Dodge 273...keep it or scrap it?

[MidnightSpecial]

I have a 68 Coronet with a 273 in it.

I want to stay small block to save weight because i hope to track in and autocross it one day. So i dont need a ridiculous amount of HP but its not a very torquey engine.



So Im at a crossroad. I have the motor running with very light bolt ons....should I sink money into it and work with what i have? or should i swap it and look for a 340 or a 360?

Budget is a big concern...either way its gonna hurt my wallet.

Any advice would be very appreciated.

[no go nova]

Build a 340 or 360 or even a 408 stroker. But the 273 should get you around with light work and its a plus it the car is light.

[rustomatic]

When I got my Falcon, it had a 260 in it; the car hadn't been driven in a decade, but the owner who had the car rotting in her driveway all those years still went out to start the thing up on occasion, just so the motor wouldn't freeze up. When I took the motor apart, it was spotless inside; what screwed things up was my need for a five-speed, which wouldn't reasonably bolt up to such an old-style block (without dumb mod-parts). What sucked further was not being able to sell the block to anyone for more than I could buy a skateboard with (I gave it away). If your motor runs good, doesn't kill mosquitos when you drive it, provides enough power for current usage (if any), and mates to the transmission you like, keep it until you find a genuine need for more power/displacement...

Maybe later, you could just have fun trying to blow the old motor to bits...

[MidnightSpecial]

Build a 340 or 360 or even a 408 stroker. But the 273 should get you around with light work and its a plus it the car is light.

I was thinking of a 408 stroker. Im just trying to find a good balance of power to weight. I mean i could go buy a 440 block for cheap and burn tires but i dont want wasted power just to say i have a big block.

Overkill for what i need and more expensive

When I got my Falcon, it had a 260 in it; the car hadn't been driven in a decade, but the owner who had the car rotting in her driveway all those years still went out to start the thing up on occasion, just so the motor wouldn't freeze up. When I took the motor apart, it was spotless inside; what screwed things up was my need for a five-speed, which wouldn't reasonably bolt up to such an old-style block (without dumb mod-parts). What sucked further was not being able to sell the block to anyone for more than I could buy a skateboard with (I gave it away). If your motor runs good, doesn't kill mosquitos when you drive it, provides enough power for current usage (if any), and mates to the transmission you like, keep it until you find a genuine need for more power/displacement...

Maybe later, you could just have fun trying to blow the old motor to bits...

Im not saying i would pull it now but on down the line. So i guess you are saying just keep this one running, drive the hell out of it, until i get the funds to get a bigger engine?

[Kenova]

During the mid '70s my brother and a friend both hand 273s (both were Commandos), one in a '69 Satellite and the other in a '66 Valiant. Neither one of them had any business running as well as they did. They were usually mistaken as 318s.
I say leave it where it is untill your car can handle more power then build a 360 or a 408 stroker.
If you want a new home for the 273 then bolt on a five speed and find yourself a Valiant or Scamp, or even an Arrow.

Ken