I'm looking into getting the rear oil seal replaced on my dart, and it might be more cost effective for me to find a different engine (a 225) that runs fine and doesn't leak and drop it into my dart, rather than drop a bunch of $$ on my 170. Are there certain year 225s that won't work with my stock auto tranny? Are there certain years that are better than others for any reason?

To be a complete bolt-in, you'll need a '67 or earlier engine due to the hole at the rear of the crank (were the torque converter pilot fits) being larger on '68 and newer engines. However, it is quite possible to make a "spacer ring" to take up the extra space. Mopar used to offer one IIRC, but it's no longer available. A good machine shop ought to be able to make you one, though. Surely someone on the board (Doug? SSDan?) knows the exact dimensions. Then you could use just about any slant.

Hardened valve seats came onstream in about '73 or '74, And the '71-'80 cam is usually considered the best. If you're lazy like me , '81 and newer engines have hydraulic lifters that don't need periodic lashing.

Good luck.

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Brian (Valianator)

'65 Valiant V100 170/T-flite
'82 D150 225/4-speed
'65 Dart 225 4 door
'68 Dart 225 4-door with Valiant front clip (future project)

The adaptor ring needed to put a '68-up slant in front of a '67-down auto trans is still easily and inexpensively available from Pat Blais, tflitepatty@verizon.net . You will need to use a '62-'66 225/A-body oil pan and pickup tube. Factory-hardened exhaust valve seats beginning in late '72, weaker-but-still-strong cast cranks starting in mid-'76, hydraulic lifters with a grossly inferior camshaft grind starting in '81.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.