Question about 72 400 engine

[ralley72]

I have a 1972 400 engine that I pulled from a 72 Charger that was beyond repair. Its a 230 block with a cast date of 10/29/71. It has what I think is a smog pump. it has tubes connected to the HP exhaust manifolds. The dip stick passes through the manifold. I'm wandering what this small valve is and what does it do?

Mike

[Kern Dog]

It looks like a vacuum switch. It could be used to delay the vacuum advance or maybe be related to the A/C system.
Do NOT junk that engine. The 1972 400 block is desireable for many reasons. The bare block and main caps are where the money is. The heads, exhaust and intake are nothing special but the block is worth $400 or more bare.

[AKcharger]

Ohhhh Thick mains!

[ralley72]

Thanks for the replies. Not looking to sell this engine just yet. I was curious what the little gizmo was and what it did. The intake and the distributor were gone when I got the car so I don't know where this valve connected to. The drivers side exhaust manifold is unlike any I have ever seen, most likely due to the smog pump and how it pumped its air to the exhaust. I'll post a picture.

Mike

[fy469rtse]

Yep keep block, think very strong key way area to main caps ,
Great starting point to build stroker foot pound monster for the street , all under a stock bonnet,
If your lucky it has a steel crank, but could have have been all over by that date, 

[John_Kunkel]

The valve is part of the NOX system, it shuts off the vacuum advance under certain conditions.

Not all 230 blocks have the thick main webs, about half way down the page in the link below shows the difference.

http://www.440source.com/blockinfo.htm

A '72 400 with an auto trans would be a cast crank, with a stick it might be forged.

[ralley72]

It has a forged crank. The forged crank with automatic trans and the cast for manual trans according to the little white book. This crank is drill for the manual trans, but the car I pulled it from was an auto.

Mike