440 Rebuild Components

[nuteguy]

I'm rebuilding my motor home 440 so I can have some more power and torque. I've pretty much decided on Edelbrock's top end kit for heads, a cam, an intake, and a timing chain. The short block will be 440source's 440>>>440 kit which includes a forged crank, forged pistons, and rods. The block will be bored 30 over, honed, and decked. This is my first engine and I'm going to be doing the assembly myself with the help of a friend with some rebuilds under his belt. What does everyone think?

 

[IQ52]

Motorhome engine.......is it going back into a motorhome or a B-body? You have chosen to go the non-stroker route which would cost the same amount as the stroker kit?

 

[1wild&crazyguy]

Motor homes need torque to move, i'm with what i think Jim is saying=stroke it.

 

[nuteguy]

It is going into a 72 Satellite. I don't want to go the stroker route for fear of messing up the build. Plus, from what I've heard and read, the chance of a stroker having something go wrong is much greater than a stock stroke motor. The Edelbrock kit is designed for more low end torque. They boast 482 hp and 528 lb-ft on an engine with 9.27:1 compression.

 

[IQ52]

I think, that if that is what you have decided, then that is what you have decided.

 

[nuteguy]

I'm still open to changing my mind. Just based off of the information I have amounted and researched, this is the best route for me. I'm basically asking if anyone has any tidbit of information that I might not know at this point or a helpful opinion.

 

[440fish]

See you are from CT. I just finished my RB stroker this summer and youre more than welcome to check it out. What i think some members are saying to you is that for similar dollars you can add displacement and have a much stouter engine. Reliability will not be compromised either if you use good parts.

The one thing you need to consider is building the motor as a "package" as the parts selected will affect each other. The correct combination will yield excellent results and the wrong selection will cause excedrin headache #256...

 

[dvw]

The eddy cam is pretty mild. The stroker is no different than anything else with proper build practices. Depends if your swapping pistons, rods in the new build and you're budget.
Doug

 

[HT413]

Here's what I think - spending that coin and still ending up with a 440 is nuts. Then again, since you're happy with the 428HP and 528 ft-lbs that the Edelbrock claims, building a stroker is also nuts. Here's the solution - I'm parting out a very nice 413 with forged crank and LY rods, which I have listed for $300 combined (for crank and rods). That'll easily handle those power levels. Now, I haven't actually inspected the journals and the rods, but hey, the motor has been in my car since i bought it several years ago and it has always run FANTASTIC until last week when I started disassembling it.

Bonus - I'm in NJ and would be happy to meet you somewhere.

Here's a link to my for sale thread with videos of it running and showing the oil pressure.

http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/showthread.php?102623-Parting-out-my-HT413

 

[67Satty]

I think if you pick the 440Source stroker crank kit that gives you a displacement of 493 or so, there really isn't much extra work or money involved over the stock stroke. Rule of thumb in a mild build is one cubic inch equals one horsepower so why leave 50 or so HP on the table?

 

[dieseldazzle]

I've pretty much decided...........

I think you are leaving a ton of power on the table but it looks like you had decided, pretty much?

 

[Jackpot50]

Good luck with those numbers and being able to drive it!

 

[nuteguy]

Thanks for all of the responses. I have thought it over a lot and I'm going to go with an oem rebuild so I save enough money to do a 4 speed swap as well. I can always do big power later in my life. This is my first rebuild after all.

 

[super-bee_ski]

Here's what I think - spending that coin and still ending up with a 440 is nuts. Then again, since you're happy with the 428HP and 528 ft-lbs that the Edelbrock claims, building a stroker is also nuts. Here's the solution - I'm parting out a very nice 413 with forged crank and LY rods, which I have listed for $300 combined (for crank and rods). That'll easily handle those power levels. Now, I haven't actually inspected the journals and the rods, but hey, the motor has been in my car since i bought it several years ago and it has always run FANTASTIC until last week when I started disassembling it.

Bonus - I'm in NJ and would be happy to meet you somewhere.

Here's a link to my for sale thread with videos of it running and showing the oil pressure.

http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/showthread.php?102623-Parting-out-my-HT413

Wow!
Great deal there that HT413 is offering!
Cool....

 

[Burns69RT]

How are you going to save money with the oem build if all the 440 source kits are the same price? I'll take cubes over oem any day.

 

[66Satellite47]

My $.02, for the same price, a fairly mild stroker combo (493 - 505) is certainly no less reliable than stock 440 stroke, probably better if the pistons on the stroker are lighter (my presumption) and would be a good fit for the somewhat heavy '72 body. Be sure to match the heads, cam, displacement & RPM to the intended use. Good luck whichever way you go.

 

[HT413]

geez, fellas, pushing the stroker on a guy that's looking for 400+ hp and maybe 500 ft-lbs of torque? That stroker will require a couple thousand in drivetrain upgrades, major fuel system upgrades, and in the end, all he's gonna get is flack for those Eddie heads not being enough head lol.

 

[dieseldazzle]

My cousins original 383 4 barrel in his 67 charger burnt a valve. Pulled the heads off to have them freshened up and the motor was sludged up very badly. So the entire engine came out.

The goal is to keep it factory original looking under the hood.

When the math came out to bore the 383, put new pistons in it, resize the rods, balance it, buy rings, bearings etc....... it was about $650 more to just buy a balanced 440 source 438 stroker kit for it.

Now the car has nice pistons, metric ring back, balanced etc etc.

We left the stock heads but put larger exhaust valves, new springs etc on them.

Used the 4452783 mopar cam and lifters.
Stock intake
Rebuilt carb
Hidden petronix 3 conversion
Aftermarket coil dressed up to look like stock coil.



Now will the stock heads and manifolds and smallish cam choke off this 438? YES.

But, why not? Im sure the better rods, lighter pistons, forged crank, metric moly rings will last much longer than the factory stuff.....

 

[66Satellite47]

geez, fellas, pushing the stroker on a guy that's looking for 400+ hp and maybe 500 ft-lbs of torque? That stroker will require a couple thousand in drivetrain upgrades, major fuel system upgrades, and in the end, all he's gonna get is flack for those Eddie heads not being enough head lol.

Point well taken. Not meaning to "push", just point out some possibilities.

 

[383man]

The stroker way is up to him as it is his eng. I will say that if you decide to go stroker when you buy a stroker kit you will get most all of what you need as they come with pistons , rods , crank , rings and bearings. So you wont have to decide on pistons if you go the stroker kit way. Just something to keep in your mind if you are looking to make the most Hp and torque as I can say the torque of a stroker will put a large smile on your face. But if you did go with the stroker it would be good to step up the cam some also. You dont have to change the intake and carb as I just run the Indy dual plane intake and a Holley 850 DP on my 493. Good luck which ever you decide and keep us posted on your progress. Ron