Mopar Big/Small block swap question

stroker wrote:

Rob_Mopar wrote:

stroker wrote: I did some more research and it looks like the Saratoga may have drum brakes on all four corners. Would the '78 Magnum be a possible donor for a replacement engine (if necessary) and front spindles?

I'll do a little checking, but I think they might work. I'll see if I can scare up some info. I think guys have used the lowering spindles designed for the FMJ spindle (that Magnum uses the same spindle as the F-M-J bodies) on the early cars. Please tell me the Magnum is rotted away in a junkyard, not a rust-free vehicle.

Let's assume the Magnum is a no-go. What later B-bodies might be potential spindle donors?

If it's in the steering arm, I'm finding on the Doges & Plymouths the Volare/Aspen spindle will swap in. Those spindles are the most widely used ones. They started in '73 in the B-bodies (Charger/Coronet/Satellite/Road Runner). Then were used in the mid-70's "downsized" Fury/Monaco through '79. Not the 70's Gran Fury or Royal Monaco. Those were still C-bodies. The Cordoba, '75-77 Charger, and '78-79 Magnum also used them. Those were the last of the B-bodies.

The spindle was used in the late 70's to early '80's R-body (St. Regis/Gran Fury/Newport/New Yorker). The R-body was the last chassis to use the B-body architecture.

Starting in '76, the Aspen & Volare brought in the transverse torsion bar front end. They were F-bodies. They also used the same spindle through their end in '80. In '78 the Diplomat and Lebaron were created off a modified F-body platform known as the M-body. Later it would also be used for the '80's Gran Fury and 5th Avenue. The M-body is probably the most common one to find in a yard. They ran through 1989.

The last chassis to use the same spindle is the J-body. They were the '80-83 Cordoba/Mirada/Imperial.

Now with all that said, you might need to use a late C-body spindle. Some of the Chryslers used a wider bolt spacing between the bolts attaching the steering arm. I think those were all the long wheelbase cars. The shorter bolt spacing can use the F-M-J spindle. The wider needs the C-body piece. I don't have the measurements handy here, but I should be able to dig them up.

The late C-body is the '74-78 C-body. Think the Bluesmobile.

is this the sort of question somebody at HAMB might know?

In reply to stroker:

Yep. Most of the stuff I've worked on is '63-up. A lot more was standardized by Ma Mopar at that point.

The Forward Look forums have some info out there, as do the folks over at the Chrysler 300 Forum.

I have a buddy that is friends with Herb McCandless. I'll check with him to see what Herb is using for brakes on his 300G.

Rob_Mopar wrote: Please tell me the Magnum is rotted away in a junkyard, not a rust-free vehicle.

This is Missouri, there are no rust-free vehicles*.

Clem

• Technically speaking,We have two types of vehicles here. Them that's rusted and them that's gonna.