86 Plymouth Caravelle Salon.. What's gonna break next?

3212 Views 5 Replies 3 Participants Last post by valiant67, Sep 9, 2012

Kevman

Discussion Starter · Sep 9, 2012

So last winter, I had many, many carb issues with that old 2bbl holley, I rebuilt it twice, and it would fail after a few months..

So I finally smartened up, I bought a 4 bbl Performer Intake, an Edelbrock 600 cfm, manual choke carb (I have a manual choke I installed), removed the A/C unit, and all of it's lines, and put an open element air cleaner..

It woke that 318 up like I could never believe, from 60-120km/h, she's a rocket, it starts up usually on the first turn of the key, and idles like a Cadillac.

My question, with the extra horsepower gains, should I be worried about damaging that 7 1/4" rear end? The transmission mount did break shortly after the modifications to the engine.

The other day I was able to break the back end loose coming around a corner, I'm running 225 wide snow tires....

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valiant67

· #4 · Sep 9, 2012

They put the 7 1/4 behind 318s in many F and M bodies and even some of the J bodies.
There are four general weak points:
1) The computerized ignition and carb Sounds like you addressed that.
2) The plastic gears on the timing chain
3) The lockup torque converter
4) The 7 1/4 rear axle.
Not every one will have all those problems. And a cop car didn't have the timing chain or rear axle problems.
Just as a precaution, I'd look for an 8 1/4 axle from an F/J/M body. You may find a deal on one easier before it breaks.

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valiant67

· #6 · Sep 9, 2012

Make sure you keep the driveshaft too if the other car has an 8 1/4. The 8 1/4 driveshaft is a little shorter and finding one made to fit is cheaper than having yours shortened.

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