440 mopar rods

[340runner]

It's possible to get lots of torque from a small block also.....

And dead hooked with 14-32's slicks with a 440 but with low pressure on 10" wide wheels to soften the 'hook' and ran in the 10's at the track. The tires expanded on the top end and increased the mph and ran good

What rear end and trans combo was that in?

I mean, if its cheaper and I can get my desired torque and horsepower while not wringing the engine for all it has to give, and be at least a little bit reliable id be willing to hear options

I just don't want to have to push the small block to the power limits of the 360 block, everywhere I've looked looks like 600hp is pushing it hard

I know while you need a good block, 600hp in a 440 is definitely possible and can be more reliable

 

[Curiousyellow71]

Well, do you have experience on 408 strokers? What do you think of them on torquiness as opposed to a big block 440 built as I was saying

Nope, never built one, and sadly...the only small block we stroked was a Ford 351 to 396. That was worth every penny, even though I am not much of a Ford fan.Lol
I have never, regretted stroking a engine as we have a 512, 526 and a 542. More comparable to what your wanting we currently have 2 440s that are pretty streetable. One has edelbrock heads and est. around 575 hp or so, the other has trick flow heads and has about 100hp more (less streetable). Those est numbers are compared to one we did dyno. We took the e street 440 on a 240 mile cruise and it got about 14 mpg. One of my friends has a 525hp 408 and he says it gets maybe 8 mpg on a good day. Imho Bigger engines just make better street engines. The 408 with some speedmaster heads on it isn't likely to be closely comparable to a 440. But it's less weight on the nose which will help with traction, and easier are parts. Doing a 408 your still looking at machining cost identical to a 440. Likely boring, align honing and decking.

 

[340runner]

Nope, never built one, and sadly...the only small block we stroked was a Ford 351 to 396. That was worth every penny, even though it was not a mopar.Lol
I have never, regretted stroking a engine as we have a 512, 526 and a 542. More comparable to what your wanting we currently have 2 440s that are pretty streetable. One has edelbrock heads and about est. around 575 hp or so, the other has trick flow heads and has about 100hp more (less streetable). Those est numbers are compared to one we did dyno. We took the e street 440 on a 240 mile cruise and it got about 14 mpg. One of my friends has a 525hp 408 and he says it gets maybe 8 mpg on a good day. Imho Bigger engines just make better street engines. The 408 with some speedmaster heads on it isn't likely to be closely comparable to a 440. But it's less weight on the nose which will help with traction, and easier are parts. Doing a 408 your still looking at machining cost identical to a 440. Likely boring, align honing and decking.

Well in that case honestly the 440 sounds like the way, as i can get a cheaper crank, cheaper/stock rods, pistons and work on the heads and do a valve job myself with some help, and detail and clean up the casting imperfections which you say should work out decent until I save for a set of either eddy's or tricks

Should I be able to use my 750 double pumper on a decent 440, or would it be too little carb for the engine.

Really the only thing where I'd be saving on the small block money by sticking with the pulley setup, intake and headers, but i think I can offset that on the side of the 440 with finding a more complete one like I was saying from a motorhome or a car, and i could reuse the small block intake.

Lastly, i know it's not original to the car so you guys might scoff, but a big block filling up those fender wells, I think it looks better

 

[Curiousyellow71]

Well in that case honestly the 440 sounds like the way, as i can get a cheaper crank, cheaper/stock rods, pistons and work on the heads and do a valve job myself with some help, and detail and clean up the casting imperfections which you say should work out decent until I save for a set of either eddy's or tricks

Should I be able to use my 750 double pumper on a decent 440, or would it be too little carb for the engine.

Really the only thing where I'd be saving on the small block money by sticking with the pulley setup, intake and headers, but i think I can offset that on the side of the 440 with finding a more complete one like I was saying from a motorhome or a car, and i could reuse the small block intake.

Lastly, i know it's not original to the car so you guys might scoff, but a big block filling up those fender wells, I think it looks better

You can run a 750 for a while. 850 likely needed down the road. Depends on the build really.
The later 452 heads are not a bad head to learn how to port. Unlike other heads, most any grinding improves flow. Or pick up some that someone else has done a bunch of work on, and someone else dropped money into. You really need to talk to a machine shop before you make plans. That way you can make a budget. You certainly could build a 440 w iron heads for now..and do the aluminum heads later. Trick flows are NICE. Crank up the torsion bars for the extra weight. Bb fit good in that era of cars at least and a bb would keep your car on the road. Because almost no parts will being going on it until your ready for the swap, unlike a 408. But, all the guys are right about your budget being a challenge. Your going to need to be resourceful! The little things add up.

 

[340runner]

You can run a 750 for a while. 850 likely needed down the road. Depends on the build really.
The later 452 heads are not a bad head to learn how to port. Unlike other heads, most any grinding improves flow. Or pick up some that someone else has done a bunch of work on, and someone else dropped money into. You really need to talk to a machine shop before you make plans. That way you can make a budget. You certainly could build a 440 w iron heads for now..and do the aluminum heads later. Trick flows are NICE. Crank up the torsion bars for the extra weight. Bb fit good in that era of cars at least and a bb would keep your car on the road. Because almost no parts will being going on it until your ready for the swap, unlike a 408. But, all the guys are right about your budget being a challenge. Your going to need to be resourceful! The little things add up.

Yeah, it's going to be a lot of perusing marketplace, but the budget also kind of works better for me with the big block as it doesn't use much from the engine I have now so it can sit for a while

 

[padam]

So sounds like around my build goals I should be somewhat good, just don't clutch dump at 6k rpm making peak torque onto some slicks that dead hook and expect it to be peachy afterwards

But mama, that’s where the fun is.