Hi folks, I have an opportunity to get a /6 from an 80s truck. I have a 63 Dart with stock engine currently.

I want to go through and rebuild it mildly for performance and for economy and was wondering if there is a consensus on which would be the better to rebuild the 63 engine or the 80 engine.

Thanks for all the great information here, it is mind boggling!

Cheers.
john

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Psychics will soon lead dogs to your body!

1963 Dodge Dart 270 convertible

Doc's ARTICLE ON BLOCKS might be a good place to start.

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"When you find a big kettle of crazy, it's best not to stir it." - Pointy-haired Boss

1964 Valiant V200, 225/Pushbutton 904
BBD, CAI, HEI, LBP, AC, AM/FM/USB, EIEIO

I like the 76 on up blocks. The peanut plug style head is nice too. The engine stays much cleaner.
Click on the red link to view pictures. The earlier photos with the Chrome valve cover is my high compression engine. The blue valve cover photos are of the 1980 block, $100 barn find. 27,000 miles on it now.....

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Aggressive Ted

http://cid-32f1e50ddb40a03c.photos.live ... %20Swinger


74 Swinger, 9.5 comp 254/.435 lift cam, 904, ram air, electric fans, 2.5" HP2 & FM70 ex, 1920 Holley#56jet, 2.76 8 3/4 Sure-Grip, 26" tires, 25+MPG

I have gone over that document and there is a ton of information there and that was what my earlier comment was about. One additional thing I have an automatic and the 80 is manual transmission.

I am trying to decide wether to pay $175 for a 80 truck engine, he'll pull it, from the parts matrix it has electronic ignition so if I can get that also then this might not be too bad of a buy? I see the on CL for $300 also.

BTW, I already have a later model peanut head I got from Reed so should be good there.

I currently have block # 243430-11,RGFC. From the parts matrix I have a forged crank, solid lifters while the 80 has hydraulic.

Doc quotes Weertman "later model piece should be "better" than an earlier one." but I got the feeling that was only a quote and not necessarily backed up.

My supposition is a forged crank is superior to the cast but that the earlier crank wont fit the later model block, but I have read many articles here and as always there seems to be conflicting opinions on nearly everything. But again I just had my 64th birthday yesterday and my memory is uh, what was I saying?

I am learning a lot here and thank you all for you patience, pointers and suggestions.

John

_________________
Psychics will soon lead dogs to your body!

1963 Dodge Dart 270 convertible

At our age, stick with the forged crank.......your not trying to save weight by building a racing engine are you?

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Aggressive Ted

http://cid-32f1e50ddb40a03c.photos.live ... %20Swinger


74 Swinger, 9.5 comp 254/.435 lift cam, 904, ram air, electric fans, 2.5" HP2 & FM70 ex, 1920 Holley#56jet, 2.76 8 3/4 Sure-Grip, 26" tires, 25+MPG

If your 63 is in nice shape I would want to keep it origanal, as far as performance and economy,both engines could be built the same, the 80 engine would have all the hydraulic valve train if you want to run a hydraulic cam. Id buy the 80 engine just for the spare parts, you could use head, valve train on 63 block. Is 80 engine out of a 2wd or 4wd truck?

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I am not sure if the engine is from a 2x or a 4x but will find out. What are the implications on the two?
My 63 leaks oil in the usual places, thought was using the newer engine because it is a newer engine. But from my reading doesnt seem this is always the best approach to take.
I am not hopping it up greatly, Ill put a performance cam or regrind once I figure that one out. I am working to accumulate parts now with lifters and cam and other stuff that wont hing on what the crank or block grinding will require.
So it sounds like a good deal to go and purchase the 80 engine to have on hand?

Thanks SSL6 and ATed for my D. A. questions guys. Experience makes the difference.
John

_________________
Psychics will soon lead dogs to your body!

1963 Dodge Dart 270 convertible

FYI- 80 engine will be mechanical lifters. Hydraulics started in 81.

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Casually looking for a Clifford hyperpak intake for cheap.

The crank register is different. You will need to address that to run the '80 with your '63 transmission.

CJ

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Part of Tyrde-Browne Racing

Good point. I often forget about the crank register difference.

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Casually looking for a Clifford hyperpak intake for cheap.

Sorry for the hijack. I'm getting ready to put '65 engine in my '86 ram with 833od tranny. Can you tell me if I will have the same crank register issues.
Can you point me towards reading material on the crank trigger issue.
Thanks

Dave

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86 Miser 170,000+
2 1/4" exhaust
Holley 1920 #55
HEI MSD BLaster 2
17.8 mpg

xjarhead you will need a spacer to center flywheel

hideogumperjr you will need post 68 flexplate and spacer for center of crank/torque converter

A pre-1967 flywheel would be the other way to go...

-D.Idiot

Thanks hantayo13. Like digging a small hole with a backhoe, keeps getting deeper and deeper!! But informative and exciting!
Cheers.

_________________
Psychics will soon lead dogs to your body!

1963 Dodge Dart 270 convertible

If its out of a 4wd it may have the heavy duty cast crank, the crank im running is out of a 84 4wd, its heavy like the forged cranks, but with the narrow rods. You can tell by looking at harmonic balancer, if its one peice cast with 3 grooves its got the heavy crank, I believe these are fairly rare, think they may only be in 4wds

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