440

[Dajkzo]

Hey folks,

Starting my 440 build which is going to replace the 383 currently in my 1970 RR clone. This is going to be more of a road warrior vs much time at the strip. It does have 3.91 gears and in my travels I purchased a used GearVendors unit. GearVendors was really great about helping with the parts I needed even though I was not buying a complete unit. A conversion to fit my A833 was about $500 minus a new drive shaft.

The pile of parts is now complete. As it progress's I'll be adding pictures. It's my second Mopar big block build. The previous is a stroked 383/438 in my vintage drag boat. I had good results using a 440 source kit and their cylinder heads. Comp XS282S and a Weiand tunnel ram.

The goal is 475-500 hp but most of all, a broad/flat torque curve along with being able to run on 91 octane pump gas.

Specs::

1968 440 block and main caps. (blueprinted and cut to .000 deck which gave me 9.97 to 1 and a .040 quench)
ARP main studs, head bolts and a complete engine fastener kit.
Eagle crank & rods (3.75 stroke) ARP 2000 bolts
Icon pistons with 12 cc relief/dish (4.350)
Hughes STL3842-8 cam ( Anyone who is running this cam feel free to comment)
Melling HV oil pump
Milodon 7 qt road race oil pan

To answer the question of why a 440 and not a stroked 383 or stroked 440 is simple.

1) I Got an incredible deal on the crank and rods. NIB.

2) It's not a numbers matching car, and a 440 has a little more resale value along with better choices in pistons.

But mostly is was the deal I found on the crank and rods. To be honest, that triggered the 440 upgrade. LOL


I'm want to give a shout out to the shop I use.
R & L Engines in Dover New Hampshire
http://www.rlengines.com/


Have not purchased the heads yet. The plan is to use the 440-Source heads. There are better heads for all out performance however they flow enough air to build the power I want in a street car.
And I'm on the fence about which rockers. Several good choices and I'm open to suggestions. The boat motor has Comp Cams Magnum rockers.
And have not decided on an intake at this time. The car has a fully functional Air Grabber so height is a deciding factor. Just been too busy to measure clearance, maybe today or tomorrow. A 6-pack is a possibility depending on how much my wallets hurts next month. But that is something I can switch to at anytime.

I'm working on the short block this right now and have to put the steering back together. It's winter in New England. No sense rushing.
The shop is heated, I'm retired and my Service K-9 loves to help out in the shop. He's from Europe so I have to tell him everything in metric.....

 

[69roadr]

Had my 383 built by dick Landy years ago 500+hp roller motor. I have 3:91 rear sings on the freeway but love it from stop light to stop light

 

[dukeboy_318]

Hey folks,

Starting my 440 build which is going to replace the 383 currently in my 1970 RR clone. This is going to be more of a road warrior vs much time at the strip. It does have 3.91 gears and in my travels I purchased a used GearVendors unit. GearVendors was really great about helping with the parts I needed even though I was not buying a complete unit. A conversion to fit my A833 was about $500 minus a new drive shaft.

The pile of parts is now complete. As it progress's I'll be adding pictures. It's my second Mopar big block build. The previous is a stroked 383/438 in my vintage drag boat. I had good results using a 440 source kit and their cylinder heads. Comp XS282S and a Weiand tunnel ram.

The goal is 475-500 hp but most of all, a broad/flat torque curve along with being able to run on 91 octane pump gas.

Specs::

1968 440 block and main caps. (blueprinted and cut to .000 deck which gave me 9.97 to 1 and a .040 quench)
ARP main studs, head bolts and a complete engine fastener kit.
Eagle crank & rods (3.75 stroke) ARP 2000 bolts
Icon pistons with 12 cc relief/dish (4.350)
Hughes STL3842-8 cam ( Anyone who is running this cam feel free to comment)
Melling HV oil pump
Milodon 7 qt road race oil pan

To answer the question of why a 440 and not a stroked 383 or stroked 440 is simple.

1) I Got an incredible deal on the crank and rods. NIB.

2) It's not a numbers matching car, and a 440 has a little more resale value along with better choices in pistons.

But mostly is was the deal I found on the crank and rods. To be honest, that triggered the 440 upgrade. LOL


I'm want to give a shout out to the shop I use.
R & L Engines in Dover New Hampshire
http://www.rlengines.com/


Have not purchased the heads yet. The plan is to use the 440-Source heads. There are better heads for all out performance however they flow enough air to build the power I want in a street car.
And I'm on the fence about which rockers. Several good choices and I'm open to suggestions. The boat motor has Comp Cams Magnum rockers.
And have not decided on an intake at this time. The car has a fully functional Air Grabber so height is a deciding factor. Just been too busy to measure clearance, maybe today or tomorrow. A 6-pack is a possibility depending on how much my wallets hurts next month. But that is something I can switch to at anytime.

