I currently have an '84 300 Turbo with a bad cylinder, It knocks at high RPM. The car is in excellent shape otherwise with a straight body, great paint and interior. I've been exploring my options, one of which would be to swap the engine from my '78 non-turbo. It's a great engine with only 124k. Can anyone tell me if the engine/tranny from the '78 will be compatible with the '84 rear end? What are some of the other pitfalls that may be involved? The '78 has some passenger side body damage and a laundry list of little fixes. I've looked at a getting a used 617 motor but the non-turbo in my '78 is a known factor and I trust it. Anyone out there done this operation or had it done?
Thanks.

This will make a good reliable car which will get in the mid to high twenties on the highway, I believe. I have essentially the same combination but with a stick. With a four speed stick I got 30 pretty consistantly highway.

Your acceleration will be most liesurely but highway engine noise will be low and economy will be high.

Good luck.

Look both engines over well before beginning, the age difference may bring some compatability issues with the ac and other things. The change was right in there someplace but I cannot say exactly where.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Thanks for the input. The a/c units are completely different and neither work. I was hoping to just abandon it, although on the '78 the pump is part of the main belt system. I'm more worried about the '78 tranny bolting to the '84 rear end. Both transmissions are in good shape. So any combo of the three would hopefully work out.