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Project Raven Imperial: We Have A Powertrain! Now, If It Will Just Quit Fighting Us…


Project Raven Imperial: We Have A Powertrain! Now, If It Will Just Quit Fighting Us…

Finally, after years of issues, our project 1983 Imperial has some good news: there is an engine and transmission waiting to be put into the engine bay! Given the luck the Imperial has had with engines over the past few years, I’m happy to say that the ideal powertrain is now sitting in my garage, courtesy of Eric Rood, LeMons judge and the only person I know with worse luck with Mopars than myself. Here’s how this one played out: Rood was intending on building a late 1970s Dodge Magnum as a LeMons racer with the apropos name, “Project Regretmobile”. Unfortunately, his Magnum looked like it had been parked next to the Dead Sea for years, and no matter how much love and energy he attempted to save the Magnum with, the car just wasn’t having it. (Click HERE to see why!) His spirit broken (not to mention the T-top roof bar), Rood offered up a 360 and A999 automatic that was slated to go into the car, along with “a box of parts”. Of course I jumped on the deal.

Surprisingly enough, the 360 is close to installation as it sits. Eric did not misrepresent the engine one bit. It even has the same Edelbrock Performer intake that I kept off of the old 323ci mill, so just in case I need a spare intake for a small-block Chrysler, I’ve got it! There are some details I need to address before pairing the 360 and A999 together, but first let’s check out what, exactly, I’m putting into the car:

3418496…that means 1971-74 production run, but doesn’t quite tell me where this block came from. This could be a New Yorker block, could be from a ‘Cuda…whatever. Rood had bought it from a guy who had built it up some for a different car after he unearthed the grimiest, most disgusting lump of an LA block out of the Magnum you’ve ever seen. Apparently, buying a new engine was cheaper than the amount of Gunk he’d need to clean the other block off with.

 The block code is clear, but the stamping, which I read as “2D30176”, translates to a 1972 mill from the Belvidere, Illinois plant. The last five digits are simply a serial number, far as I know. So, what could the potential be from this 360? Stock, the upper limit was 175 horsepower and 285 ft/lbs of torque. But this isn’t a completely stock engine, either…the heavy and choked-out intake is gone, headers will be going onto the car to help breath out the burnt fuel, and there is a mild cam in the engine. This won’t be a monster powerhouse like a 408 stroker would be…simply put, there’s no funds to build that kind of mill, not even close…but it will be a damn sight better than the 323’s absolutely pathetic, half-dead 164 horsepower/209 ft-lb reading on the dyno.

So with all of that in mind and a fresh wave of optimism, I decided to start out with a Krylon rebuild. A fresh layer of Chrysler’s Corporate Blue paint was sprayed onto the engine, new motor mounts were bolted on and a set of plugs were installed. A new mechanical fuel pump has been ordered, the Carter carburetor I have from the prior engine will be gone-through, and with luck, the engine and trans will be ready to drop into the car shortly. I’ve got a deadline of later August I’m trying to reach…this will allow the Imperial to play at a Ratty Muscle Cars event in Alabama. Will I make it?

Well, let’s just say that the 360 will not go quietly into that engine bay. While test-fitting an accessory bracket, this water pump mounting bolt sheared off. After trying every possible alternative, it had to be drilled out and fortunately, was able to be re-tapped to stock threads. And that’s one headache enough…but after drilling out a bolt, I decided to drop the oil pan to check and make sure that I cleaned up any metal shavings that might have fallen in. And what did I find?

Three out of five main bearing caps were loose. Stay tuned, folks…this one can only get better from here. Right?

 


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5 thoughts on “Project Raven Imperial: We Have A Powertrain! Now, If It Will Just Quit Fighting Us…

  1. 69rrboy

    NEVER just plop a motor in without taking it apart first no matter who you get it from. That’s just asking for problems. Check EVERY fastener and every clearance. It’s a lot easier to check all that stuff while it’s sitting on the floor than after it’s already in the car.

    Years ago I bought a 340 motor from an “expert” who said everything was ready to go. Luckily I looked anyway because he had the oil slinger facing the wrong way and he had NONE of the gaskets installed for the oil filter angle adapter!!

    I’d also suggest flushing the block and the rest of your system out with Thermocure. It’s made by the same company that makes Evapo-Rust and it works really good.

    Remember if you’re going from a 318 to a 360 motor you’ll also need to change the crank balancer to an externally balanced one(IF you were planning on re-using the 318 piece) and you’ll also need to change the flex plate for the torque converter(IF you were planning on re-using the 318 piece). The motor mounts should be the same.

    1. ratpatrol66

      Guilty of not following your advice and still not having not having any problems. Just dumb blind luck?

      Broken bolts a loose main? Good Luck McTaggart!!!

  2. RK

    So I clicked on the link to Project Regretmobile

    And I can see why you are getting engine and stuff. How in love with a car do you need to be to begin with a heap like that. Poor guy

  3. Alan Reinhart

    What’s the problem? Main caps are like lug nuts, you don’t really need all five tight, a couple will hold stuff in place. For a while….

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