I'm working on the short block this right now and have to put the steering back together. It's winter in New England. No sense rushing.
The shop is heated, I'm retired and my Service K-9 loves to help out in the shop. He's from Europe so I have to tell him everything in metric.....

View attachment 713938

If you want to keep the use of the factory air grabber, I'd look heavily into the Holley Street Dominator. Very very good intake that is close to stock intake height. A bit hard to find and I'm not positive they are still being produced. 440 source heads are good but another option you might consider is getting with Marsh and getting a set of his sidewinder heads. Price is VERY similar to the 440 heads and he'll assemble them to your engine specs, eliminating the guess work. He quoted me 1100 for the pair assembled with isky valve springs and retainers.

http://www.mopartsracing.com/parts/Sidewinder.html

 

[Dajkzo]

If you want to keep the use of the factory air grabber, I'd look heavily into the Holley Street Dominator. Very very good intake that is close to stock intake height. A bit hard to find and I'm not positive they are still being produced. 440 source heads are good but another option you might consider is getting with Marsh and getting a set of his sidewinder heads. Price is VERY similar to the 440 heads and he'll assemble them to your engine specs, eliminating the guess work. He quoted me 1100 for the pair assembled with isky valve springs and retainers.

http://www.mopartsracing.com/parts/Sidewinder.html

Thanks for the input. The 383 has the Holley SD. It's definitely a choice for the 440 because they do work and are one of the lowest. An it's still available for the RB platform.

 

[Dajkzo]

Took a break from filing piston rings and measured the clearance on the B block then measured/calculated the center height of the RB block. It's either a Holley SD or a Torker II.
In the power range I'm looking for, I don't think there is going to be much HP left on the table with either manifold.

 

[dukeboy_318]

Took a break from filing piston rings and measured the clearance on the B block then measured/calculated the center height of the RB block. It's either a Holley SD or a Torker II.
In the power range I'm looking for, I don't think there is going to be much HP left on the table with either manifold.

Yeah, I have a torker II for my build. It is pretty good as well.

 

[tmaleck]

After much searching and comparing, I went with March. Todd is very helpful and after hearing about several failures of the 440 source heads, it seemed then best of price and quality. Also went with the adjustable rocker kit he sells.

If you want to keep the use of the factory air grabber, I'd look heavily into the Holley Street Dominator. Very very good intake that is close to stock intake height. A bit hard to find and I'm not positive they are still being produced. 440 source heads are good but another option you might consider is getting with Marsh and getting a set of his sidewinder heads. Price is VERY similar to the 440 heads and he'll assemble them to your engine specs, eliminating the guess work. He quoted me 1100 for the pair assembled with isky valve springs and retainers.

http://www.mopartsracing.com/parts/Sidewinder.html

 

[dukeboy_318]

After much searching and comparing, I went with March. Todd is very helpful and after hearing about several failures of the 440 source heads, it seemed then best of price and quality. Also went with the adjustable rocker kit he sells.

I need to call him about those rockers. I was gonna go with a set of his heads but had a set of RPMs fall into my lap for a steal of a price new in box.

 

[69 GTX]

What are the specs on your cam?

 

[Dajkzo]

I decided to try Hughes this time. Very happy with the Comp XS282S in my 438 B block but I wanted a little less duration and the same lift. The STL3842 falls in between the Comp Cams lineup.

 

[Dennis H]

Subscribed. Like your numbers. 500. 91 etc. About what I have now. Next one, just want a little more.

 

[69 GTX]

Your cam is the same as mine. I had a custom grind solid roller. 620 lift with 1.6 rockers, same duration but I spread the LSA to 112. It flattened my torque curve, raised my vacuum, and took a little of the lope out. I used the trick flow 240's and a 6 barrel. With 9.9:1 we got 590 hp @ 5800 rpm on a stock stroke 440

 

[Richard Cranium]

in my travels I purchased a used GearVendors unit. GearVendors was really great about helping with the parts I needed even though I was not buying a complete unit. A conversion to fit my A833 was about $500 minus a new drive shaft.

Gear Vendors makes a kit for a 4 speed....I did not know that.[/QUOTE]

 

[Dajkzo]

Gear Vendors makes a kit for a 4 speed....I did not know that.

[/QUOTE]
Yes, they have a complete kit for the A833 and were happy to sell me the tailshaft adapter and a few other parts to make the unit I have fit.