Brougham 440

"Thomas Donohue" (tomonomics)
07/21/2020 at 08:24 • Filed to: None

This thing is a beast. 1978 Chrysler New Yorker Brougham, 7.2 liter engine.

Other than the trans and engine, it “needs a lot of work”.

I think this war wagon is worth it! $1995.

Image: Craig S. List

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DISCUSSION (24)

pip bip - choose Corrour > Thomas Donohue
07/21/2020 at 08:38

just drive it as is for a couple of years

Sovande > Thomas Donohue
07/21/2020 at 08:40

I wonder what that motor can do when it’s not choked by ancient emissions equipment?

And then I wonder how I could fit it in my El Camino.

Thomas Donohue > pip bip - choose Corrour
07/21/2020 at 08:40

Gas is inexpensive right now, and if they come out with ‘Cash for Clunkers II” I think it will be worth twice its price in trade.

Edit: Booo...the last Clunker credits were only for cars 25 years old or younger.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Thomas Donohue
07/21/2020 at 08:43

Autocross beast

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Thomas Donohue
07/21/2020 at 08:47

Kinja'd!!!

shop-teacher > Thomas Donohue
07/21/2020 at 08:48

What a beast! 10/10, would cruise.

When I was a kid, my grandma had a beige '78 Chrysler 300, which I believe was more or less the same car.

Thomas Donohue > Sovande
07/21/2020 at 08:55

The ad says “will make a nice muscle-car motor and trans” lol

D o it!

Thomas Donohue > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
07/21/2020 at 08:56

Needs to be reverted to it’s former self from the earlier 70's.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Thomas Donohue
07/21/2020 at 09:00

Yea, the late 70s were not a great time for engines to say the least.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Sovande
07/21/2020 at 09:05

How much coin are you willing to throw at it? Taking the emissions equipment off doesn’t net much; it’s the iron heads, low compression, and weak sauce cam that are really holding it back. But spend a few grand on aluminum heads, aluminum intake manifold, big 4 barrel carb, big cam, high compression pistons, forged rods, headers, and a new bump stick and I think you could easily get in the 500-600 HP range.

Unless you have a penchant for weird motor swaps, I’d go for a b ig b lock C hevy in the El Camino . You get a lot of choices including 396, 427, 454, and 502 cubic inches if you want to stick with factory offerings, and you can go wild with 496, 540, 555, 572 cubic inches in the aftermar ket. If your El Camino is a ‘77 or earlier* , a big block was a factory option so one should drop right in. In 78 and later only small blocks were offered, but swap kits exist and you should be able to stuff one in fairly easily.

(* First gen El Caminos (19 59-60) could be optioned with the 348 W block engine, which is the first generation big block but is somewhat different from later big blocks)

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Thomas Donohue
07/21/2020 at 09:21

Kinja'd!!!

JustAnotherG6 > Thomas Donohue
07/21/2020 at 09:30

If the motor comes out, someone needs to swap in a turbo 3 cyl. It’ll be just as slow but now with ‘whoosh’ing noises.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > Thomas Donohue
07/21/2020 at 09:31

Also keep in mind you have to be looking at SAE net numbers in comparing HP to how it is measured in modern cars. SAE gross numbers are meaningless today and we re basically imaginary lab achievements even at the time they were used pre- 72.

Sovande > Snuze: Needs another Swede
07/21/2020 at 09:37

It’s an 87 with a 350 in it. If I were going to repower, it would be with a LS of some kind. There is no reason to go with anything else as cost would be very similar. Shit, it’s cheaper to get a used 5.3 LS than a used Gen 1 smallblock - and that 5.3 can make 400hp with a cam and headers.

I also don’t think I could ever be satisfied with a carburetor ever again after installing fuel injection. The difference is amazing.

