440 Engine VIN Identification

[SovereignZuul]

Hey all, haven't been on these forums in 10 years I'd say, I still have my old Dodge Charger.com t-shirts though.

I just bought a 440 today, needing help if I can identify what kind of vehicle it came from if it's possible to do so.

There's not much documentation online for stuff past 1974 it seems.

The casting number reads:

4006630-440-9

Indicates a 1978 Block, I think.


Here's the VIN from what I can read: 66135071


I've never owned a 440, someone told me the giant alternator might be a sign it's from a police car.  The seller believed it was taken from a Newport.

I can't find anything online to help me with the vin ID if that's enough to tell me what kind of car this came from.  Whatever it was also had A/C.  Power steering is in the charger behind the engine, complete engine, still turns via breaker bar and even has the stock exhaust manifolds on it.  Someone chopped it out of a car whole some time ago.



Got big plans for the engine and the car behind it, and finally some money to do so.

Thanks for any replies!

[tan top]

 hello & welcome back  



casting #4006630  is late 75 -79  I believe  ,

& the 66134071 is really 6C134071  I think  the first digit 6 is the model year & the letter C is the  Jefferson assembly plant & C bodies were built there   I believe  , i'm no expert !!I await to be corrected on any of this    


whats the top pad say ??

[69CoronetRT]

I agree. 6C indicates it came from a 76 model year car from the Jefferson plant. They built C bodies.

[SovereignZuul]

Cool, I must have read that wrong, looks like it got double stamped and I thought that was a "6", heh.

I'll drive back out to the barn asap and get a shot of the top pad.  Probably not today, but soon.  I've got someone coming to look at my Neon for sale after work today.

[SovereignZuul]

Here's the top pad.

It looks like it says, "  T 440 E (or F, but I think E)  and a 2 (or 8 but I think it's a 2)  and 3 lower side.

Hard to read with all the stuff on the motor still.  Didn't want to start pulling it apart yet just to see.

[SovereignZuul]

Here's the high res pics if it's any more helpful.  I had to jam my camera down there.

http://i.imgur.com/HgqLrxp.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/shwT2Qr.jpg

[tan top]

thanks for the pictures !!   from what I can make out

                  T     = Trenton motor plant  ,            440      = 440 ci motor     E = cast crank shaft

                                 2 = February    3 =   3rd  = motor assembly date  

what missing though is a number before the T  because we established that the Vin model year was a 6 -1976

 so in theory  your top pad should of read  

               6 T 440 E
                 2 3
             
   like I say i'm far from a expert , I await to be corrected on any of this      

[SovereignZuul]

Looks like you're right.  After another look at that pad I can sort of make out what could be a "6."

Looks like the factory worker on that stamping got lazy and didn't even try and line up the letters.  The stamp for the 6 is hanging off the pad.

Circled here:




There is no way to ID the car it came from based on the partial VIN serial number, is there?

Any major disadvantage to a block with a cast crank?  (I was expecting a cast crank anyway)

[69CoronetRT]

There is no way to ID the car it came from based on the partial VIN serial number, is there?

You could but you'd have to find someone with a pretty extensive data base of 76 Chryslers.
(I'm pretty sure the Jefferson plant was building only Chrysler cars at that time.)

[tan top]

Any major disadvantage to a block with a cast crank?  (I was expecting a cast crank anyway)

I have read & heard lots over the years that later 70s blocks should not be bored more than +20 , but also have read & heard , that's its more or less down to each individual block & how much core shift it has no matter what year !!  ive seen / read / heard  OEM 440 blocks  going   +60 over bore  early & late blocks with no cooling problems    ,   soo much word of mouth &  now  info both good & bad floating around the internet .... also depends how radical your motor build is going to be & what your going to be using it for  . have a chat with  your mopar friendly machine shop & see what they think .  cant see a + 30  or + 40 over bore being a problem  my self 


but all the blocks are more or less the same , only real difference being the 69 & blocks , have a strengthening   rib cast above the core plugs ,   71 & later  blocks  could  had  side ways  8 shaped upper cooling passages in the deck & or late 70s would of had extra cooling holes on the lower side of the deck , that would of corresponded with holes in motor home heads , for extra spark plug cooling , nother difference is  extra casting for bolt holes on the left front of the block ,  early real A - body blocks had these castings too I believe  , for the motor mount set up ! .
  none of this matters , all the cylinder heads interchange & the oem type head gaskets .

  depending what your going to do with your motor ,  cast cranks are ok up to 500 horse ,  just get it all checked out & a good balancing job at a known good mopar engine shop  


I await to be corrected on any of this  !! as i'm no expert engine builder , there are  guys on here , that have forgotten more about  these motors than I will ever know .    

[SovereignZuul]

This page taught me a lot.  Dispels some of those myths/legends I've heard about 440's over the years, especially the overbore one.

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

Seems like the later blocks are structurally superior to the early blocks!  Bigger journals and motor mount tabs, better coolant passages, etc.

I won't know until I do a break down of mine and measure myself really, but I assume it follows these standards.

[tan top]

This page taught me a lot.  Dispels some of those myths/legends I've heard about 440's over the years, especially the overbore one.

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

Seems like the later blocks are structurally superior to the early blocks!  Bigger journals and motor mount tabs, better coolant passages, etc.

I won't know until I do a break down of mine and measure myself really, but I assume it follows these standards.

thanks for the link !!       I keep forgetting about the 440 source site !!
some good info on there .

[white]

Great info, I learned something new today!