73 Cuda LS Swap
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 248
Likes: 100
73 Cuda LS Swap Decided to start a build thread on my Cuda. Hopefully it can help anyone else that wants to LS swap an E body as theres not really any info out there on how to do it even though i have seen some LS swapped E bodies. I had a 71 Challenger last year and i stuck a stock big block 400 in it. For what i paid it was a turd and i knew i should have swapped it off the bat. Ive also had some 318s and the price on Mopar stuff here in Tx is just ridiculous and i have no interest in over paying for Hemi/Big block junk or the amount it takes to make some HP with a mopar engine. I've been in the LS world since 2013 and im a cheapo so, gen 3 LS is perfect.
This is going to be 100% daily driver that i also would like to take on long trips down the road. For now im doing a 4.8/4l60. I paid $300 for the engine and $300 for the transmission. The trans is actually out of a fbody but being a 4l60 im sure itll give out not too long after i've got the car on the road lol. End goal would be a built NA lq4/4l80e. But given the bigger case on the 4l80e i may end up with a beefed up 4l60.
Im still figuring out motor mounts. I pretty much have a good idea on trans mount as the aftermarket gen 3 hemi swap crossmembers share the same mount as a 4l60.
Ill try to post as many pics as possible as i go a long.
This is going to be 100% daily driver that i also would like to take on long trips down the road. For now im doing a 4.8/4l60. I paid $300 for the engine and $300 for the transmission. The trans is actually out of a fbody but being a 4l60 im sure itll give out not too long after i've got the car on the road lol. End goal would be a built NA lq4/4l80e. But given the bigger case on the 4l80e i may end up with a beefed up 4l60.
Im still figuring out motor mounts. I pretty much have a good idea on trans mount as the aftermarket gen 3 hemi swap crossmembers share the same mount as a 4l60.
Ill try to post as many pics as possible as i go a long.
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 248
Likes: 100
It is not. The driver side quarter is very rusted out. The previous owner did HORRIBLE work to the trunk and rear floor board and the front fenders are shot. Along with the front and rear valances being heavily dented but, I actually prefer the ratty cars as I'm not afraid to drive them and park in a parking lot.
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 248
Likes: 100
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 663
Likes: 384
From: South Carolina
How heavy are the Cuda"s? With the small 4.8 n/a you may be better off with a built 4L60. The 80 eats more horsepower and has a less desirable 1st gear ratio. I'm running a Performabuilt Level II 4L60 with a Circle-D 3200 and it's held up well in my LQ9 H/C/I 100 shot RCSB GMC Sierra with 4.10's. It's been flawless beating on it the last two years. When/If it goes I'll replace with the 80 only because the 6.0 can overcome the parasitic loss better then it's little 4.8 brother.
Trending Topics
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 248
Likes: 100
Cool project, I like unorthodox builds as I started hotrodding with the AMX/Javelin platform. Talk about expensive and hard to find parts even back in the day!
How heavy are the Cuda"s? With the small 4.8 n/a you may be better off with a built 4L60. The 80 eats more horsepower and has a less desirable 1st gear ratio. I'm running a Performabuilt Level II 4L60 with a Circle-D 3200 and it's held up well in my LQ9 H/C/I 100 shot RCSB GMC Sierra with 4.10's. It's been flawless beating on it the last two years. When/If it goes I'll replace with the 80 only because the 6.0 can overcome the parasitic loss better then it's little 4.8 brother.
How heavy are the Cuda"s? With the small 4.8 n/a you may be better off with a built 4L60. The 80 eats more horsepower and has a less desirable 1st gear ratio. I'm running a Performabuilt Level II 4L60 with a Circle-D 3200 and it's held up well in my LQ9 H/C/I 100 shot RCSB GMC Sierra with 4.10's. It's been flawless beating on it the last two years. When/If it goes I'll replace with the 80 only because the 6.0 can overcome the parasitic loss better then it's little 4.8 brother.
Also, i probably will stick with a 4l60. I don't care to cut up the trans tunnel if needed for a 4l80e but if i don't have to im not going to make extra work for myself.
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 248
Likes: 100
Its nothing new to me. I've been teasing this swap since my Challenger last year and im done messing with the Mopar purist for entertainment lol. But one thing i've learned since being in the Mopar world is it doesn't matter what you do to your car, the internet purist are going to whine no matter what. Mopar is all about factory correct cars down to the nut and bolt. I've seen guys complain that a guy didn't leave his factory 6 cylinder car a 6 cylinder??? And i've seen guys go ape sh** over a guy putting a hellcat in a factory original AAR Cuda. And 9/10 the guys that complain haven't owned a Mopar since the 80s. Its the internet and i could care less what a stranger thinks about what i do with my money.
