E 440 T ,,, Really?

[stappy]

Ok, so I had a friend offer me a motorhome for $500 with the knowledge that it has a 440 engine in it. I NEED a 440 for my 69 Charger RT. I know this is not year correct la-de-da but I want to drive my car THIS year and not some year down the road...
Anyway...
This Motorhome is a 1978 Winnebago and it starts and runs pretty nicely. My question is... The RB stamp block says E 440 T, which if I read the decoders correctly should be a 1969 block...? Is it truly possible that Winnebago kept these around that many years or am I just reading it wrong? I mean even if I read it wrong the worst I could screw it up is F and that is still 1970 correct?

Scott

p.s. Is $500 for a running 440 truck motor too much or am I good on this? $500 is pretty close to scrap value I would think for the whole shot.

 

[Stumper]

E is 1969. The calender started with "B" in 1966. not sure what the T is for (truck?). I would think $500 is pretty reasonable for a running, early motor.

 

[flypaper]

is there a number before the t ?
or is there a w before or after the t ?

8t = a 78 block

wt or tw = water tested

E = a cast crank

being out of a 78 winny
and knowing alot of engines in them were not changed out
due to low use

i'm willing to bet

its a 8t 78 engine
with e for the cast crank

because that is what the winny should have in it.
you might be getting the numbers mixed up a bit...

just to add

i'm not 100% sure on this so i didnt mention it at first
but i think just a plain t = 77 or 78 motor
i do know for sure
the t stands for trenton
where they made all of the 440's at
in 73 and later

 

[wedgie]

Aren't the motorhome heads different also?

 

[flypaper]

you also can get a clue
thru the casting number

2536430 Chrysler - Dodge - Plymouth RB 66-72 440
3698330 Chrysler - Dodge - Plymouth RB 73-78 440
4006630 Chrysler - Dodge - Plymouth RB 78 440


go look again at the numbers really good
and come back and tell us what you find...

 

[flypaper]

Aren't the motorhome heads different also?

i believe they used the same heads
its the intake and exhaust manifolds that are different
they are very restrictive

the only heads that are different
i believe are the industrial and marine heads.....

 

[flypaper]

oh to the what it is worth question?
is it worth 5 beans?
imo
running good i would say maybe
not running about 350
the trans is different then whats in your car also
so do not
add that into the equation

 

[shopguy]

stappy; you have a PM. I've got a 69 eng. and trans avail. see for sale section.

 

[Meep-Meep]

is there a number before the t ?
or is there a w before or after the t ?

8t = a 78 block

wt or tw = water tested

E = a cast crank

being out of a 78 winny
and knowing alot of engines in them were not changed out
due to low use

i'm willing to bet

its a 8t 78 engine
with e for the cast crank

because that is what the winny should have in it.
you might be getting the numbers mixed up a bit...

just to add

i'm not 100% sure on this so i didnt mention it at first
but i think just a plain t = 77 or 78 motor
i do know for sure
the t stands for trenton
where they made all of the 440's at
in 73 and later

I believe this info is correct and I'm willing to bet it's the 78 motor.

The later motor home heads are like the STD 440 heads - at least that I have seen. The early 413 MH heads were the ones that looked funny.

 

[Cranky]

I believe this info is correct and I'm willing to bet it's the 78 motor.

The later motor home heads are like the STD 440 heads - at least that I have seen. The early 413 MH heads were the ones that looked funny.

Yup, the 413's had the high mount water pump housing that bolted to the heads and to the block...ie, water ports going to the heads and block and the pump was mounted higher up on the pump housing and the 440's did not.

 

[stappy]

I have not crawled around under the motorhome yet to see any other casting numbers, kinda grubby under there and I had to go back to work.
On the RB stamping block it specifically says:
E 440 T
6 7 2

and that is all I could see on it. I did not see "8T" and have no clue where that information came from. What I gathered on the net is the E = year, 440 = engine size and T = Truck which would make sense since it is in a truck. Again this is from the stamping block at top left in front of the head. I have not crawled underneath to get the serial off the pan rail or the casting number in the block.

I talked to a local scrapper and he said he would not go more than $200 since I would be responsible for getting rid of the remaining motorhome carcass after removing the engine and junk yards will not take the shell due to too much wood in them (wood cabinets, wood frame, etc...). Looking at 20+ hours to shred it for $250 in scrap value.

 

[Meep-Meep]

It could very well be a 69 440 that someone put in at some point. Like you said check the casting number.

A book of matches and some gas will make short work out of getting rid of the motor home body, however, the yard owner might frown upon that :angryfire:

 

[flypaper]

It could very well be a 69 440 that someone put in at some point. Like you said check the casting number.

A book of matches and some gas will make short work out of getting rid of the motor home body, however, the yard owner might frown upon that :angryfire:

nope,
it would be highly unlikely that it is a 69 engine..
i bet the serial number points to it being the original engine
get the casting number first and get back here
before jumping to any conclusions


that is all I could see on it. I did not see "8T" and have no clue where that information came from.

i guess i just made it up!....

http://www.moparts.org/Tech/Archive/motor/36.html

 

[slowpar]

E 440 T
6 72

Cast crank 440 truck motor , dated June 72... come on fellers this is a Mopar site.

 

[theman440]

The block alone is worth 500 bones, it probably has 452 casting heads on it...buy it. You could also use the trans for parts, save everything except the tailshaft and tail housing (truck only) The cast crank will be fine for a street motor, the heads are basically 906's with hardened seats (for unleaded fuel) rebuild it with a good manifold and headers/HP manifolds on it and have fun. The only drawback is low compression - easily fixable with the right pistons...my 2 cents.

 

[69Coronetrt]

If the engine is a 78, this will apply

 

[69Coronetrt]

Which pad looks more like the block in question?

 

[stappy]

Sorry, about not getting on here sooner, but I did go ahead and buy the motorhome. Drove it home. THAT was a FUN trip :headbang: (ran out of gas twice and could not figure out which tank was the one it was drawing from, guessed wrong the first time...:angryfire
Nice thing is, once the fresh fuel started going thru the lines it ran better and better. One of the last turns I took I stuck that big ole motorhome sideways around a dirt road corner. Wished I had THAT on video. My mom was in the van behind me and she was screaming at my wife that I was "trying to roll it!"
Anyway, back to what this whole thing was about... YES, it is a 1978, YES I am dyslexic (apparently) and the pad said T (truck) 440 E (78) not E 440 T...
Cast number also confirms the year. BUT hey, for what I gave, and it runs... :yes:

http://youtu.be/WMYTzYuijEQ

 

[stappy]

Next dumb question, is anyone in need of a really sweet, dually rear axle?
12v/gas/110v refridge?
How about a nice, gently used, plastic toilet and tank?
Pair of nice clean swivel, platform captains chairs?

 

[dsd1967]

I just went through the same thing this summer with a 78 C Class motor home. A guy at work was interested in the running gear, so he bought the chassis off me for what I paid for the whole thing ($650). I ended up with an extremely low mileage 440 and transmission for free. He took the time to strip it, burnt all the wood items, recycled all the wire, aluminum and steel that he didn't need, and came out money ahead. If you have the time, it's worth parting it out.