What do I do now?

Thats a good thing it wasnt in id falls- just call the yards around for a small V-8 and ull get that van going- local spalding gives you a written report on all the engines as they test everything they sell. Some of the other yards may also do same.Maybe also look for a donor car that someone old like me has and is selling that they dont drive anylonger- just an idea- put some note cards in the senior centers around the areas - maybe they even have some internet ads there for the folks too?? Call & see? Sometimes its just better to spend a few bucks more than to try & save a few that always seems to bite us in the Butt!!

8 3/4 rears were popular in the larger mopar cars pickups and vans. You wont find one in a valiant. You can still get new ring and pinions and can rebuild your old one. Or swap out the center chuck. Be carefull theres three diffrent casting numbers ma mopar used over the years, they all fit but the yokes are diffrent. Im pretty sure we have 741's in our A's. Not all slant six stick A's came with 3:91s. Ive seen most with 3:55s. My guess is that the 3:91's were special order.

I have never done any swapping with rear end gears before so want to be 100 % on it before doing it. I can remember my grandpa telling me that the truck was geared to pull stumps out, and do farming. I can believe it now that I have driven it. They sure do pull off the line really good..

gear set rario should be on the tag on the door opening.

jkr wrote:gear set rario should be on the tag on the door opening.

Yea I found that a while ago. The truck has 3:91 gears and a suregrip rearend... is why it sounds like the engine is wound tight when we are going down the road at 55mph.

Hope to just see what shows are around once the body work and new paint job is done. Would like to go to the baker show in MI and that would be a long trip for them gears. Will be sucking down the gas with them gears on that drive.

you want a set of 2:73's. came stock in a lot of rears. my 360 runs about 1500 rpm at 60 mph give or take a bit.

Mine is a 273cid V8/3 speed manual, it came with a set of 3.55 gears in it and it was turning way to many rpm's at 55 mph. I put a set of 2.94 gears in it and right now its turning 2300rpms or so at 55mph with 185/60/14 tires on it.

I'm plan on switching to a 225/70/15 or so all the way around and that should put the rpms in the sweet spot for me.

Ok since my thread got jacked I have 355 gears and want to run a 360 V-8. I am running 235 75 r15's will this work for highway travel?

here is one of many calculators online.
Plug in your numbers to get the info you need....

http://www.thundersgarage.com/rpmcalc.html

ROD WHAT IS THE IDEAL RPM@ 60 MPH

What is the torque curve of the engine?
What is the load (uphill at 6,000 feet is different than flat at sea level)?
Ideal for best MPG, best power, lowest noise/resonance?

Typically a newer vette can cruise along at 1500-1700 in high gear at 65-75 MPH. This is with a finely tuned computerized high torque engine and a low wind resistance. The drivetrain is also optimized for this situation.
A newer minivan with a 4 or 6 cylinder computerized engine will cruise along at 65-75 MPH at closer to 2500-3000 RPM.

It depends on the engine, trans, weight, wind resistance (big in our case) and refinement (not real big in our case).
I'd guess that a 6 with auto would be happier at 2500 or a bit more.
A WAG for a V8 would be 2000-2300 RPM.
I've driven vintage V8 stuff that double-tach'ed (40MPH=2000, 60 MPH=3000) and it gets tiring. The same RPM in a late model DOHC 4 is not.

If I could add a bit to what Rod said in regards to rpm:
I put a small $30 tachometer on my steering shaft so I could tell how many rpms I was pulling through different gear/wheel/tire changes.

As a comparison my 2004 tundra and my wifes 2003 Sequia both pull right at 2200 rpm at 55mph with overdrive turned off (making them a 3 speed auto). With overdrive on they get +/-1500 or so at the same speed.

My van with 2.94 gears, 185/60/14's gets 2500-2700 rpm at 55mph, it's still higher than I would like, 2200 "sounds" like the sweet spot going down the road. I plan on swapping tires/rims out for 215'ish/70/15's and that will drop my rpms about as far as I can possibly go with my current setup.

I think I can drive comfortably with rpms in the 2000/2200 range at 55+mph. It's not the gas mileage that I worry over, it's straining my OEM 45 year old motor with too many rpms

I need this one to stay happy until I get a mild 318/360 built.

I can definetely recommend that 318, I have one in my van with the stock auto transmission and its great!!! Talk about get up and go!!!! Its got enough power for my taste.

I have a 170 slant 6 needless to say I wish it was a 225 but I think the slant 6 is a great choice for the van and it's a breeze to work on. I also think it will outlast me...

Yeah, I wouldn't mind a 6, a previous owner put the 318 in mine so I had no choice, but I still love having that power!

Update:

Well not much has happened...I got the front seats out and dog house taken appart. I don't have alot of energy but I got that done...I also picked up a like new cherry picker and engine stand. I got a guy comming in from Canada to buy all of my slant 6 stuff...

Good Start

Ok I gotta vent here a little.... I have been looking for a replacement motor for my van for awhile now. I started looking for just a replacement slant 6 that died. Had nothing but bad luck from that search, one rebuilt motor I spent all day trying to look at it only, for all that time waiting.. it was a rusted up 170. Started looking for a V8 and that is getting tough. I thought I found one, out of a motor home, low milage with trans started out $225 then he said he needed it gone and would take offers... then went up again after telling me someone else was interested. No thanks....

So back on the hunt...

I found a 318 race motor for $200 out of a police car. I gotta rent a truck to go get it.

Still have my 68 Sportsman. Running 318 and it has everything you need to drop it in your van. Good radiator, all the throttle linkages, motor mounts etc. $700 and there are a ton of great parts on it.

pittsdriver wrote:Still have my 68 Sportsman. Running 318 and it has everything you need to drop it in your van. Good radiator, all the throttle linkages, motor mounts etc. $700 and there are a ton of great parts on it.

That was very tempting but I just didn't have the money or room for a van. I found a factory race 318 out of a old police car. Just missing the carb for $200 but it was a 6 hour drive round trip to get the motor. I hauled it home in teh back of my Honda Element HAHA I took out the spair and put a piece of 3/4 wood over the spare tire hole and strapped it down....It was great!

I just hope its a good motor...! I got it home today and on a engine stand so I will start tearing it down to see what I have.

hahaha my mom drives an Element......did you take the back seats out or what?

Its funny but I just folded up the seats, took off the big plastic lid that covers the spair tire and put a piece of counter top to cover the whole and dropped the motor right down and strapped her down. I weigh over 400 and this motor weights about the same... I was pushing the weight limit for sure!

Here is more of an update... I tore the motor appart and it looks to be in very good shape so I am putting on a set of new gaskets and will be dropping it in soon. I just unbolted the old slant 6 cross member and bolts in the V8 section last night..



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I am slowly but surely getting this converted... Just need the mounts for the block and the radiator

Awesome!

Ok I was able to modify the stock bracket I got from Duane ( thanks again man !!! ) and its going to work....as long as my buddies weld holds up !