What’s Available for Swapping a 5.7L Gen III Chrysler Hemi into a 1984 Chrysler M-Body?
Q: I keep hearing about putting a 5.7L Gen III Hemi into a K-body, but what about an M-body? Is there no info on that? I would like to find the difficulties of putting one of these engines in a 1984 Chrysler Fifth Avenue that has a 318 “LA” small-block in it now.
Alexander Wesley
Via email
A: The K-platform refers to Chrysler’s FWD (front-wheel-drive) econoboxes with transverse engines and transaxles made from 1981 through 1989. Converting a K-car to a V8 (any V8, not just a Hemi) requires replacing the complete drivetrain with a longitudinally-mounted engine, conventional transmission, and separate RWD (rear-wheel-drive) rearend. Basically, keep the body shell and ax most everything else. The result is a drag car, or what some call a Pro Street-style muscle car. Not an easy job for the newbie hot rodder!
Your M-body is a midsize, RWD chassis that first appeared in 1977. The 1982–1989 Chrysler Fifth Avenue is one member of this long-lived family, which is also closely related to 1973-and later Chrysler A, B, C, F, and J-bodies in terms of engine drivetrain layout. Stock engine choices for
