1983 Chrysler cordoba

[Mopar&vettedude]

Hey how's it going. ive been on the site for almost a year now and just wanted to say hello to all. Im in the middle of restoring my 1983 Cordoba i had picked up from AZ 4 yrs ago. last year was the first time it was on the road since i brought it home. This year i got the chance to drive it through the whole summer leading up to putting it the garage to start tearing down the front suspension.

 

[Erics5th]

Nice 'Doba, looks good with the dog dish caps! What engine? Slant? 318? Lucky you got a Arizona car... Clean body parts are hard to find for that generation.

 

[Mopar&vettedude]

Thanks eric. i tossed the dogdish caps left over from my mothers 67 dart. body wise its in great shape, but the suspension is wasted which is what im starting on now. For now it just has the 318 in it. hopefully within the next year or so ill find either a 360 or a third gen hemi out of a ram to build up. was thinking procharger but thats only if i have the money. do you happen to know any companies out there that make torsion bar parts? ill up load some more pics from this year.

 

[Erics5th]

Well, there is this: http://www.polybushings.com/pages/1100.html and Energy Suspension makes parts. The Torsion bars are the same for all F/M/J body cars, police or civilion. Difference is in the sway bars. Leaf springs are also the same I believe, but you will want to ask another J body owner to be sure. I have a 1 1/8" front bar on my 5th along with a 3/4" rear bar from a AHB Diplomat. Great handling improvement, even with the rubber isolated K frame. There are solid mounts available from www.firmfeel.com.

 

[polish aviator]

nice car!

 

[efriedrich]

Nice Cordoba, thanks for sharing pics, gotta love them J's....

 

[bremereric]

Welcome aboard.

 

[Mopar&vettedude]

thanks. and those websites are big help.

 

[Alleyoop2]

Welcome aboard!

 

[Mopar&vettedude]

Im thinking about dropping in a 383 or 400 into my doba. Outside of the mounts from schumacker, what else do i need?

 

[kkritsilas]

Jnfbodyguy83:

You will need a big block A727 transmission (you probably have an A904/A998/A999 right now with the 318), you will need mounts for that, and most likely a shorter drive shaft. Shumacher (and others, maybe) have the transmission mounts for the A727. You may nor may not want a new rear end, the 8 1/4" rear can take a the torque of stock, non-high performance 383/400, but anything more than that, and you may need to look at an 8 3/4" or stronger rear end. I don't know if you want headers or not, but Schumacher and TTI make so called "block hugger" headers that will probably be required for clearance reasons. I don't know if it will be required, but don't be surprised to learn that a cooling upgrade will be needed as well. With the added weight (which really isn't all that much, 100-150 lbs. or so), a braking upgrade is a good idea, and you may want to consider stiffer torsion bars.

I am considering a long term swap like this, and have looked into it some. I am hoping to get my Mirada street legal and use it for a while before making a final decision regarding an engine swap.


Kostas

 

[jasperjacko]

I put a post in the rb conversion on fmj-body engine swaps. I put a 440 in a 80 mirada in 1990. I put in most of the details I could remember. I would suggest paying the extra for the stronger torsion bars from firm feel. I had one break, but I kept all the access. and had iron heads and intake. I would swap as much iron for aluminum as possible if I were to do it again.http://www.forfmjbodiesonly.com/cla...hp?139-BB-in-an-F-or-M-body&p=13794#post13794

 

[Mopar&vettedude]

OK. Cool thanks

 

[Mopar&vettedude]

Keeping my options open i found this cool article last night on how to build up a 318 to produce 400hp. its pretty cool and somewhat manageable on me. the only thing is they used a 273 crank due to it being forged instead of being cast, but said its isnt the best with auto trans. heres the site, http://www.moparmusclemagazine.com/techarticles/mopp_0409_318_engine_build/viewall.html

 

[efriedrich]

No needs for BB when SB can rip like this..

