RE: IML: More Power from EFI 318 or Big Block Swap ?

From: Mrfixit1962@xxxxxxxxxxx

Date: Thu, 06 Oct 2005 19:25:30 +0000

Thanks for reply, The car I want to build will be a sleeper, but still be a daily driver. This is why the Imperial so far works best for me, I want all the power accessories and comforts of the Imperial but the get up and go of a Charger. Basicly to put it into perspective I am a 43 year old teenager when it comes to my cars, I like the ride and other things the Imperial offers as well as how it looks and I get a kick out of people trying to figure out what kind of car it is. Even the Chrysler dealerships around here have to look at the emblems to figure out its an Imperial (one sales person thought it was a Lincoln). As I said before I gave selling the car at $3950 a shot for 6 months and had no luck at all and I will not give it away. As for a Cordoba, I really do not like how it looks, not to mention there is a million of them out there. A charger is my other choice but they are very hard to find (and expensive)with any options.

As for the weight of the car, the 81 to 83 Imperials weight in at just over 3800 lbs and if I can make a 8000 lb 4X4 pick up run 14.8 quarter mile and still get 22 mpg highway as a daily driver I can get a 4000lb car in the 12 second quarter mile with a stroker 400, 727trans and a dana 60. I also intend to keep the AC, Cruise control, trip computer and other options working after the swap. I was hoping that someone here had already dropped a big block in one of these and could give me some pointers of good ways of doing it. As for the car right now, I drive it daily until winter, it runs and drives great and have put 2000 miles on it this summer and I have got to say its got the most comfortable driver's seat that I have sat in.

-------------- Original message --------------

> The 81-83 cars were designed to be serene, comfortable high speed (but not
> over 85!) cruisers. They were not designed for anyone who would be
> interested in acceleration or quarter mile drags. They have a 2.22 rear
> axle ratio, for one thing, and an A904 transmission. They are VERY heavy
> (look at your door sticker- you'll be shocked to see they weigh 4400 pounds
> empty, and 5500# fully loaded, if I recall correctly).
>
> So, for your tastes, I'm afraid you have the wrong car. Yes, if you
> stripped all the sound deadening and fancy features out of the car, found
> substitute body parts from a Mirada or Cordoba (thinner sheet metal and
> glass), you could probably make it move better, and yes, there have been a
> few folks that have shoe-horned a big block into one of these, but that
> still result s in an overweight, slow car - and it will not take that torque
> in the 8 1/4 rear end.
>
> If you want to hot-rod the car, I think you'd be better off finding a
> clapped out Mirada or Cordoba, and have your way with it. Offer this low
> mileage, pristine example on eBay (you won't get much for it, I've sold 3 of
> them on eBay and even a VERY nice 58,000 mile CA car with a mint dark blue
> leather interior only brought $2500) but it stands a chance of winding up
> with someone who will appreciate the car.
>
> Dick Benjamin
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
> Mrfixit1962@xxxxxxxxxxx
> Sent: Thursday, October 06, 2005 5:46 AM
> To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: IML: More Power from EFI 318 or Big Block Swap ?
>
> I got the gas tank seals in (thanks for the help in finding the part > numbers) and now I hope I can find out how to get more power out of the 318
> V8 with EFI. The motor runs great but is totaly gutless especially when I
> compare it to my 01 dodge 3500 runs 14.8 in the quarter mile powered by a 6
> cylinder.
> I originally bought the car because I loved how it looked and was intending
> to do a big block swap to it until I found out that the miles were original
> at 33K and it was a rare power moonroof car. It was a shame that Chrysler
> gutted the Imperial with a small block. The car looks fast, and handles &
> rides great but has no power like all the other Imperials before.
> Now before anyone gets upset, I did try to sell the car at a loss to anyone
> who would keep it original, but never had any takers. So now the game plan
> is to either get the orginal 318 with the EFI get out of its own way with
> some reversible upgrades or do a complete big block swap using a dodge 400ci
> and restroking it to 500+ cubic inches and 600hp on pump gas with a 727 auto
> w/overdrive and a dana 60 rear end. The reason for using a 400 is it is a
> low deck motor like the 383 which will fit better than a 440 and is easier
> to find with all the accessories like AC still in place. Either setup I
> want the car to look and sound all original making it a "sleeper" .
> So first question is what can I do to the 318 V8 & EFI (keeping the EFI) and
> get the car to break into 15 second quarter mile? Currently the car is 100%
> stock and I do intend to replace the exhaust with duals (no emission testing
> here in west michigan. Anyone ever added N0S to one of these cars ?
> Second question has anyone out there done a big block swap to a 1981 to 1983
> Imperial or Cordoba? what was involved and any suggestions would be helpful.
> Thanks Kyle
>
>
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