440

[moparmikeok1969]

Hey all. My brother gave .e an awesome early birthday present. He has either a 77 or 78 Diplomat II motorhome that has a 440 and he told me to pull the engine and it's mine. I'll be pulling it this weekend. He has the original paperwork on this rig and I pulled the dog house cover and crawled underneath it and sure enough it has the original engine according to the numbers and paperwork. The engine turns over doesn't gallop when cranking. My question since I'm new to Mopar is I've heard the 440 out of any chrysler motorhome is good engine to build. Can any of you experienced mopar gear heads verify this statement? Thanks as always Mike

 

[69hemibeep]

It is the same block more or less which is good, a cast crank which is good for low to medium horse power builds. The heads might be ok depending on the casting numbers but they had low compression pistons about 8 or 8.5 to 1 or so. In stock form they will still move a car around pretty well.

 

[moparmikeok1969]

Thanks for your reply. I spoke to an engine builder in Rogers Arkansas. He's convinced me to go with Trick Flow aluminum heads.

 

[Russ Hood]

My friend just built a 440 for me and I had picked up a 73 mh block a couple years ago that was .30 over. I had a 69 440 hp I had picked up but the block was cracked. Mine has steel crank withe the b heads that have had work done to them. Mist of the parts for the engine are brand new to include trw pistons, oil pump, water pump, .555 lift cam all new bearings of course. He has a 68 that is being put back together with a Ray Barton 540 Hemi. Mine is about ready to be installed. Pics of the 440 and his Hemi.

 

[moparmikeok1969]

Man them are some slick looking engines there buddy

 

[Russ Hood]

Man them are some slick looking engines there buddy

Thanks

 

[Terry Hauck]

I used a 440 block from a 1976 Winnebago. I tore it down and had my machine shop clean, magnaflux, install new cam bearings, and bore it 30 over. I had a steel crank and LY rods. Got some Wiseco Pistons for about 10:1 comp. Edelbrock RPM Performer, 440 source heads. 509 cam, TTI headers and used my 650 Holley from the 383. It's a nice running and looking engine. It's only around 400 HP, but that's good for me. I'm older now and not taking it to the track. There's still room to build it but it's good for now.

 

[Russ Hood]

I used a 440 block from a 1976 Winnebago. I tore it down and had my machine shop clean, magnaflux, install new cam bearings, and bore it 30 over. I had a steel crank and LY rods. Got some Wiseco Pistons for about 10:1 comp. Edelbrock RPM Performer, 440 source heads. 509 cam, TTI headers and used my 650 Holley from the 383. It's a nice running and looking engine. It's only around 400 HP, but that's good for me. I'm older now and not taking it to the track. There's still room to build it but it's good for now.

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That's nice. I'm over 60 myself and 400 is fine. I have a race car. Just wanna drive my roadrunner and go to the car shows.