Joined: Sat Dec 10 2005, 04:28PM
Location: United States
Posts: 4954
Yeah OK I see your thinking, but I have to post an arguement. In a week or so, (If Bob ever gives me seats) I will prove my own theory on this.
I have heard the Durangos got real bad mileage. I agree. They are heavy suckers. I went to the 5.2 in the Polaraco, which weighs more than your Plyme. First time I drove the car around, it was pretty impressive, even with the 2.71 rear in it. That is going to be a 2.32 sometime over the winter or next spring.
My point is, the 5.2 Magnum had 55 more Hp and 45 FT LB more torque than the stock 360. It had more total power than a 2 BBL 400 for that year! The 4 BBL was only slightly ahead.
Sure it's no 440. I agree, but you can get yourself a nice 92 or 93 5.2 and build it up a bit to get the best of both worlds. They say Cubic inches is the only answer. . . MMMMMaybe. I was always messing around with big blocks up until a few years ago when I got the 71F3. I did some work on that, built a new motor, slight cam, and I did the fuel injection thing on it too. That didn't work out for me, but we're still blaming the car. So I have a 3700 pound car with a new 360 in it, plenty of seat slamming power and getting 18 MPG around town. The Polaraco, I am expecting about the same around town with an impressive 25 to 28 MPG.
Gotta remember you are taking 2000 pounds off a Magnum 5.2, eliminating the Cat Converter, and I am sure, doing a gig with the exhaust. All that makes the difference
When you get into the couple grand budget, and economy is the driving force. A GearVendors over drive might make a lot of sense. Already been done, lots of documentation, keep the 440 for tearing it up on the street, but drop those RPMs way down for economy on the highway. Thay can be had for about $2000 when Moparts does their group buys.
Joined: Thu Nov 24 2005, 07:29PM
Location: So Cal.
Posts: 1111
Polaraco's making the most compelling argument right now since he's doing it. !thumb
I am really interested to see how the MPG works out. If you could then get some 1/4 mile times, then we'll see where things really stand! "Seat slamming power" I have learned, can be interpreted differently depending on what you're used to.
(i.e. I wanna see my passengers sink 5 inches into the seat back when I floor it, not run 16's)
Joined: Mon Feb 20 2006, 08:12PM
Location: Ontario,Canada
Posts: 950
Put in a 700 R4 they make adapters for the whole swap.. Gives you a great first gear and the overdrive you really need.. you could then use a 3.23 gear and get geat mileage..
Sorry guys, I love mopars, but the LS-x's are far better than any factory 360 out there, its just a better/more efficent engine. If a fun car with mpg is what you want, your only real mopar options to rival the LS's are the new 5.7, the 4.7 or maybe something small and super/turbocharged like a slanty. http://www.slantsix.org/articles/turbo-article/turbo-article.htm !driving
Actually i'd love a turbo slanty cruiser. Whats more oddball and different then that?
I could never stand to install a chevy based engine in my mopar, its just well beyond where i draw the line. Hence the fact i am EFIing my poly and putting a 518 behind it.
<span class='smallblacktext'>[ Edited Thu Dec 28 2006, 06:19PM ]</span>
Joined: Thu Oct 26 2006, 01:46PM
Location: northern VA
Posts: 397
I had considered the Viper motor & trans for my '69 300 convert, but the nearly $28k put a quick stop to that. I never thought of the pickup V10, but I have a '69 T&C that I am bring back from the dead (last registered in 1978). Could be interesting!
What's this about Moparts and group buying for Gear Vndors??
Joined: Sat Dec 10 2005, 04:28PM
Location: United States
Posts: 4954
TNT440_Cbody wrote ... Polaraco's making the most compelling argument right now since he's doing it. !thumb
I am really interested to see how the MPG works out. If you could then get some 1/4 mile times, then we'll see where things really stand! "Seat slamming power" I have learned, can be interpreted differently depending on what you're used to.
(i.e. I wanna see my passengers sink 5 inches into the seat back when I floor it, not run 16's)
First go around I got around 18 MPG, !thumb mixed driving, lotsa idling, WOT's the usual first time screwing around. The big thing was it needed to teach the computer because it gets dumb when you disconnect it. The first 30 miles were in heavy rain, it was a thrill. Darned near killed myself. So I am sure I lost some with that. But as the time has gone on, there has been a marked improvement, now up to about 150 Miles. I haven't done too much MPG watching, mostly back and forth to work, over to Bobs, that kind of thing.
I am lumbering along at 1650 RPM at 75 MPH. And that is without the lock up converter, which is not working yet. But with some luck, it will be tonight. As a matter of fact, I need to get my but outa here right now to fix that.
I'll keep you posted, but so far, it's strong, but the rear is too high for it. 3.23's will do the trick, and already in the works.
More to come.
Oh and by the way. . .I want to make it publicly known if Bob disconnects the battery this time, I am going to cut off his. . . . . He still needs his fingers though. . .Not done yet with the interior
<span class='smallblacktext'>[ Edited Fri Dec 29 2006, 05:40PM ]</span>