help with mopar 440

[bigrog34]

I bought a 1972 charger with numbers matching 318 and transmission. The guy I got the car from had a 440 out of a police car from what he said. How can I tell what the 440 is and should I go with the 440 or go all numbers matching.
1972 charger
318/ 727 trans
10 bolt rearend w/ 271 gear
using car for street and some stop light to stop light fun.

 

[67 B-body]

If your up for the swap,,, I would go 440 for that stop light to stop light fun! It will pull stumps out of the ground! Throw in a different rear gear in any case..... unless you plan on running the high banks of Daytona... LOL
You can always tag and bag everything you replace for a later resto if you choose to do so...

 

[HEMI-ITIS]

Depends on your budget and how much HP you would like to have:icon_mrgreen:

 

[bigrog34]

Small budget but would like to have 400+ hp. I plan on keeping the 318 in case of a resale.
could I get 400+hp out of the 318..

 

[HEMI-ITIS]

It's pretty easy to get 400 outta the 440,you would also need a trans.

 

[Elvad]

318

The 68-70 2 barrel 318 is about 300 hp stock. I am not a small block guy but I have owned enough of these cars to know that 318's are a good engine...

 

[HEMI-ITIS]

The 68-70 2 barrel 318 is about 300 hp stock. I am not a small block guy but I have owned enough of these cars to know that 318's are a good engine...

No doubt they're good,but if your going to drop the coins to rebuild,IMOP the big block is the way to go.
Although a boosted smallblock can make some steam,it's not in the budget:blob1:Boost is where it's at:headbang:

 

[YY1]

I think the factory rating on the 318s was around 230 gross. Real easy to get to 300+ though. Pre-mid 70s 440 should be close to 400 gross without doing anything to it

Of course the new 5.0 Mustang GT has over 400 NET ( or maybe even RWHP).

 

[benno440]

Hey,
on the top of the block near the dizzy hole there will be numbers e.g. 6T 440 E
and then a date under will tell you the year the build location the CI and whatever crank is in it etc. or.... just decode the numbers on the passenger side under the headers should give you some good info.

the 318 is a good motor but nothing compares to a big block, if going for resale later on it is quite possible you would get more for the 440 or in worst case just keep the 318 but put the 440 in

 

[lewtot184]

you could put a 4" crank in the 318 plus a few subtle mods and surprise the kids! :blob1:

 

[arizona satellite]

for what you want go with the 440 it is a bolt in go with a mopar m1 intake with a cam spec to match and you should be fine. I agree with the fact that in a resale the 440 will bring more, if you build the 318 to match the 440's power you will have more into the small block and it will still be a small block. Don't get me wrong there is nothing wrong with ma mopars little boy BUT it seems lost in the huge engine bay of a b-body, besides the small block will NEVER have the torque of a stock big block.