"Reverse" swap into a '73 SE?

[dogbert22]

Hi Guys. I just picked up a '73 "M" code that has something different in it. Originally a highly optioned 400 2bbl car, the original engine is gone. In its place, all bolted in and ready to go is a 318. My question, besides the dubious logic of this swap (an attempt to save gas during the '73 Oil Embargo?) is how was this done without also swapping out the K-frame? I had a quick look and it has the age-correct "spool-type" motor mounts, so it's not a '71-72 K-frame. It doesn't look like the Schumacher conversion kit/mounts (although I could be wrong) are in it. Any ideas what's going on here?

[Jer]

That's one on me, Rick....according to the "swap manual", without
some type of conversion mounts, it's shown to be impossible.

The 73 K member shows to be part number 3642748 for the
400 and 440,
and part number 3642744 for the 318 and 340.

And all four (left and right) insulators show 4 different numbers:
2 for the 318 and 2 for the big block ('73 B-body uses a one
piece bracket and insulator, so they're are no separate numbers
for the bracket as with the other years.)

Seems like you've stumbled across quite the mystery, fella!
#Scope# #Scope#

[DynoDave]

My guess would be when the swap was done, they did it from another B-body, and took cradle and all. Schumacher hasn't always been around, and if this conversion was done back in the day, a cradle swap would have been an efficient way to swap powertrains.

[Nacho-RT74]

ok... becarefull because YOU PHYSICALLY CAN MOUNT a BB in to a SB K frame or reversed, BUT will fit tight and will be out of aligment, so you can get some tranny linkage problems, maybe another issues more... I know that for a fact because I have seen ppl down here mounting 360 engines in to BB K frames, same as 318s, when they were not able to find some 400s engine rebuilt parts ( bummers, they are available just not everywhere, just lazy to search them )

Since down here they DON'T CARE about propper fitment they simply did it and ride on.

NEEDS TO TAKE CARE FIRST about the K member you ACTUALLY have....

there are some place where somebody posted with measurements the differences... will search it. Not sure If I bookmarked.

and yes... just in case, Schumacher made engine mount adaptors. What really it is is an ENGINE MOUNT to fit in other K frame locations diff than stock... an adaptor in all the word meaning will mean is a device to fit the original piece

[Nacho-RT74]

here are some comparative pics... they are not the ones I'm talking about but will help anyway... will keep the searching on
www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,27587.0.html

[dogbert22]

Thanks for the help guys, much appreciated. While swapping out 2 slow leaking Keystone Klassic mags/tires today to make sure it stays as a "roller" I got a chance to get underneath and have a closer look (gotta remember to take the camera!), It looks like it's still the original K-frame, the K-frame bolts look like they've never had a wrench on them. The torsion bars also look like the bigger OD "Big Block" bars. Perhaps it is as Nacho suggests that a 318 will in fact just drop in to these Big Block cars (although with the possible alignment issues noted by Nacho).Where's the K-frame number located? Maybe in my next trip out there I'll get underneath and try to solve this mystery. I'm really hoping that it's a BB K-frame so I can drop a 440 in there

[Nacho-RT74]

never have seen a number on a K member.

BTW THANKS to FLG found the thread I was talking about:

www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,51598.20.html

and the direct pic hosting

www.moparbob.com/kframe/

Note SOME PICS on the hosting website are wrongly labeled, but you'll get which ones are the wrong labeled ones

the bad aligment issue, could get you also lot of stress on driveshaft crossjoints, and maybe in fact some vibrations at certain speeds... so maybe your car if still has the factory K member with the SB, must be have worn crossjoints, depending on the driving style or last owners or mileage on car.

BB and SBs are diff on sway bar too ( from factory ) being teh thicker one on BBs of course, However the T bars are not necesarilly a difference, because some got ones and some others got another ones... in all case, bigger than earlier models. I think .920 and .960 were the ones availables

[quapman]

I believe the side-to-side spacing is the same, but the saddles sit further back(?) with a big block. Not sure how the trans mount works in the small-to-big swap, but it might be as simple as rotating it 180 degrees.

Do you recall how your trans was mounted, dogbert?

[dogbert22]

Nope, I'm going to go and have a look. I'm assuming that the tranny was actually "mounted" as there's no propellor shaft in it and it appears to be an unfinished "conversion" project. Nacho 's pics from moparbob (link above) are very good and show that the mounts are indeed farther back with the BB (Thanks Guys!). I'll let y'all know once I find out

[quapman]

May 7, 2009 1:35:23 GMT -5 Nacho-RT74 said:

never have seen a number on a K member.

Sometimes it's on a welded-on "coin", but just the last few digits of the part number. The coin is usually on the front. Sometimes there are two coins, one welded on top of the other. I've seen this when one part # runs out, the other just goes on top of a K-frame that's virtually the same. More 70's interchangability stupidity and multiple part numbers for the same part. Usually the double coin is on a K with a skid plate.