340 Conquest?

Dr.Jass

Dr.Jass

Pastor of Muppets
Heh... one of my good customers came in today, and knowing I'm a Mopar gearhead, asked me if I'd be interested in buying his son's '86 Conquest TSi. 2.6L turbo five-speed rig. Apparently, his son ain't exactly a master mechanic, and his rebuild of the shortblock resulted in a scored set of pistons, wiped crank, and at least one scorched rod. He doesn't want to do it again, and it sounds like he may soon lose his lodging.

My instructions were this: get him to tell me what he wants for it (and a mostly-complete parts car--no motor, one missing fender) and offer him 10-15% of what he's asking. Then give him my card and walk away. I'm assured I'll get a call within a few days.

I have that spare 340 block just a-sittin'... :hmmm:

I've ridden in a built-360/auto-powered, otherwise-unmodified Conq many years ago. It was amazing how well the ride and handling held up with the factory suspension, probably because the front axle centerline is so far forward and the extra weight is sorta centered. Oh, and it was fast as hell (I think it weighed around 2600lbs).

Unfortunately, money's a bit thin at the moment... still, if I can get it dirt cheap, I'd be lying to say the idea doesn't intrigue me.
 
That would be cool! The Conquest...that is the rather sharp edged 2 door? Predesessor to the Eagle Talon? We nevcer got them here, but I liked the ones I had seen.
 
4-wheel independent suspension, 4-wheel discs, and looks sumpin' like...

lariat18.jpg
 
I had one just like that (an '87) back when I was married, for a very-short time. The factory engine was a hoot, and being a RWD car made it the most-interesting four-banger I've driven. As long as you kept the turbo on the boil, the car was an absolute scream to drive. From the sounds of the damage, though, the four is not worth fixing, and I'm thinking a suitably-built, alloy-head 340/4-speed would be fun for as long as the IRS rearend held up. :D Actually, that 360 Conq I rode in had almost 10K miles on it with nary a hiccup out of the original rear.
 
Somebody here in Joisey built one with an A500 OD behind it. Was in one of the mopar mags a coupla years ago.
Do it. Cool body style + V8 + RWD = scare some ricers
 
I always liked those! With a V-8 in it it would be a sleeper for sure! Design still holds up pretty well even after 20 years!
 
Hell yeah man! I'd say if'n ya can swing it go for it! I have always liked those myself but then again given your current liscence situation do you really want all that temptation just sitting in your driveway?? :D
 
If its affordable go ahead on. With a warmed up teen it would be fun to beat- much less a real 340.:dance:
 
Fishboy said:
...do you really want all that temptation just sitting in your driveway?? :D
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Like I'd finish it in the next two years? Yeah, right. :D

LeBaron first. I have extra room where the Conq could sit whilst I put together the LB; I'd just have to switch the garage around a little... and do some heavy-duty cleaning. :shifty:

From some of the stuff I've been reading, the stock tranny (not that I'd use it) and rear axle can handle ridiculous amounts of power... I'm thinking a mildly-build 340 would be great. I have a 360, too, but I think the way to go would be the 340's higher powerband and lower overall torque, considering what's out back on the Conq might not like lots of torque. I think maybe an engine that would rip your head off exiting a corner, you know?

"And the Lord did grin, and the people did feast upon the lambs and sloths and carp and anchovies and orangutans and breakfast cereals and fruit bats..."
 
i doubt there would be any tunnel issues since the way the 4 banger sits in there it required one hell of a tunnel..i imagine it would fit in very well much like the 318 celica im going to put together sometime soon
 
well its 'mine' if thats what your asking...its not parked here yet but he knows he is storeing it for me currently...he isnt happy about it but has accepted the fact that its MINE.....guess he shouldnt have sold it to arron and never paid on it...arron was going to sell it for scrap...and well i couldnt have that happen..sooo i took 200 of what he owes me and made it mine and saved it from a sealed fate..hell the drag 22r is in the shop on the stand
 
giowest said:
Any K frame issues?., trans tunnel?. I love that body style.:cool:
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As I recall, the only real trick is fabbing frame mounts, going by what I was told by the owner of that 360 car. He just used later-model spool-type frame tabs, and gusseted the hell out of 'em. I think he even used standard A/F-car headers, but I'm not sure... been a long time now.

Strange thing about those cars: they're throttle-body injection. :hmmm: Seems a weird thing to do on a turbo application, but at the end they were very-near 200HP from the factory. I guess the later 2.6L head used on K-cars and Caravans is the hot setup to boost power... though my plan involves nothing concerning the four. :D

Apparently, there's a guy running one of those cars in the low 9s; the stock tranny and rearend finally let go when he passed the 9.2-second mark. :eek: Way, way faster than I'd ever shoot for with such a rig.
 
hey doc you know much about the 80's supra irs setup...i know there 5spds are suposed to be stout as hell...was thinking since i know that the drag 22r i built was capable or ripping the axles in half in the stock rearend i dont want to tempt a v8 with it lol...and ive a good source for cheeeeeeeep supra irs's...and best of all there held in by all of 6 bolt points
 
I've never messed with any of the Supra stuff... my Toyota experience falls completely in the realm of trying to kill an '81 Tercel which I acquired for a case of beer. :dance:

That's more difficult than one might think. I wasn't actually able to do it, and not for lack of trying. After three months of merciless beating, the ignition module died. I was not able to actually break anything on the car during that time, and $76 was more than I was willing to pay to continue the quest. :D

I've heard that the '90s Supra stuff is indestructible, but I'm not really sure about earlier models.
 
yeah thats why i gave toyota the run down of Tuff On Your Old Tired Ass since there damn neer un killable and even mildly cared for last forever

once had a 4banger hemi toss a rod and it still ran and moved under its own power but it sure sounded like hell

ohh well was hopeing for another source for the perfect IRS that could handle punishment as well as simple to mount....thanx anyway lol
 
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