There is a 1980 Volare with /6 in the local paper for $100. It is claimed to have 132,000 miles but the engine is a real grease ball and the seats are trashed. The owner blames the seats on kids and two big dogs and it might be just a valve cover or front seal leak, so maybe it is 132,000 miles. It has a broken electrical connection under the dash and won't run. It will crank so I can probably run a hot lead to the ballast and start it if I want to.

My 65 Barracuda has a cracked block, cracked head and an automatic with "morning sickness". It is also misfiring and I haven't found the cause of that yet. I am wondering what would be required to swap the 1980 Volare engine and trans into the 1965 Barracuda. I know the shift linkage and the drive shaft is different. Will the 65 engine brackets bolt up to the 80 block properly? And will the 1980 transmission fit in the 1965 tunnel and bolt to the 1965 transmission mount? What else might I run into?

I assume the 1980 trans has the lockup torque converter? That is part of my motivation to swap tranny's.

The '65 mounts will bolt to the block and trans just fine. You will have to use the '65 pan and pickup on the new motor.

If the '65 has a slip yoke the driveshaft will work. Not sure what you'll have to do if it's a ball and trunnion. Shift linkage may be a chore too.

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

Yes, everything will "bolt-up" just fine.
The oil pan / pick-up tube needs to be swapped as stated.

The 65 B'cuda should have the cable linkage / B&T driveshaft combo so you will have to get some "conversion parts" to make the hookups.

Any old 'mechaincal' floor shifter can take care of the linkage issue and the slip-in yoke driveshaft from the donor car can be cut down to fit. The speedo cable will also be different and any 66 A body cable is the one needed to match everything. In fact, all the correct conversion parts will be found on any 66 B'cuda or Valiant so get out to the wrecking yards for a look. Grab the shift linkage, driveshaft and speedo cable.

Thanks fellows, it doesn't sound to complicated. Not sure I am going to do it since the Volare apparently does not have the lockup converter. I may buy it anyway for the head and new battery and near new starter it has, and any thing else that looks useable.

Doctor Dodge,

I looked at a Mitchell repair manual today and it said Chrysler did not use the lock up torque converter in California in 1980. I really wanted it. They weren't specific about whether it was used in Cal. in previous years. I found one of your old posts that said you ran one. Can you tell me if it was ever used in Cal. and if so, what years it was used?

I have found a lock-up 904 in cars before 1980
It is a strange "mix", some cars had lock-ups, some did not. i never figured-out the "pattern".

Ask your local junkyard if you can look at their Hynes interchange manual, that will list the stamping numbers for the lock-up / wide ratio transmissions. Rub the grease off the ID pad and read the number to see what you have.
DD