we've scored for the car were a hot hyd cam for $10 cause it didn't have any lifters and had a little surface rust on the journals. An old, but unused Cloyes double roller timing set also for $10. Most big block speed stuff is cheaper than /6 speed stuff. With almost twice the displacement it's much easier to go fast.

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Joshua

One thing you still have to take into consideration when building a hot rod Slant. All the brake/drivetrain upgrades you have to do when you switch to a V-8 will still have to be done. Try making a 100 MPH pass in a 3200# car and stop with 9" brakes.

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.