No way can that 440 make 400+ HP!!

[Mopar4me]

The guy said no big block Mopar could make over 400 HP. What about the Hemi it's a big block and it made more than the 425 advertised HP. Should of told him that,

[Ghoste]

Those kind of experts are never wrong, the best thing is almost always to ignore them.  Although I'm usually no good at following that advice myself.

[twodko]

Well hell, this clinches it! I'm selling my gutless 440 R/T.

[redmist]

The best thing I ever did was bastardize the crap out of my engine. Half the people that see it think I put a modern Chevy LS in the car, and the other half think I don't know WTF I am talking about when I tell them it's just a basic .030 over 440.   

[69wannabe]

I haven't taken my charger to any show's or cruise in's all summer and I haven't really missed it sad to say. I do drive it out regularly and get a bite to eat or just cruise through town and have enjoyed not to have to listen to all those comment's by those who think they know more about your car than you do Maybe next year I will be brave enough to hit a few of the show's but I kinda doubt it

[RallyeMike]

It take all kinds. I see the humor in it and try and roll with it:

I once told a know-it-all guy my 60 Plymouth was a modified 57 Chevy and he walked away spouting that "he knew it all along", he could "see the lines.....blah blah blah..."     Enjoy it.

[Patronus]

I told a guy once my Sunbird wagon had nitrous on it. 

[Ghoste]

I once told this girl I met in a bar...        oh never mind, we've all done that.

[472 R/T SE]

You didn't know that Bob?

That's why my #'s block is under my bench.  I just couldn't get more than 390 HP out of it.

Truth be told, I think the #'s motor is just as strong as what's in the car now.   

[Lord Warlock]

Its probably likely the guy remembers how the hp numbers went down dramatically when they changed the ratings from gross hp to net hp in 72? and they realized big blocks don't put 400 hp to the ground. At least not to the majority of cars out there.  These people haven't kept up with the times and how hp is often exaggerated on newer models.

I will say that the older guy is at least more fun to talk to at a meet since he may have actually drove one of our type of cars when they were new, I much prefer those over the new age enthusiast that thinks a cold air kit adds 100hp, slamming the car to the ground with wheels outside of the wheelwells claiming it'll run circles around a stocker, or those who think a sticker from a speed shop or manufacturer adds hp and torque.  The 90s and early 2000s with teens in hondas and supras thought they owned the roads in cars that topped out at 96mph.

[Todd Wilson]

I remember one time I had just got my 71 Charger done and was at a show and the car still needed some odds and ends and the interior (still isn't perfect) needed some door panels and a few other things anyways this guy who had just restored a 65 Mustang pulled me off to the side and was gonna share a secret with me. He is talking in a low voice telling me all about his mustang and there's this place you can call and I can order everything I need to finish up my car.........This place is called Year One.......... Call em they have everything............ I just laughed and told him yeah if you are restoring  Mustang but you cant get a damn thing for my 71. This was 10-12 years ago. HAHA!


Todd

[6spd68]

The 90s and early 2000s with teens in hondas and supras thought they owned the roads in cars that topped out at 96mph.

I remember those days, fortunately I was able to straighten many with my T-Bird though 

[GOTWING]

We have a 360 making 336hp to the REAR WHEELS and it is nothing super trick. Soooo at the flywheel that's easy 400hp.. 

[Tilar]

You boys have to understand that at one time, nobody knew how to make HP match the Cubic Inches. And this has been in my lifetime. So if someone claimed to have a 440 that pushed 440HP, You were either a liar, on some sort of drugs or a fucking magician. You could get close, but not past it,

[ws23rt]

You boys have to understand that at one time, nobody knew how to make HP match the Cubic Inches. And this has been in my lifetime. So if someone claimed to have a 440 that pushed 440HP, You were either a liar, on some sort of drugs or a fucking magician. You could get close, but not past it,

I remember them days     The street hemi did it (as advertised) and is a big block mopar.

[Ghoste]

As did the DeSoto 341 Hemi in 1956 and the 283 Fuelie Chev engines in 57.

[Lord Warlock]

The 327 did it in the 60s with the 350hp and 375hp 327.  And the 350 has done it.  improvements to motors has come a long way.  Smaller motors seem to do well with 4 valves per cylinder, wonder why they haven't implemented that on the larger motors yet.

[Bob T]

As did the Aussies with the 302 hp 265 cui 6cyl 71 E49 Charger

[TUFCAT]

well thats just great.  now, how do i get the smoke back in the tires?

To make a point of recharged signature line of 13.53 @ 105.32, that's moving very good for a stock 440. For 1969, that would be considered very impressive!

[Mike DC]

Smaller motors seem to do well with 4 valves per cylinder, wonder why they haven't implemented that on the larger motors yet

There are some good reasons why the bigger motors aren't getting the development of the smaller ones.

4 valves per cylinder, multiple camshafts, etc . . . it's all about giving the motor the ability to make more power at a higher RPM.  But larger motors are typically used on vehicles that need low-RPM torque more than hi-RPM horsepower.  (If the vehicle could have been built with a smaller hi-RPM motor instead, then they would have do it that way.  Smaller motors lead to better gas mileage.)  The multiple valves also increase the size & weight & complexity of the heads, which becomes more troublesome & expensive on a bigger motor than it does on a small one.  
 

[71gtx]

 

[keith88]

I don't worry about such claims i have a 318. But that being said nascar dose get that type of power out of there small blocks so i would imagine that it would be possible ...but it would cost a pretty penny.