What I need to do is drop the transmission out of the Caprice wagon I have and get it ready to go in the El Camino and then get rid of the wagon. 700r4 in place of the TH200 should be a nice upgrade.

ranwhenparked > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
07/21/2020 at 10:30

Yeah, realistically, they were about the same power as a modern Pentastar V6, ca 305hp, before emissions controls strangled them. Still not exactly a slouch, just not earth shaking performancea, either.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > ranwhenparked
07/21/2020 at 11:05

W e’re living in a time of glorious horsepower today.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Sovande
07/21/2020 at 11:05

I agree with you on all points - a fuel injected LS is the way to go.

Is the Caprice the big yellow-ish/tan-ish one out front of your place? What year?

Sovande > Snuze: Needs another Swede
07/21/2020 at 11:17

Yep, that’s the one... It’s an 83. Brown velour interior, power windows and locks, radio, third row seat, 305 that runs pretty much but has what sounds like a bad fuel pump , might need an alternator, needs valve cover gaskets, a carb rebuild (but it is a 4 barrel Quadrajet computer controlled carb, so I would send it off to a pro) newly rebuilt 700r4 with about 3000 miles on it. If I could get more than a grand for it, I would sell it as is. Otherwise I’m yanking the trans and selling the rest for like $350. I would probably take $1200 for the whole car. Tires are pretty new too. It does need a new floor pan in the rear on the drivers side. It currently has a patch screwed in and caulked.

Part of me wants to keep it, but the other part just wants it gone.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Sovande
07/21/2020 at 11:31

I took a picture of it because it reminded me of my childhood. I didn’t realize it was yours.

My folks had an ‘87 in silver. I have a lot of good memories in that car. My dad bought a set of C4 Corvette turbine style wheels for it and an LT1 crate motor . All the stuff was sitting in the garage, he’d scheduled a time for it to go to the shop to get the motor transplant done, and a few days before it was all supposed to go down someone crossed the center line and hit it while my mom was driving. She and my sister were okay, but the car was totaled and we ended up replacing it with a Safari AWD van.

But the thought of one of those big land barges with something like a 6.0L LS truck motor with a thumpy cam gets me pretty excited! If only I didn’t already have a project wagon...

Sovande > Snuze: Needs another Swede
07/21/2020 at 11:35

That’s a shame! That would have been a cool build. I was going to put a 350 in it, but I quickly realized I’ll never have time to do anything to it. It is fun to drive though. You don’t really steer so much as aim.

If you know anyone who might want it, let me know. They are actually kind of hard to find around here.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Sovande
07/21/2020 at 22:00

If I didn’t have the 240 already I’d be all over it. I love wagons, and a Caprice wagon like we had when I was a kid would be amazing! I talked to my dad on the phone tonight, I tried to get him interested, but he’s in the middle of his current project, a 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe. He’s actually really keen on putting a big block in it, which is why I now know a bunch of random stuff about them. But it’s got a good 350 in it, the truck only has about 60k miles. The Tahoe engine and trans would be perfect to swap into the Caprice.

I really need to hit the lottery so I can quit my job and just screw around with cars all day .

Sovande > Snuze: Needs another Swede
07/22/2020 at 06:52

I wish you had the space too... That motor and trans combo sound nice. I’d get real low on price if you wanted it without the transmission... I haven’t advertised it andy condo association seems fine with me parking it where it is. If I don’t think of something in another month or two I’ll list it.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Sovande
07/22/2020 at 11:15

I talked to my buddy this morning, he’s into crazy car stuff, and I tried to convince him that he needs a Caprice wagon project, but he’s already got a lot on his plat e. He’s building a hot rod and wanted something different for a powerplant, and after I pitched a few ideas, he ended up with a Volvo T5, but he’s going to swap the turbo for a supercharger and run open headers. Should make lots of awesome 5 cylinder racket!

I hope it goes to a good home. Maybe another Oppo would want it? I’d help you put a package deal together with the engine/trans out of my dad’s truck, but I have no idea what his timeline is to pull that, probably sometime next year at the earliest.

Sovande > Snuze: Needs another Swede
07/22/2020 at 11:20

I appreciate you trying!