77 440 low compression

[Rayzor]

Found a low mileage great runner out of a C body. Was thinking of dropping it in a 74 Charger with no other mods then a pair of headers. How pathetic were these motors? Will the car still get out of its own way?

[Nacho-RT74]

1 point compression lower than earliers, and LoPo cam ( 73 was the last year for the HiPo camshaft as my records )

you can get it easy on the earlier numbers changing just the stock earlier pistons and camshaft... $400-500 invest on parts ( without the headers )  and done

However, sure any 440 even laters will kick some asses

[Cooter]

Found a low mileage great runner out of a C body. Was thinking of dropping it in a 74 Charger with no other mods then a pair of headers. How pathetic were these motors? Will the car still get out of its own way?

250 HP Pig without swapping to the "Six Pack" pistons...Basically, a SB 318 weighs less and would out perform that 440 on sheer weight alone...

[flyinlow]

8:1 compression 440's don't compair to 10:1 compression better cammed 440's.  However killing the EGR valve,headers and tunning the carb and timing will help.

I am assuming you have a 318 74 Charger now.  4000 lbs / 160HP = 25 lb/HP

Going to a 440 adds about 200 lbs . 200 / 25 = 8HP

250 HP 440 minus 8HP = 242HP which is more than 50 % better than 160HP.

[Rayzor]

The car belongs to a buddy. It was a 400 car until a rod left the building. Its been sitting there for two years because he is broke and just trying to keep a roof over his family. So I thought I would buy it for a christmas present for him. I Drove the car this morning and it runs pretty good and shifts fine. I bought the whole thing for 300 bucks. Was a tow yard special, but only had seventy thousand on the speedo. Anything has to be better then no motor. After I jerk the motor and trans I might make some of that back scrapping the car.

[flyinlow]

Good score on the C body.  We scraped a 79 Toronado last summer and got about $400 for it.

[firefighter3931]

A quick and easy way to perk up the performance is to advance the stock cam 4* to help it build more cylinder pressure. For sure the stock timing chain needs replacing so while you're in there install a cheap Summit double roller and advance the cam. 


Ron

[Cooter]

Well now, it woulda been nice to know all that before...As an engine to replace a blown one? Hell yeah! a '77 440 motivates ALOT better than a blown 400....

[magnumminded]

I have a 400 and here is suggestions to throw out there as I am doing the same. Gearing and a good converter would help. I would suggest 3.23s or 3.55s if you don't have them already. I would do a Hughes or call CRT about their converters. Those two are the better ones on the market from what I have read. The engine itself I would add headers, aluminum intake, TQ or a good carburetor. Buy a curved distributor (Mancini Racing) should have them. You will need to replace the plastic timing set at least. Should you decide to do a cam I would suggest (for budget reasons) a Summit Racing cam. Summit Headers are cheap as well and while you're at it you can go the wrecking yard and get a starter from a 5.9 Magnum Ram/Durango/Van and it should swap over to the 727 transmission to save a few pounds.

[elacruze]

Well now, it woulda been nice to know all that before...As an engine to replace a blown one? Hell yeah! a '77 440 motivates ALOT better than a blown 400....