438 stroker vs a stock 440

[Ryan.C]

Is there any benefit in using a 438 stroker vs a stock 440?

[c00nhunterjoe]

Easiest answer is less roating mass in the 438 meaning less work for the engine, quicker revving. Great combo to build.

[Ryan.C]

As I understand it the 438 has 440 crank and rods. Are the pistons in the 438 much lighter than a stock 440 then?

[Cooter]

You stuff all that stroke in a short deck block and it may spin on the engine stand. While some have had good sccess with the short deck strokers, I'm a firm believer in the factory wanted reliability in their big inch engines and stretched the deck height to get it.
However, how well the rod to piston ratio is with the wrist pins all up in the oil rings, might not spin all that great at 7000 rpm.
Stock 440 crank and rods won't get a 4.280 block to 438 cubes. That will require a 4.150 crank I belive.
The Ford 347 and 427-460 Winsor Small blocks are plagued with coming apart due to internal stresses.
I have been in long discussions over this with some on another board dealing with small blocks.
While it is nice to be able to say you outran me with a $20k small block with almost as much cubes as my 440, sooner or larer, that maxed out small block making 'lazy' big block power will give up the ghost. I prefer longevity over 'flash in the pan' performance.
I might not be the quickest, but not many can say they are still running the engine they built 20 years ago...

[BSB67]

Std stroke 440 crank and a 0.060" over bore 383 (4.31" x 3.75") is the 438.

Advantages are the bunch lighter pistons.  Piston CH is about 1.31".  If you go with a .990 pin it would not be in the oil ring groove, IIRC.  Block is lighter too.

If it is a street beater I'm not sure any of the above matters too much, I would probably just go with the one that would cost less to build.