Dyno proven 360 packages​

So you want to know what it takes toproduce a strong street/stip 360 without any "tricks"? What combo ofparts works good together to produce a wide power band but is still verystreetable? Here you are. These are proven dyno tested motors so you have noguess work at all.
Package one:
Rebuilt 360 with factory crank and rods. Cast 9 to 1 compression flat toppistons. Heads are "308" swirl port heads from 1988-91, rebuilt withcompetition valve job and a slight mill to true up the surface. Camshaft is MPP4452759 .430"/.450" lift, 260/268 duration, 110 lsa, installed at108 intake centerline. MP M1 dual plane intake P4529116, 750 Holley #3310 carb,1 5/8" small primary tube headers.
300 h.p. @ 4750 rpm
350 lbs. torque @ 4,000 rpm
Package two:
360 rebuild with stock crank, rods and windage tray. 9 to 1 cast flat toppistons. Heads are "J" castings with 2.02" intake and 1.60"exhaust, competition valve job, lightly bowl prepped. Intake is the EdelbrockRPM, carb is the Carter Competition 750. Hooker 1 3/4" headers. Timing setat a total of 32 degrees. Cam is an Edelbrock RPM with .488" lift and 308duration installed at a 107 intake centerline.
370 h.p. @ 5,750 rpm
360 lbs. of torque @ 4,250 rpm
Package three:
360 rebuild with stock crank, rods and windage tray. Factory iron 360 headsfrom a 1979 motor opened to 2.02" intake valves with a competition valvejob. Bowls lightly blended and runners lightly cleaned up. TRW flat top castpistons rated at 10. to 1 compression. Comp Cams Magnum hydralic 280 cam. Thiscam has a .480" lift and 280 degrees advertised duration. Intake is anEdelbrock Torker II. Topped with a Carter TQ with .137 rear jets.
401 h.p. @ 5,400 rpm
420 lbs. of torque @ 4,700 rpm
Package four:
360 rebuilt to 9.9:1 compression,Eddelbrock heads, Edelbrock RPM Airgap intake, 750 Eddelbrock carb, Hughes camHE2430 with 224/230 degrees @ .050", .504"/.515" lift, 15/8" headers.
397 h.p. @ 5,500 rpm
436 lbs. of torque @ 3,800 rpm
Package five:
This package is a little more pricey but it is a bolt on package with all partsright out of the box using the Edelbrock RPM parts/package. 360 rebuilt withstock crank and rods, block bored .030" over, 9.5 to 1 flat top pistons.Edelbrock RPM heads, RPM intake, Performer 750 carb and RPM camshaft with.488" lift and 308 advertised duration, installed at 110 intakecenterline. Timing was set at 34 degrees total.
399 h.p. @ 5,500 rpm
438 lbs. of torque @ 4,250
Package five-B:
The above motor was tried with a modified Holley carb flowing over 800 cfm andhaving .076" front jets and .080" rear jets.
430 h.p. @ 5,750 rpm
469 lbs. of torque @ 4,000 rpm
Package six:
Rebuilt 360, bored .030" overwith Hypereutectic pistons, bowl ported smog type 360 heads with 2.02"intake valves and competition valve job. Edelbrock Torker II intake, Carter 750AVS, Comp Cams Magnum roller rockers, Comp Cams custom ground solid lift tightlash cam with .542"/.549" gross lift, 272/276 advertised duration,243/247 duration at .050" with 108 lsa and a 108 intake centerline.Headers with small 1 5/8" primery tubes.
430 h.p. @ 6,000 rpm
412 lbs. of torque @ 4,900 rpm
Package seven:
360 rebuilt with factory crank and rods, KB191 high compression pistons with12:1 compression, 2.02" "J" heads ported to flow 260 cfm,Holley 3310750 cfm, Victor intake, 1 3/4" primary tube headers, Engle Cams solidtappet KV-2 cam with .560 gross lift, 275 advertised duration, 245 @.050", 110 lobe seperation angle and 106 intake centerline.
450 h.p. @ 6,200 rpm
425 lbs. of torque @ 4,250 rpm
Package eight:
360 rebuilt with 9.5 to 1 cast pistons, original crank, rods and windage tray.202 heads with competition valve job and ported to flow 260 cfm. Edelbrock RPMintake, Holley 750 rejetted, Large tube headers and Mopar Performance P4120231cam with .484" lift, 284 duration, 108 lsa, installed at 106 intakecenterline.
460 h.p. @6000 rpm
486 lbs. of torque @ 4,250 rpm
Package nine:
360 rebuilt with 10:1 compression flat top cast pistons, original crank turned.010"/.010", rebuilt factory rods. Factory windage tray installed.2.02" heads with competition valve job and ported to flow 260 cfm.Edelbrock RPM intake, port/gasket matched. Holley H.P. 750 (.076" front,.080" rear jets). Large 1 3/4" primary tube headers. Comp Cams 305AH-8camshaft with .525"/.540" lift and 305/312 degree advertisedduration, 253/260 degrees @ .050", 110 lsa, installed at 108 intakecenterline. This motor is a brute for a street car and would only be considereda weekend blaster.
495 h.p. @ 6,000 rpm
500 lbs. of torque @ 4,500 rpm
Notes:
All of these combos are actually lowtech. Real basic parts. All of these used factory crank and rods andinexpensive cast pistons. These combos just show how little or how much isneeded to get desired results.
Package one is a spirited smoothidling engine, great for trucks and tow vehicles.
Package two could use a little moretiming, rejetted carb and ported heads to make it better.
Combo three is a decent setup butcould use more port velocity with a RPM intake and needing a little hotter cam(like the MP .484").
Combo four and five are good streetengines and could use some port work for increased h.p..
Package six could use more portvelocity and a larger plenum from a RPM intake (notice package six has lesstorque than package four or five and it is at a higher rpm) but this combomakes good power.
Package seven also needs portvelocity like an Edelbrock RPM intake or smaller single plane intake but makesgood power.
Package eight shows what portedheads can do for a 360. There are many 360 dyno tests that show this same combowill duplicate the 450 - 460 h.p. every time. You need ported heads, RPMintake, MP .484" cam, well tuned carb and good dyno tuning and you willget 450+ h.p. every time.
Package nine is a brute for a streetcar, very radical sounding, needs a 3,500 stall converter and steep gears towork best.
I hope this research is helpful withpicking the right parts for your next street/strip 360 Mopar.

