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Putting together a mess!? My engine swap idea, good or dumb?
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Author:  daniel_depetro [ Mon Oct 05, 2009 7:57 am ]
Post subject:  Putting together a mess!? My engine swap idea, good or dumb?
I have a basically all original slant six 1974 Gold Duster.

<Link to my 1974 Gold Duster project build thread>

Car runs good, but not as good as it should. I rebuilt the reman carb and now it barely runs at all.



About two weeks ago I bought this running/driving 1983 Dodge Truck with a slant six and a 4-speed overdrive transmission for $125.00. The seller even drove it to my dads shop which was ~45 miles from where the truck was.

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The truck runs great as is so my thought was to to just swap the engine into my Duster.
There are thwo other reasons I kind of want to do this:
1.) It has an aluminum intake manifold
2.) Because it's a 1983 it should have the lighter cast crank as well.
Being a truck it should have the shot peened crank, correct?
This would also give me the oppertunity to send in my original 1974 head to have it shaved and the large valves installed (maybe even some headwork performed if I can afford it).
Once my 1974 head is complete it will bolt onto the 1983 shortblock providing I use all of the original solid lifter stuff, yes/no?
Author:  Reed [ Mon Oct 05, 2009 8:39 am ]
Post subject: 
I say keep the truck and sell the Duster. :wink:

You can swap that motor into the Duster, but i don't believe the 80s trucks got shot peened cranks.

You will need to use the motor mounts, oil pan, and oil pump pickup off the Duster motor.

The other thing I noticed is that the truck has the lean burn system. You will need to use the distributor and carb off the Duster, but if you have problems with the carb on your Duster you will continue to have problems with that carb on the truck motor.

The 74 head will work fine on the 83 block, and I believe you can even keep the hydraulic cam assembly.
Author:  daniel_depetro [ Mon Oct 05, 2009 10:45 am ]
Post subject: 
I hate trucks. You want it? :lol:

Duster = cool shaped rust free turd. 8)
Truck = boxy shaped rusted turd. :?


I don't think the truck actually has lean burn anymore.
The carburetor (1945) and distributor appear the same as the units on my Duster. I assumed a previous owner switched it and just never swapped the air cleaner, but I've been wrong a few times before. I'll double check the next time I'm at the shop.
Half of the vacuum hoses were just hanging in the engine bay so I capped all the vacuum ports on the carb except for the brake booster & distributor advance ports and those are the only things hooked to it.
Author:  Krooser [ Mon Oct 05, 2009 11:10 am ]
Post subject: 
Sounds like you're going to do a whole lotta work just beacuse your carb is messed up.

Get the carb problem fixed, pull the head of the D100 engine and have that modified to suit your needs. Then you'll still have short block and a desireable four speed set-up to keep or sell.

there's a guy in Appleton, WI looking for a swb Dodge frame, too.
Author:  SlantSixDan [ Mon Oct 05, 2009 11:50 am ]
Post subject: 
No shot-peened crank in the '80s trucks. Swap the aluminum intake if it's the nice 1-piece casting; look on it with suspicion if it's the ugly 2-piece casting with the weld bead all around its top outer edges. Send me a PM if you want a nice new carb instead of a hacked-to-death "reman" unit.
Author:  daniel_depetro [ Mon Oct 05, 2009 1:02 pm ]
Post subject: 
Quote:
Sounds like you're going to do a whole lotta work just beacuse your carb is messed up.
I wasn't going to swap engines to avoid fixing my current carb, but because the engine in the truck runs very strong and is super responsive compared to my Dusters weak and doggy engine. The lighter cast crank (quicker revvs) and aluminum intake manifold would just be added bonuses from the swap and I wouldn't even have to buy any gaskets this way.

I thought the solid lifters were the better way to go?!?

Quote:
there's a guy in Appleton, WI looking for a swb Dodge frame, too.
Any contact info (or a link) for this guy?
I'd make him a heck of a deal!

Quote:
Swap the aluminum intake if it's the nice 1-piece casting; look on it with suspicion if it's the ugly 2-piece casting with the weld bead all around its top outer edges.
The aluminum intake manifold is the 1-piece unit, not the welded piece.

Quote:
Send me a PM if you want a nice new carb instead of a hacked-to-death "reman" unit.
I already got $18.00 into a 1-bbl. carburetor, if I can't get it straightend out I am not putting anymore money into it.
If I spend the money for a "new" carb it's going to be on a 2-bbl.
I'll shoot you a PM when I am ready to spend some money.
Author:  Krooser [ Mon Oct 05, 2009 3:52 pm ]
Post subject: 
Quote:
Quote:
Sounds like you're going to do a whole lotta work just beacuse your carb is messed up.
I wasn't going to swap engines to avoid fixing my current carb, but because the engine in the truck runs very strong and is super responsive compared to my Dusters weak and doggy engine. The lighter cast crank (quicker revvs) and aluminum intake manifold would just be added bonuses from the swap and I wouldn't even have to buy any gaskets this way.

I thought the solid lifters were the better way to go?!?

Quote:
there's a guy in Appleton, WI looking for a swb Dodge frame, too.
Any contact info (or a link) for this guy?
I'd make him a heck of a deal!

Quote:
Swap the aluminum intake if it's the nice 1-piece casting; look on it with suspicion if it's the ugly 2-piece casting with the weld bead all around its top outer edges.
The aluminum intake manifold is the 1-piece unit, not the welded piece.

Quote:
Send me a PM if you want a nice new carb instead of a hacked-to-death "reman" unit.
I already got $18.00 into a 1-bbl. carburetor, if I can't get it straightend out I am not putting anymore money into it.
If I spend the money for a "new" carb it's going to be on a 2-bbl.
I'll shoot you a PM when I am ready to spend some money.
http://appleton.craigslist.org/pts/1394624870.html

He called me last nite as I am parting out an '84 but it's a LWB. I could use the trans set-up out of that truck and maybe the box if it's decent.

Lemme know what ya do. My son lives in Iron River so getting it isn't a problem.
Author:  daniel_depetro [ Mon Oct 05, 2009 5:18 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks for the heads up & the link!

The truck is being parted, but I already sold the box last night for $125.00
I have two of these complete 4-speed overdrive transmission set-ups out of this type of trucks though. I also have several other regular 4-speeds & 4-speed overdrive transmission set-ups in general.
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