1975 440 out of an Imperial

[Moparman01]

I co-worker of mine has a 440 out of an Imperial (or some big Chrysler) and asked me if i'd be interested in buying it from him. It's a 1975 motor, all complete except it needs a new distributer and only has suposedly 59,000 miles on it. Is there any difference between mid 70's blocks and earlier muscle car blocks? It's not an "HP" block, does that matter? The motor i installed in my General last summer was a '74 block stamped HP that was out of a cop car, it was rebuilt a ways above stock specs however. I wouldn't be buying the motor to just stick in something and use as a stock piece, i'd tear it down and build a performance engine out of it, i just wonder if it's worth $250 bucks?? Do i need this engine??...Well no but it is a 440, it wouldn't hurt to have another motor around as a back up incase one of the BB in mine or my dads cars goes up in smoke sometime. What do ya think?

[Lowprofile]

For $250, I'd buy it! 

[DodgeChargerNeeded]

If it runs grab it up.

[Big Lebowski]

Nope, it's block that's all. It's thin walled, cast crankshaft (trash), low compression pistons, smog heads, etc, etc,. All you will use is the block, if you build a steel cranked HP motor with power.

[bsakal]

go to www440source.com (?)you will get the lowdown on the late model blocks, they're not as bad as everyone thinks.

[dads_69]

I've had '77 400 blocks made into strokers. Not a problem. Like stated, 440 source or Speed-O-Motive would be a great start for a build up.
Mark

[jg68]

Nope, it's block that's all. It's thin walled, cast crankshaft (trash), low compression pistons, smog heads, etc, etc,. All you will use is the block, if you build a steel cranked HP motor with power.

This is simply not true, the later blocks are some of the strongest out there in the 440s, nothing at all wrong with cast cranks, the only real downfall is the low comp., but my smogger .030 77 446 with 7.8.1 comp. moves my 3800 lb. D100 pretty dang good.

Moparman, for 250.00 bucks for a 59000 mile 440, i'm sure it runs fine, GRAB IT, don't blink, it'll be gone 

[RD]

Nope, it's block that's all. It's thin walled, cast crankshaft (trash), low compression pistons, smog heads, etc, etc,. All you will use is the block, if you build a steel cranked HP motor with power.

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

[firefighter3931]

"This is simply not true, the later blocks are some of the strongest out there in the 440s, nothing at all wrong with cast cranks, the only real downfall is the low comp., but my smogger .030 77 446 with 7.8.1 comp. moves my 3800 lb. D100 pretty dang good.

Moparman, for 250.00 bucks for a 59000 mile 440, i'm sure it runs fine, GRAB IT, don't blink, it'll be gone "




Nuthin wrong with a cast crank engine. Grab it and when it's rebuild time, slap some speedpro 6-pack pistons in there and balance it. You'll have a nice pump gas friendly 9.5:1 compression street engine. 


Ron

[dave571]

Follow that 440 source link.

It is an eye opener.

There is also a lot of info on www.areengineering.com about the myths of later blocks being weaker. 

A running 440 for 250 is a a good buy.  Is a steel crank better?  Yes of course, but a  cast crank will live behind 500 hp easy.

[Chryco Psycho]

put a 440 source kit in it & make a 500" out of it !!

[Challenger340]

I haven't been able to find any "thinwall' blocks in the later year engine castings.
I have a sonic tester, and test regularly looking for core shift.

Actually, just from what I've seen,
in my opinion,
it would seem to me, that the later blocks are actually a little "thicker" ?

OOPS ! there I go, now I stepped in Doo-Doo !

Also, just as a matter of trivia, when I have found a "thin-spot" in one hole, usually, I find corresponding thinspots in the same place in the other cylinders on that bank, but NOT always "all holes" on that bank, just a high probability for others,....REJECT.

I do find later blocks "softer", easier to remove material when honing. But I don't own a hardness tester, so I can't verify that.

BUY THAT '75 CORE NOW !

[Moparman01]

Wow, thanks for all the replies and and for that link to 440source.com, great site and awesome info. Here's a question just for hell of it, i saw on 440 source that later heads have different cooling passages, "figure 8" holes, while the older 440's have round holes. Does that mean that older, say 906 heads, are'nt compatable with newer blocks?? I just wonder this becuase on my '74 440 thats in the General, i used a pair of 906's (not sure of year) on the motor and have had some over-heating problems. But, i don't have a fan shroud yet so that could help, but it does have a new radiator, electric pusher fan, and big race fan on the motor. Also, a buddy of mine did replace the cast crank with a steel crank for me, just for some added security. I would to with this '75 motor i'm considering.

[Chryco Psycho]

the head gasket closes off most of the cooling holes & any big block head will swap

[andy74]

if you dont want it post the guys info so one of us can buy it!