72 Charger..

Scooby · Post by **Scooby** » Sat May 31, 14 5:12 pm

Well after much research and saving I finally brought the engine I had promised myself for the last couple of years.

Those who know the 72 Blue Charger will know she along with many other mods always ran a trusty 318.
Not anymore. This is now being replaced with a new 408 Stroker unit.
This I brought through Summit who use Blue print engines as one of there engine suppliers, of this type of product.

So I went for the 360 stroked to 408 ( carb to Pan) Crate engine which means I can still use the existing 727 and all other running gear without having to change the world !!
Headers and other bits a pieces should bolt straight up and although I have brought the necessary other bits New high Flow water pumps-stats and a few other bling bits.. ( well you do get carried away !!) most parts will swap over.
During this course I took advice from Dave Billadeau and Geoff Hauser about this type of engine and what I would need to bolt up to it.
As well as Anton...with out going into chapter and verse the economics made it simple, buy this type of unit complete at a big cost saving.
Cost of rebuilding or doing up an old engine.....etc...

To deal with the increase in power I have had to upgrade the harmonic balancer-the B&M flex plate and a new B&M 2600 Stall convertor. Although at this stage I am still unsure of what the present one will be when the engine is pulled. ( I no its not this type of Vertor..)
Dave MacBride on here made a lot of changes a few years back when he got the racing bug..so a lot of the existing running gear was fitted by him.

So Once the deal was done I arranged with STS ( Ron Fenton) to collect and deliver the new engine across the pond to good old blighty. This took about 6 weeks.
I then picked it up from Ron and as the pictures shows removed it ourselves and buried in my man cave. ( where I Have been playing with it for the last 5 weeks.) Ron's service by the way was great very helpful. At a good price to. Top Bloke....
Next was to collect any other new parts I may need and then find someone who could install the new engine- run it up and test it for me.
I don't have the lifting gear the space-garage or the right knowledge to know how best to set up a new engine.

So Anton came to me very highly recommended by the guys on here ( Derek) and such like...so it was a case of collection of the Charger and the Crate engine which was done by both Anton and John Rutlidge today..( thanks John for your help) So its off to Anton's workshop this week for a removal of the old for the new...( Jesus im excited)
I will post a few pictures over the next couple of weeks hopefully of the run up and how things are doing with my new motor.
Hope its of some interest to all.
Rich..

Mossy68 · Post by **Mossy68** » Sat May 31, 14 5:21 pm

Wow. That should wake the old girl up !!
So it was your Charger next to my truck at Brooklands
Good looking car and a great colour.
Hope the swap all goes to plan. Keep us posted

John · Post by **John** » Sat May 31, 14 5:23 pm

Really we'll done scoob

Enjoy....... Will you be done for the nats?

Scooby · Post by **Scooby** » Sat May 31, 14 5:29 pm

I hope so....

Derek · Post by **Derek** » Sat May 31, 14 6:12 pm

I was at Antons when it arrived, even got to drive it in to his work shop.

Demon James · Post by **Demon James** » Sat May 31, 14 10:01 pm

the excitement of a new engine, nice one mate

charger01 · Post by **charger01** » Sat May 31, 14 10:28 pm

Is that Dave Mcbrides old car? Sounds like you've done your homework on the engine swap. Be nice to see that car about again.

Dave81 · Post by **Dave81** » Sat May 31, 14 10:38 pm

............we're you tempted into the 445hp or did you go with the 375hp version?

Should be a bit different to the 318 Whichever you went for....

Scooby · Post by **Scooby** » Sat May 31, 14 10:45 pm

ChargerO1 yes it was Daves old motor . ....been talking to him recently he's also looking forward to seeing the motor....

Scooby · Post by **Scooby** » Tue Jun 03, 14 8:00 pm

Ok old engine out, new engine in...some pictures of Antons handy work from today...
All being well maybe a test and run up tomorrow...
Bit of a made rush today sourcing a new Mech Pump...with gauge... but we got there in the end...

Mossy68 · Post by **Mossy68** » Tue Jun 03, 14 8:07 pm

Nice.
Bet your like a kid on Christmas Eve !

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Tue Jun 03, 14 8:33 pm

Good stuff Rich.

Did you go with the same convertor or did you go with a looser one??

Scooby · Post by **Scooby** » Tue Jun 03, 14 9:01 pm

Pete wrote:Good stuff Rich.

Did you go with the same convertor or did you go with a looser one??

Hi Pete on the advice of yourself and the other guys I went for B&M 2600 stall converter.... So hopefully things should pull just right ... Thanks again for your help as said I only want to do this once and do it right...

MilesnMiles · Post by **MilesnMiles** » Tue Jun 03, 14 9:02 pm

Always liked this car, should make a huge difference!

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Tue Jun 03, 14 9:03 pm

Saving up for an axle now then

I am sure that will wake the old girl up - as people have said - a lovely car....