1966 Dodge A100 "Mystery Machine"

[SargeMan]

My dad has a 1966 Dodge A100. When he bought it, it still had the original 318 and tranny, and it was the "Sportsman" edition. It is very much complete, from cieling to floor. He bought a mid-80's dodge truck and took the 318 motor it had in it, saying that he ws going to run it "as closer to original as possible." Recently, someone challenged him to a race and is looking for a 340. Any ideas of where he could get one? P.S. - His van is on Craigslist, just type in "1966 Dodge A100" and you will find it... (I am NOT trying to sell it)

[fredjacksonsan]

340s are kind of hard to come by; if he's interested in building up a 318, you can get nearly the power out of it. I'll check with my brother, who has done it, and see if he saved the specs.

I figure this is a drag race?

If he's going to replace the 318 anyway, you might want to look at a crate motor. There are some 360/380 (360cu in, 380 HP) engines available that should be an easy install, since the 360 and 318 are so similar.

edit: it's not listed on Craigslist, as far as I could see. Do you have a link?

[fredjacksonsan]

SargeMan, here's the response, straight from my brother (who has built up a couple 318's in his time)

Originally Posted by bro

He can go online to mopar performance, there are crate motors there....engines are really expensive to build nowadays and this guy is gonna drag race a brick w/wheels drag coefficient has to be off the chart. he will need a screamer to overcome the drag at high speed...a 318???!!!! tell him to think about a mild big block if he wants to go fast.but if he chooses this route his van wont stay on the ground!!

my recommendation for rebuild is 268/484 cam and a loose converter about 3000 rpm/355 gear differential a late model o.d.auto trans or a 6 speed mod.a single plane intake w/600-650 cfm or cubic feet per minute carb will be fine use carter afb for street and a holley for race.340 cid heads are hard to find so 360 heads are more available.even better is just use a 360 truck motor to rebuild as it will bolt right in and has a longer stroke than 318 they really do make alot more power than 318.his van will be quick but not fast .foreward this to him

Let me know if you have any questions....he said he'd talk to you if you want, so let me know.

[SargeMan]

He is building the van right now but I am still unsure of the fact that he still is thinking of getting a bigger motor... Thanks for your help though... Yesterday, he bought an aluminum 4 barrel carb for the 318... Is this going to pull the front end up? He also has the auto transmission with 4 quick gears (this is the 1966 original tranny!) and the stock rear axle...

[fredjacksonsan]

Unless he puts some weight in the rear, I don't believe the front end will come up.

Sounds like he's making it a "show" dragster, rather than a competition dragster.