440 HP block vs. "regular" 440 block ??

[Pistolpete]

just replied to a post for an HP block vs. a regular 440 block - whats the difference and why would it make the car  more valuable??

gonna be restoring 69 RT soon and just wondering if its worth it??

[hemigeno]

There is absolutely no difference whatsoever in an HP block vs. a non-HP block.

The differences are 100% in the components added on or in the block (cam, carb, some exhaust manifolds, etc.).  The Chrysler code for the HP package is "A134".

If you're not going for a concours-type restoration, you can save a few $$ and buy a non-HP block.  You are not losing anything with the block itself.  You could add the HP stamp if you really wanted to, and it would be no different.

[Pistolpete]

so what does HP stand for ?? High Performance ??

thanks

[hemigeno]

Galen's book states (and one other resource book I found backs this up) the following:

HP = High Performance
H (by itself)  = Standard 4bbl V8
P (by itself)  =  Premium Fuel recommended

That's all I could find on the subject.

[calchargerRT]

I am no expert on the subject but read recently (I think in a e-bay posting) that the HP blcok had reinforcements around cylinders, they said something like that, "stronger re-inforced  ribbing"? Is this totally false?

Ian

[Chryco Psycho]

the extra ribs were added in 69 I believe , all 440 blocks got them though

[firefighter3931]

  My 68 block does not have the ribs.....but my 69 and 74 blocks do.

Ron

[Pistolpete]

so bottom line there is a difference -  is it worth the added expense to say you have an HP block - does it make the car more valuable?

[Chryco Psycho]

no , if it is not a #s matching block it really makes no difference if ti has HP stamped on it

[firefighter3931]

no , if it is not a #s matching block it really makes no difference if ti has HP stamped on it

The 74 block i've got is going to be used on my future 493 build. Personally, i'd prefer to start with a low performance engine that hasn't been beat on. If you score an engine out of an old c-body....those likely haven't been abused and are good candidates for a performance buildup.

Ron

[cudaken]

 

Just kidding Ron.

I based my Blowen 440 on a 74 C-body block for the same reason a stup, ah I mean Ron. More than likely the New Yorker was not beat on to hard and with the power being down some less stress on the block.

Ron. where is the extra rib's. As far as I know I never had a 68 440. Is it the lines that are just a little below where the head's mount that run from front to rear?

                                   Dumb Ass Ken, posting again.

[calchargerRT]

Anyone know what  a V on top line means in black pad? whole pad looks like this:


G440                V

11   9               2


Thanks

Ian

[firefighter3931]

  Ron. where is the extra rib's. As far as I know I never had a 68 440. Is it the lines that are just a little below where the head's mount that run from front to rear?

                                                    Dumb Ass Ken, posting again.

Lmao Ken....you're a joker, no doubt !  

The ribs run along the block, front to back around the freeze plug area. Here's an excellent link with pics and all kinds of useful 440 block info. It's very enlightening and dispells a few common "Myths".

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

Ron

[cudaken]

 Ron what does Lmao mean? As far as the rib's, they where the one I was miss spelling about.

Took me for ever to figer out what LOL meant.

                             Ken

[MoparYoungGun]

Personally, i'd prefer to start with a low performance engine that hasn't been beat on. If you score an engine out of an old c-body....those likely haven't been abused and are good candidates for a performance buildup.

Ron

That's never occured to me. It does make perfect sense though.

Ron what does Lmao mean?
Ken

LMAO means, laugh my ass off.

[8WHEELER]

68 Block then 69 and up Block w/ribs, never really noticed it before but all the 440
Blocks I have had are 68 blocks except the 70 block in my car now 

Dan

[Ghoste]

All that talk about high nickel and low nickel blocks is just rumor too isn't it?  It was just a random occurance?

[John_Kunkel]

I still accept the notion that the block alloy changed at some point, hardness tests have shown the later blocks are softer.

[8WHEELER]

   Yep I think we all agree with that.

Dan

[Ghoste]

I don't know.  One of the Mopar mags did a bunch of tests a few years ago and they did not find that to be the case as I recall.

[Chargerguy74]

I don't know.   One of the Mopar mags did a bunch of tests a few years ago and they did not find that to be the case as I recall.

I agree

[John_Kunkel]

Follow the link to a page on block testing, about half way down they show a sample of block hardness over the years; later is softer:

http://www.arengineering.com/articles/sonicbig02

[Ghoste]

So it does.  And as it turns out, that is in fact, the article from Mopar Action.  They don't really seem to change much until 76 though so I don't think I'll worry too much about it myself. (seeing as how few would fall into that group)