TECH Regular
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 453
Likes: 178
From: Alaska
I’ve always told guys that bitch and moan about not liking something, that if they fork over the cash, I’ll build it however they like! I have yet to see anyone step up, goes to show you that talk is cheap. I think this is awesome, can’t wait to see the progress on it.
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 248
Likes: 100
I’ve always told guys that bitch and moan about not liking something, that if they fork over the cash, I’ll build it however they like! I have yet to see anyone step up, goes to show you that talk is cheap. I think this is awesome, can’t wait to see the progress on it.
Teching In
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 37
Likes: 5
Exactly! If someone would prefer me put a newer hemi or hellcat in it they can gladly send me one and I'll do it. If hellcat's weren't 10-15k for just the engine I'd do it any day of the week. I'd even do a coyote motor if they weren't so expensive. I have no brand preference. It just not my fault Chevy produced the best engine platform and it's cheap with an insane aftermarket
Theres a reason people love Cummins, 2JZ, and LS regardless of the host car. If you want to build a sweet carbed 440, that’s awesome and I applaud you. But don’t get mad when my turbo LS stomps it for half he money.
Also, the guys who bitch the loudest rarely seem to mind 9”s swapped into virtually everything
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 248
Likes: 100
Seriously. The brand loyalty thing is such a handicap to power on a reasonable budget. If I can use a 6 bolt main engine that can stand up to boost on a stock bottom end and has nearly universal aftermarket support but costs very little, why would I care who makes it?
Theres a reason people love Cummins, 2JZ, and LS regardless of the host car. If you want to build a sweet carbed 440, that’s awesome and I applaud you. But don’t get mad when my turbo LS stomps it for half he money.
Also, the guys who bitch the loudest rarely seem to mind 9”s swapped into virtually everything
Theres a reason people love Cummins, 2JZ, and LS regardless of the host car. If you want to build a sweet carbed 440, that’s awesome and I applaud you. But don’t get mad when my turbo LS stomps it for half he money.
Also, the guys who bitch the loudest rarely seem to mind 9”s swapped into virtually everything
Teching In
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 37
Likes: 5
Its just how the internet people are. The people ive sold mopar parts to from this car and the 318s that were in this car had no care in the world i was putting an LS in it. Its just people on the internet saying what they "would do" but what it really comes down to is they care too much about what other people think but i do understand that there are people who want to keep it how it came from the factory (because its just cool given how old it is) or they just prefer mopar stuff. I just prefer whats cheap, reliable and easy to get parts for and theres no denying that thats LS lol
I mean, I do see where they’re coming from if you had a numbers matching 426 or all original 440 or something cool and valuable.... at which point you’d have a really expensive car and probably wouldn’t be interested in doing anything to diminish the value anyways. It’s an awesome car and absolutely no offense intended, but it’s a post smog 318. Who the hell cares? Give it the power it deserves.
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 248
Likes: 100
Yeah, I mean all prices being equal I guess I’d do a 392 for the continuity/heritage thing but I wouldn’t spend 6x as much to do it lol.
I mean, I do see where they’re coming from if you had a numbers matching 426 or all original 440 or something cool and valuable.... at which point you’d have a really expensive car and probably wouldn’t be interested in doing anything to diminish the value anyways. It’s an awesome car and absolutely no offense intended, but it’s a post smog 318. Who the hell cares? Give it the power it deserves.
I mean, I do see where they’re coming from if you had a numbers matching 426 or all original 440 or something cool and valuable.... at which point you’d have a really expensive car and probably wouldn’t be interested in doing anything to diminish the value anyways. It’s an awesome car and absolutely no offense intended, but it’s a post smog 318. Who the hell cares? Give it the power it deserves.
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 248
Likes: 100
This was my 71 Challenger. It was a factory vinyl top car and it showed big time. It was a daily driver its whole life. When i got it, it had a barely running 318 in it. Long story short, from the lower a pillars all the way to the rear filler panel between the rear window and trunk lid was completely rusted out. It was bad. I just fiberglassed it, painted the roof, dropped a stock big block 400 in it that hadn't ran in over 30 years and daily drove it for 2 months before it started giving me 1 problem after the next. Given it was in the height of the pandemic i just let it go, i regret it to an extent but i plan on keeping the Cuda for a while and now that its getting an LS it should be a much better car all around. The challenger is somewhere in the LA area of California if anyones spotted it. im sure by now its had all the rust replaced. Would be cool to see what stage its at by now.
