Has the motor ever been apart?

[Robliepse]

Are there any strong clues that I could look for to see if the 440 that's in my GTX has even been taken apart? The engine bay and engine were incredibly dirty and nasty and I've verified the block, intake and exhaust casting numbers. I've also noticed that these some type of aluminium foil pad (?) between the stock intake and the engine. What else could I look for that would indicate that it's an original unmolested 440?

 

[Seax440Dodge]

the foil pad is "valve tappet noise reduction silencer package" and it's a good sign that the intake's never been off.. I've seen factory original engines with it, and without it so it's not a 100% dead giveaway if it's not there

 

[69Bee]

Look at the head gaskets for a pentastar, and OE markings on the bearing shell backings.

 

[Robliepse]

Can I see the head gasket marking without removing the heads? Where are the bearing shell backings? The engine appears to be the original from the rare 1972 GTX and it still runs good and doesn't smoke so I have no immediate plans to tear into it. Depending on my always fluctuating budget I'm either going to clean it up and re-install it or finish another 440 I have in the garage and set this one aside.

 

[Seax440Dodge]

Not gonna see the pentastar w/o taking the heads off... bearing shell backings are on the back of the bearings, and while it may not smoke, it looks like it's got a bit of a leak somewhere

 

[Robliepse]

yea, she's a tiered old girl so I have some decisions to make in the coming weeks. I'm completely restoring the engine compartment over the next few weeks so I'll have to decide clean / paint and re-install the tiered old motor or build a new one or rebuild this one. It's only money and I cannot get rid of the numbers matching original so I either rebuild it or have a 440 motor sitting around for the next several years.

 

[mopwrd340]

the foil pad is "valve tappet noise reduction silencer package" and it's a good sign that the intake's never been off.. I've seen factory original engines with it, and without it so it's not a 100% dead giveaway if it's not there

I thought the foil pad was used to keep the carb from vapor locking ,

 

[Seax440Dodge]

negative

http://www.performancecargraphics.com/Manifold_Insulation.htm

 

[sleepar]

So basically same as tunnel shield material... would help in vapor lock.... and it makes more sense being on a/c cars which were prone to this condition...
Weather it's been appart before or not it should be redone.. but it has defiantly been molested by the look of the prom dress she's wearing....

 

[Seax440Dodge]

You're one of those people that go to a restaurant, ask if they're closed, they say yes, then you order a burger and fries aren't you?

 

[Robliepse]

No I go to KFC and order a bigmac

 

[Moparsmitty]

I thought somebody was heating up their lunch in there.