Not mentioned in the packages is to be sure you use good rebuild practices, usea quality dual chain timing set, a recurved electronic ignition, hi-volume oilpump, new bolts where possible, proper valve springs, etc.

 

[Mopar&vettedude]

Ill keep them in mind for when i pick up a 360, but for now to keep it original i want to beef up the 318 to get some ponys of out that.

 

[74DartSwinger360]

Wow the bumper fillers and front bumper look great for an Arizona car

 

[Mopar&vettedude]

thanks. havent had problems with front, sadly the rears fell apart on me last year. Ive been looking for some stock ones at swap meets and junkyards. i heard the repros are not that great, hopefully i can find some at this junkyard by me.

 

[Mroldart2u]

The mag article was interesting, and in fact something really simple to do. Basic normal machine work and no trickery, witchcraft or voodoo required. Wonder what it could have produced in the end upping the nitrous shots? Of course then you are going to the 'edge' that when ya fall off its a hard landing.....

 

[74DartSwinger360]

thanks. havent had problems with front, sadly the rears fell apart on me last year. Ive been looking for some stock ones at swap meets and junkyards. i heard the repros are not that great, hopefully i can find some at this junkyard by me.

The repos are badly fitting on Miradas and are molded the shape of cordobas. For my mirada I got it as close as I could and fiberglassed over it. It came out lookin pretty good. I shortly after found a fiberglass piece the replaced all of the rearend including the bumper. Wish I would have seen it sooner.