Part 5: Lawful Engine Swap... Kinda

Cars used for open-road racing (there's a big group) need to have awindage tray to help control oil and to free up horsepower. Since the360 did not have one, we opted for a Milodon unit (PN 16250) and thecorresponding stud kit (PN 81151). Installation was a snap, and theremainder of the bottom end was buttoned up with a Milodon stockreplacement oil pan. Milodon's replacement pan features some baffling tohelp control oil during hard launches or cornering.

Prior to dropping the bigger mill into our M-body, we took theopportunity to clean, detail, and paint the engine bay.

The Stealth Bomber is equipped with poorly flowing manifolds dumpinginto a pair of pre-cats, which feed into a catalytic converter fartherdown range and then a muffler. Restrictive doesn't begin to describethis exhaust system.

We made the decision to retain the stock intake. Despite the obviousweight penalty it offers, it is a good unit--much like the 340 intakesof yore. Our cam selection was based on peak horsepower in the 5,100-rpmrange, making the stock intake a suitable choice.

Installed and running, it was time to address the lean-burn system andrectify its shortcomings. In other words, it was being 86'd.

An MP electronic-ignition kit (PN P3690426) was procured from GlendoraDodge and came equipped with an orange ECU, a vacuum advancedistributor, and a wiring harness. The complete kit is a bargain andsimple to install. The "orange box" ECU, as it's affectionately known,is purportedly good through 6,000 rpm, which more than covers ourplanned rpm range.

Our police cruiser was equipped from the factory with a Quadrajet. Thiswas not some sort of heresy, as all Mopar squad cars were equipped withQ-jets from 1985 until 1989 when the Thermoquad production ceased. Thisparticular unit is a feedback, computer controlled unit. It was aPandora's box we were unwilling to open.

The Thermoquad is right at home on a Chrysler product. Much like theQuadrajet, the TQ has small, responsive primaries and manhole-sizesecondaries offering great part-throttle response and a hugekick-in-the-pants when the secondaries open.

Besides, a Thermoquad just looks right on our Dippy.