pros and cons on rv 440 engine??

[burns5150]

while looking for brackets,starter,alt.,etc. for my  440(3698830-440-8),a guy offers me a whole engine out of a rv for a good deal(running).the motor is a 4006630-440-2,(1978,i think?).other than a thinner block wall,is there any pros/cons on getting a motor out of a rv?did they use anything for the rv motor rather than an auto motor?any advice guys?still new to mopar motors.thanks,richie

[Chatt69chgr]

Go to the WWW.440source.com website and read their blurb on 440 blocks.  There is no such thing as a thinner block wall.  Also look at the other sections of their website since they discuss rv components here and there.  The compression ratio is low on those which means you would be replacing the pistons.  Probably would do that anyway since if you rebuilt the engine, you would probably bore it.  I think the heads are probably 452's and have hardened valve seats which is a plus.  Water pump may have odd outlet location but most just buy a new housing and pump made from aluminum from 440source.  Intake would need to be replaced since it's a 2-bbl.  There are lots of inexpensive choices out there for new aluminum intakes.  Transmission tailshaft I think is different.  Probably would have to get a car style tailshaft.  You can get the whole transmission out of a junkyard for $75-$150 to rebuild.  So if the price is right, I don't see anything wrong with an engine out of an RV.  With the gas crunch going on, I predict that there will be literally tons of RV's being scrapped.  Might be a good time to pick up a few 440 blocks for future projects. 

[daves68]

Doing one right now for my 68 Charger. Came from a '75 . The compression ratio stinks on these things. Figured mine out after cc-ing the heads -7.9:1. Yikes! Put in new 10:1 pistons, camshaft, had the heads done, balanced the whole thing and am assembling it. Am not going too radical as this will be a regularly driven street/highway mobile.  Had some heavy duty parts on it - rotators on the exhaust valves, bigger discharge in the water pump housing, huge pulley on the p/streeing to run it slower. Mine had a cast iron spread bore intake with a 4bbl thernoquad carb. Interesting thing was that it had not been used much. Only 25k miles. Still had crosshatch in the cylinders and absolutely no ridge at the top of the cylinders. Pistons slid right out!
Good luck with your project. Keep us posted on the progress.

[burns5150]

that is kind of what i was thinking....low miles.some rv's dont get drove that much(some do).this motor looks good,but maybe my old motor would be fine if i just freshen it up a little.i was also wondering too if they(440) are under more of a strain from hauling around a large motorhome around?lots of good info here guys,and that was my first time checking out www.440source.com,thanks for that link,looks like a great resorce.