440 Engine Question

[magnumminded]

Just wondering how much power would a 76-78 440 engine put with headers, a 800 cfm TQ, performer intake, and curved distributor would put out? The engine is pretty decent from what I know so I am just thinking about it. I don't plan to rebuild right now. Although I am waiting to hear back on a 66-67 440 engine for sale.

[elacruze]

Rated ~225hp stock, best I can find. Because of the low compression, if you don't change the camshaft you won't benefit much from any other breathing enhancements. Changing the cam without increasing compression is not worth the cost, IMO.

I'd buy headers and change the rear axle ratio, if it's faster than 3.23.

What's your car, trans, current axle ratio, and goal?

[magnumminded]

My main goal is cruising with the car but,  I am looking for a little more power than what I have now which is just a tired 184500 mile 68 318 with a cam, headers, ignition, intake, and 600 Eddy carb according to the 1/4 mile calcs I'd say it is an honest 225 ponies at the crank but, as I said it is tired and getting more by the day. It would be nice to smoke the tires from what a stop or lay a little rubber. I have a 8.75 rear 741 case 2.76 open in it now. I would prefer to keep those gears since some of the highways I run 65 mph - 70 mph if not a little faster. The guy has three of these 440s ranging from one 76 and two 78s. Oh yeah the transmission is a 727 auto. I know the true compression isn't the greatest but, I was told even a late 440 would be possibly an improvement over my 318. As far as the cam is concerned some of the cams I seen sold from "big" name companies aren't much bigger and some that are smaller than the factory non-HP cams or only slightly like .010 lift on both intake and exhaust side of things.

[elacruze]

I just don't think you're going to get a weak big block to smoke the tires with a 2.76 gear.

Are you aching for a big block? Maybe a warmed up 360 and good torque converter would do what you want without a lot of energy to convert.

[Cooter]

Well, the later 440 wasn't supposed to carry a 2 ton vehicle at any pace..It had the Torque and that's all it needed in 1977-78...


The torque alone is an improvemnt over your 318, but I wouldn't expect it to run with a 1970, 440 Six Pack car or anytrhing even with all your mods...

[flyinlow]

I would think the intake/tunning and headers would pick up about 30 hp on a heathy 440 smog engine. Look for 1 3/4 or atmost 1 7/8 primary tube  headers for best torque with low compression and a stock cam.
Magnum 440's in the 70's made about 280 HP net. No sure when they stopped making that version.

[magnumminded]

Well that settles the fight. I will continue looking for a 66-71 440 engine. I took drive my wife's 70 Charger today for a quick spin after a 4 year nap in the garage. That car has a mids 70 440 from a truck and HP Manifolds. It feels like it has a stall and some lower gears. I wasn't quite impressed but, not completely disappointed even if the throttle kickdown did not work.
The reason I am looking to go to a 440 is in case should I ever sell the car I retain the 318/904 (original) and put the 440 in for better performance/value. I'm not getting any younger so might as well jump on this chance while I have it.

[flyinlow]

Engines before 1972 where rated gross HP at the crank. After that they where rated net HP,which is lower. They started rating them at gross HP again for some reason.

Driving with out the kick down linkage adjusted or not installed will shorten your transmission life. Perhaps dramatically.

[magnumminded]

Engines before 1972 where rated gross HP at the crank. After that they where rated net HP,which is lower. They started rating them at gross HP again for some reason.

Driving with out the kick down linkage adjusted or not installed will shorten your transmission life. Perhaps dramatically.

That's true and if you also read that engines were using headers to get their numbers as well from one website. Anyways, I understand the use of the kickdown setup. I had the same issue on the 318 that's in my car now. Needed to straighten out the top rod so it push the arm all the way on the transmission. It could be something else on her car but, this is the first place to check. Thanks again.

[ACUDANUT]

" I took drive my wife's 70 Charger "   Anyway, your lucky...after letting it sit for 4 years...Also, without the kickdown working, your going to fry that transmission.

[magnumminded]

Sorry for the delay. I looked at the engine and it was in bad shape. Been partially exposed to the weather so basically it was a core block. I am thinking of sticking with the "turd" 400 as some call it. Here is a picture of the engine:



Still trying to decide. I've looked/called about several engines. This one seems pretty decent from what I can tell. Also on researching gross vs net horsepower I found that gross horsepower was also measured by the engines using headers as well. On one website a 71 383 is rated 300hp gross but, the net rating is 250 net hp.

Anyways, I also need to do more work to the wife's Charger before the other.