Slant Six Forum :: volare-dart suspension swap

Generally speaking it will take the same (or similar) amount of fuel to make the same horsepower regardless of engine size, UNLESS you are using "artificial" power adders (turbos, nitrous, etc.).

And, while comparing fuel economy, consider this. My GTS convertible has a very stock 340/727/3.23 drivetrain. My son's Dart GT convertible has a very stock (but not for the car) 440/4sp/3.23 drivetrain. Guess what? They get the same mileage.................. About 12mpg in town and 14mpg on the highway. Both could do a little better, but maybe not on the current garbage that passes as gasoline in the state of California.

Josh, it's because you're not making (or is that wasting) horsepower like his Dart. I'm also fairly convinced that if I the engine were rebuilt and I fine tuned the carb and distributor it would get close to 20mpg on the highway cruising at 65-70. It still may not do that on this "reformulated" garbage we get here, though. My GTS used to get 17mpg back in the 80s while my 273 four barrel four speed Barracuda got 18mpg.

The point is get 250hp out of the 225 and the mileage will probably be in the same ballpark as a stock 340 (which has more than 250hp).

Author:	63dartman [ Tue Sep 09, 2008 2:22 pm ]
Post subject:	volare-dart suspension swap
This is my first post on this forum. I'm here to pick everyones brain for my 70 swinger build. I'm mostly on the forabodiesonly site with the same name. I also have a 63 v-8 powered dart. I want to make a wicked slant street car that runs like a v-8 for half the amount of gas it takes my v-8 to move. My first question is: will a 80 volare 225 slant and auto tranny drop into my 70 swinger without issues. My swinger is a v8 car so I know it needs new mounts and such. Is there anything really specific that needs addressed? Also is there anyone that has swapped the 80 volare tranverse torsion bar crossmember into an A-body?

Author:	sandy in BC [ Tue Sep 09, 2008 2:25 pm ]
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I swapped a Volare clip into a truck. Dont do it. The A body clip is better anyway.

Author:	63dartman [ Tue Sep 09, 2008 2:48 pm ]
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O.k. So i will need to swap the k member to a slant since it is a v8 or use the volare if possible:( No one has mounts to convert to a slant?

Author:	Jim Lusk [ Tue Sep 09, 2008 2:57 pm ]
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I will add one thing to the above mentioned items, you may not save any gas over your current setup. Generally speaking it will take the same (or similar) amount of fuel to make the same horsepower regardless of engine size, UNLESS you are using "artificial" power adders (turbos, nitrous, etc.). And, if that power comes from fewer cubes your car will be less docile on the street and less fun to drive. That's why my fun cars have big blocks, and my daily driver (after I rebuild the drivetrain) has a turboed 2.2. And, while comparing fuel economy, consider this. My GTS convertible has a very stock 340/727/3.23 drivetrain. My son's Dart GT convertible has a very stock (but not for the car) 440/4sp/3.23 drivetrain. Guess what? They get the same mileage.................. About 12mpg in town and 14mpg on the highway. Both could do a little better, but maybe not on the current garbage that passes as gasoline in the state of California.

Author:	Jim Lusk [ Tue Sep 09, 2008 2:58 pm ]
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Ok, so I did contradict myself a little with the mileage of the two V8s. That's because both engines are way more power than the car needs.

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Author:	63dartman [ Tue Sep 09, 2008 3:06 pm ]
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O.k. then, gas mileage will not be a plus I really want to do it just because there are so many v-8 cars. I want something a little different. Turbos and such are not out of the question either.

Author:	Joshie225 [ Tue Sep 09, 2008 3:19 pm ]
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Quote: Generally speaking it will take the same (or similar) amount of fuel to make the same horsepower regardless of engine size, UNLESS you are using "artificial" power adders (turbos, nitrous, etc.). With larger engines there are increased pumping losses and increased frictional losses which lead directly to reduced fuel economy. Quote: And, while comparing fuel economy, consider this. My GTS convertible has a very stock 340/727/3.23 drivetrain. My son's Dart GT convertible has a very stock (but not for the car) 440/4sp/3.23 drivetrain. Guess what? They get the same mileage.................. About 12mpg in town and 14mpg on the highway. Both could do a little better, but maybe not on the current garbage that passes as gasoline in the state of California. So why does my Valiant's mildly warmed up 225 get a little over 20 MPG while cruising quickly down the freeway if it's doing the same work as your son's 440? My car has 3.21 gears and a 3-speed, BTW.

Author:	Jim Lusk [ Tue Sep 09, 2008 3:57 pm ]
Post subject:
Josh, it's because you're not making (or is that wasting) horsepower like his Dart. I'm also fairly convinced that if I the engine were rebuilt and I fine tuned the carb and distributor it would get close to 20mpg on the highway cruising at 65-70. It still may not do that on this "reformulated" garbage we get here, though. My GTS used to get 17mpg back in the 80s while my 273 four barrel four speed Barracuda got 18mpg. The point is get 250hp out of the 225 and the mileage will probably be in the same ballpark as a stock 340 (which has more than 250hp).

Author:	65 dartman [ Tue Sep 09, 2008 4:04 pm ]
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Had a 69 Charger with a 440/727 and 2.76 hiway gears - In 88 drove from VA to Nats in Columbus, back and forth to the motel, and back home again. Sucker got 19 MPG for the trip. Connversely a friend drove my 71 Chally convert, 318/727/2.94 gears - 18MPG for the trip.

Author:	63dartman [ Tue Sep 09, 2008 4:16 pm ]
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Well, no one has answered my two questions yet and It seems like my post is a gas mileage issue now. I just asked if the 80 volare suspension would bolt to my 70 dart? And if the 80 225 would bolt up in my 70 dart???

Author:	sandy in BC [ Tue Sep 09, 2008 4:28 pm ]
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The F body suspension will not fit your A body..... You can use the spindles and calipers on the A body.

Author:	Joshie225 [ Tue Sep 09, 2008 5:27 pm ]
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Quote: Josh, it's because you're not making (or is that wasting) horsepower like his Dart. I'm also fairly convinced that if I the engine were rebuilt and I fine tuned the carb and distributor it would get close to 20mpg on the highway cruising at 65-70. It still may not do that on this "reformulated" garbage we get here, though. My GTS used to get 17mpg back in the 80s while my 273 four barrel four speed Barracuda got 18mpg. The point is get 250hp out of the 225 and the mileage will probably be in the same ballpark as a stock 340 (which has more than 250hp). Now you're changing your story. It takes comparable power to push my Valiant down the road as your Darts. So why, if the road horsepower requirement is the same, does my car get 50% better highway fuel economy? My Valiant requires the same 50 horsepower or so to run 70 MPH as your Dart. It's making the same horsepower at 70 MPH as the 340 or 440. Volare (F-body) suspension does NOT fit an A-body. As Sandy mentioned the spindles and calipers from the Volare can be used, but that is all. The 1980 225 will swap right in.

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