383 4bbl Auto to 440 4-Speed Swap Questions

[Chris 69]

In the middle of converting my 383 4bbl automatic to 4-speed. Due to not being able to remove the bell housing dowel pins from the block while the engine is in the car, I'm pulling the 383 out tomorrow. Now, I'm considering dropping in a 440 with the 4-speed instead of reinstalling the 383. However I've ordered all parts to date with the intent to reinstall the 383.

I've researched the 383 to 440 swap on this site and others, and would like to verify my conclusions, and ask some questions:

1. I have a 130-tooth flywheel (neutral balance) and aluminum bell housing from a 383 '69 roadrunner. I ordered the McLeod 10.95" clutch package from Brewers (http://www.brewersperformance.com/proddetail.asp?prod=MC1023). Based on my research this flywheel should be fine for the 440, as long as the 440 has a steel crank, which would be internally balanced. Correct?

2. My 4-speed is 23-spline, out of a 383 '69 roadrunner. Based on my research it looks like this transmission will work with the 440 (looking for around 420hp).

3. My understanding is the 383 parts that I can swap to the 440 include: Power steering pump & brackets, alternator & brackets, exhaust manifolds, and water pump (depending on water inlet side), pulleys. Anything else?

4. My understanding is the 383 parts that won't swap to the 440 include: intake, distributor, motor internals.

5. Will the 383 harmonic balancer swap to the 440? Is it needed if the 440 is a steel crank? (this may be a dumb question as I don't quite understand the internal/external balance types... yet).

6. Will valve covers swap 383 to 440? I'm planning on using the 440Source stealth heads if I proceed forward with the swap.

7. Does the location of the 4-speed z-bracket that is welded to the frame change? I'm assuming no.

8. Regarding the 440Source stealth heads, I've seen some negatives (or maybe I misread) about their rocker assemblies. What is a good rocker assembly to use with these heads?

9. Anything else that I'm missing? I've never done a motor swap before.

Thank you, Chris

[A383Wing]

your 383 auto crank may not be drilled out deep enough or wide enough to accept the standard pilot bushing.

you may end up putting the special adapter bushing in and cutting off a couple inches of the input shaft on the trans

[RallyeMike]

1. I have a 130-tooth flywheel (neutral balance) and aluminum bell housing from a 383 '69 roadrunner. I ordered the McLeod 10.95" clutch package from Brewers (http://www.brewersperformance.com/proddetail.asp?prod=MC1023). Based on my research this flywheel should be fine for the 440, as long as the 440 has a steel crank, which would be internally balanced. Correct?
See notes on #5 regarding cast crank and forged crank 383's and 440's.

2. My 4-speed is 23-spline, out of a 383 '69 roadrunner. Based on my research it looks like this transmission will work with the 440 (looking for around 420hp).
Yup.

3. My understanding is the 383 parts that I can swap to the 440 include: Power steering pump & brackets, alternator & brackets, exhaust manifolds, and water pump (depending on water inlet side), pulleys. Anything else?
Valve covers, heads, water pump housing, oil pan, oil pump, oil pump pick up, camshaft, rockers and shafts, motor mounts, carb, throttle brackets, carb return spring and bracket, air cleaner, & misc.

4. My understanding is the 383 parts that won't swap to the 440 include: intake, distributor, motor internals.
Correct. See above regarding motor internals. 383/440 crank, rods, pistons, and push rods do not interchange.

5. Will the 383 harmonic balancer swap to the 440? Is it needed if the 440 is a steel crank? (this may be a dumb question as I don't quite understand the internal/external balance types... yet).
Forged steel crank 383's and 440's are internally balanced. The 71 383 2bbl is the only external balanced cast crank 383. Once you hit about 1974+ the 440's become cast crank external balanced engines.

6. Will valve covers swap 383 to 440? I'm planning on using the 440Source stealth heads if I proceed forward with the swap.
Yes.

7. Does the location of the 4-speed z-bracket that is welded to the frame change? I'm assuming no.
No change.

8. Regarding the 440Source stealth heads, I've seen some negatives (or maybe I misread) about their rocker assemblies. What is a good rocker assembly to use with these heads?

9. Anything else that I'm missing? I've never done a motor swap before.
B to RB is about as easy a swap as comes along.

Other notes:

One thing to watch is that the raised deck of your 440 will elevate the exhaust flanges to the head pipes about and inch. This will suck your exhaust up closer to the bottom of the car and may or may not cause interference. If you are using headers, some companies make an all fits one B/RB header, and some carry different part numbers for B vs RB for this reason.

Some exchange parts noted will vary between 383 and 440, but will physically bolt in place and function.

[Chris 69]

A383: Thank you for the heads up. I measured the depth of the crank to bellhousing, and compared it to the 4-speed input shaft length (from the face of the trans). The input shaft will definitely need to be shortened. I did order the pilot roller bearing/adaptor from Brewer's (http://www.brewersperformance.com/proddetail.asp?prod=PB5300).

Will defiantly try mating the trans to motor (either the 383 or a 440, still trying to decide) before re installation back into the car.

RallyeMike: Thank you for the info. It looks like my 383 4bbl crank is forged steel and internally-balanced, which would work with my 130-tooth neutral-balanced flywheel. As long as the 440 has a forged steel crank (internal balance) the 130-tooth neutral balanced flywheel is OK to use, correct?

According to this page: http://www.440source.com/dampers.htm, the harmonic balancer on the 383 has the same part number as the 440, thru the 1971 440 (internally-balanced, forged steel). So I should be able to use the balancer off my 383 crank on a forged steel 440, I think.

Hmmm, a light just came on: The harmonic balancer on my internally balanced crank is actually a "harmonic damper" (neutral-balance), not a "balanced harmonic damper".

Seems like every time I do a project on the Charger I'm learning something new!

Thank you for the responses, I really appreciate the input!  Chris

[RallyeMike]

Yes on the flywheel.

Also, with the exhaust system. the 440 will widen (not just raise) the location of the header flanges. If you have an H-pipe or X pipe system, it will have to be widened to accommodate.
 

[Cooter]

As long as it's a steel crank 440, and the flywheel is NOT OFF A 360 SB MOTOR, you can run a 318/340/383 flywheel.
internal balance is internal balance.

[Chris 69]

Cooter and RallyeMike: Thank you. Now I'm really leaning towards putting a 440 in instead of the 383.