Which engine block?

[chargerguy111]

Can anyone tell me if there is any differences in the 440 blocks from 1968-last one made?I know there is a high performance engine and a milder version like in the Newports.I also know the compression dropped in the latter years making lower horsepower but my question is"What is the difference in the actual block itself?In other words, could I take a later block and get the same power out of it as an earlier one?Thanks.

[firefighter3931]

They're all basicly the same. Later blocks are fine for performance builds. 

Some good info here :

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


Ron

[WINGMAN]

 440s FROM 72 UP HAVE CAST CRANKS, BUT THE 73 TO 78 BLOCKS ARE A THINNER CYLINDER WALL AND AND CAN ONLY BE TAKEN 0.30 OVER SAFELY. TRY TO STAY WITH A 66 TO 71 BLOCKS  ALSO BLOCKS ARE THE SAME HP OR NOT THE GUTS MAKE THE DIFFERENTS.

[firefighter3931]

440s FROM 72 UP HAVE CAST CRANKS, BUT THE 73 TO 78 BLOCKS ARE A THINNER CYLINDER WALL AND AND CAN ONLY BE TAKEN 0.30 OVER SAFELY. TRY TO STAY WITH A 66 TO 71 BLOCKS  ALSO BLOCKS ARE THE SAME HP OR NOT THE GUTS MAKE THE DIFFERENTS.

Wingman, you are incorrect on several points. Cast cranks started sometime in 73....all 72 440's will be a forged crank unit....i have also seen some steel crank 73's as well. The thinwall late block myth has been disproven.  Read the link i posted above and see for yourself. 



Ron

[Ghoste]

IIRC, that Mopar Action article they quote also tackled the "high nickel content" story as well and found the nickel content to be all over the map.  In other words, there wasn't a particular year that recieved a different alloy, it varied each time they ran some castings.

[Nacho-RT74]

as far I know still steel cranks on 4 speeds 73

[Challenger340]

I think pretty much every block myth has been disproven in regards to yearly thickness & nickel claims.

Just doesn't seem to be any "magic" out there, they all work.

[Chatt69chgr]

And due to core shift, they all have to be sonic checked to determine how far they can be bored.

[Ghoste]

Agreed, and that's a bigger thing to be concerned about than a lot of the other "special mojo" we look for in blocks.