1977 440 motorhome engine ????

[alkyburner]

I went and looked at a 1977 motorhome with a 440 with a 727 transmission earlier it sounded good...anyways they are hooking it up to the tow truck and suppose to have it here around noon tomorrow I guess I want to ask and make sure this thing will work in my 73 charger. I know I will have to get motor mounts and change rear end and torsion bars as it was a sb car....but want to make sure it will fit... im also assuming I will maybe need a different oil pan for it if it does work and was wanting to know what years I can get a car oil pan from thanks

[alkyburner]

im new to this stuff and just want to make sure...I have tried googling and seeing mixed reviews about having to change the tail shaft and stuff.. so can someone maybe tell me a way of knowing. maybe a ruff measurement from motor/trans mounting to end of tail shaft to know if it will work in the car thanks...

[JB400]

The motorhome trans will not work in the Charger.  The 440 will if you have a big block k member.

[alkyburner]

thank's for the info I will call first thing in the morning and tell them not to bring it out....so I will also have to change the k member then to..i thought I could buy aftermarket motor mounts to bolt a bb in the sb car??

[JB400]

I think Shumaker makes a set of motor mounts to do the swap. 

[alkyburner]

ok so 440 and the motor mounts is a go with the k member that's in the car now... and no on the transmission in the motorhome because of the tail shaft being short and having a drum type shaft. so I need a bb 727 with a long tail shaft that uses a slip yoke type driveshaft right...from what I have read and seen

[JB400]

Correct

[alkyburner]

Thank's ....

Correct

[Bob]

The transmission in my 74 is out of a motor home. Allot of medium size m/homes used the same 727.

[hawkeye]

You will also need the long shaft that goes thru the tranny and several small parts.  I just had one swapped over and I just used a junk one to rob parts off of.  All v8 k members will work-- the 6's were different.

[Nacho-RT74]

  All v8 k members will work-- the 6's were different.

untill 72 yes, not since 73. 73 and lates changed also between SB and BB, hence the mount ADAPTORS ( more than just a mount ) from Schumacher

http://www.engine-swaps.com/Pages/Show%20Pricing/73UP-Show.html

On pic you can see how the offset is noticeable on one of the mounts

[ACUDANUT]

Another reason to go 71/72 Charger. Right Nacho. 

[don duick]

any plans to rebuild it ? hope it goes well if using as is. Had same motor in my charger was an ok cruiser not a great performer and used a lot of gas.

[Nacho-RT74]

Another reason to go 71/72 Charger. Right Nacho. 

or maybe a 2nd gen

[alkyburner]

said it had been rebuilt already has new heads on it and been sitting about 10 years. sounds good though...

[ACUDANUT]

I would pass on the Motorhome engine. 

[alkyburner]

reasons why to pass on the motorhome engine? just curious. also the guy has a 727 with the long tail shaft but has some kind of parking brake thing on the end of it can this transmission work. he said something about just taking it off.

[don duick]

now you have it and you know it is a good runner, you might as well give it a try. I would.

[ODZKing]

The 74-74 suspension is different from 71-72 if you are going to stay with factory.  
Because of that the oil pan is different.
The oil pan is 3614970 (400 & 440). It will have a "971" embossed in it.
http://www.440source.com/oilpans.htm

[RallyeMike]

reasons why to pass on the motorhome engine?Huh just curious. also the guy has a 727 with the long tail shaft but has some kind of parking brake thing on the end of it can this transmission work. he said something about just taking it off.

Motor home engine are not as desired by people but they are fine engines and cheap alternatives. You can usually find low-miles runners for $3-500 around here. The only real hurdles are that they are difficult to put a manual trans behind because of the external balancing and they have low compression which makes less power. Of course, the low compression is good for today's low octane gas. A 1978 440 motorhome engine with stock crank, rods, and pistons in one my chargers is still fun to drive, churns the tires, and has taken it to 140mph (in a legal, sanctioned, event)

In some early 60's cars there is a parking brake assembly that attaches to the end of the 727 tailshaft. It brakes on the drive shaft. I'm pretty sure some of the bosses on the case are different than what you'll need to get various stock shifters hooked up. Craigslist usually turns up lots of 727 around here. You might try that first.

[Nacho-RT74]

as far I kno USUALLY motorhome and some trucks engines got bigger water jackets on heads for better cooling there... right ?

[alkyburner]

ok thanks' for the help and responses I will probably go with it then

[alkyburner]

came across a 1966 383 with a 727 thinking about going and looking at it. anything I need to be looking for thanks. I also found a 73 440 with 727 trans that came out of a state trooper car.