Looks Like I'm Stuck With a Motorhome Block

[Bruzilla]

So after all the legal smoke has started to clear, it looks like my 1973 440/727 are gone, and I'm going to be getting a 1977 440/727 out of a motorhome. Not the best situation, but I need to get the Roadrunner back on the road, and there's not a lot of car 440's that don't need a rebuild or all the accessories available in my price range right now. I've checked the engine out, and it starts and runs fine, and the trans shifts fine, so no problems there.

What I'm wanting to know about is what "oh by the ways..." I need to be concerned about. I know the heads are low-comp smoggers, but I'm hoping to get my 915s back from the shop so heads shouldn't be a problem. I was wondering about the torque convertor... anyone have any idea what stall motor homes were using? Also this vehicle had ebrakes, so I think the yoke on the trans is gonna be wrong. Is that correct?

Any other issues anyone can think of, besides getting a decent intake?

 

[moparstuart]

So after all the legal smoke has started to clear, it looks like my 1973 440/727 are gone, and I'm going to be getting a 1977 440/727 out of a motorhome. Not the best situation, but I need to get the Roadrunner back on the road, and there's not a lot of car 440's that don't need a rebuild or all the accessories available in my price range right now. I've checked the engine out, and it starts and runs fine, and the trans shifts fine, so no problems there.

What I'm wanting to know about is what "oh by the ways..." I need to be concerned about. I know the heads are low-comp smoggers, but I'm hoping to get my 915s back from the shop so heads shouldn't be a problem. I was wondering about the torque convertor... anyone have any idea what stall motor homes were using? Also this vehicle had ebrakes, so I think the yoke on the trans is gonna be wrong. Is that correct?

Any other issues anyone can think of, besides getting a decent intake?

make sure that tranny doesnt have the trans brake drum on the back of it , most moblile home 727's did , and you cant just change the tailshaft .

 

[Seventy]

The converter is going to be matched to the motor so it should be fine, I know there was something different about the trans though.

I got a full 70 6 pack motor air cleaner to oil pan, marked "f HP2" with all the pulleys, belt, unilite dizzy, all dyno ran and ready to go, just drop it in, and I have a couple 727's all rebuilt with shift kits and BM converters, ready to go. Motor and 1 tranny for $10,500, I will bring them down when xmas time when I go to visit the inlaws... Promax 6 pack, oem air cleaner, 402 pan, correct valve covers, ci intake, alt, water pump, all ready to go. Even has Hp exhaust manifolds on it...

If something like that isnt an option, I would change the heads, cam, lifters, cam bearings, intake, carb, oil pump, timing set, rear main, and paint it up... It will probably run for ever... screw it.... can you even get your block back? Is that stuff gone foreever? That is theft, was he charged with larceny?

 

[moparmarks]

Actually the heads should be the 452's which are a good head. Larger water jackets and harden seats. Not as good as the 915 closed camber heads but IMO the best factory open chamber head. They didn't make a "smogger head". The 77 will have dished low compression pistons which you can change for flat tops to raise the compression. Will probably have the heavy 6-park rods too which I'm not a fan of.
The later blocks are stronger than the earlier ones.
Easier to just get a car/truck tranny. Plenty of them out there.

 

[Seventy]

I thought the later blocks were weaker? They lacked the webbing across the freeze plugs on the sides? Also I know the motor home and truck blocks were higher nickle, but I thought that was still lower or equal to the earlier blocks pre 72 say? I saved a BUNCH of 68, 69, 70, 71, 72 440's, 6 packs and 4bbls only.. I sold all the 71, 72, and 68's, a few months ago, kept the 69's and 70's (plus 1 68 in case I ever get a nice charger that needs one, but that is built and done). I was always under the impression the non webbed motors were not as strong, granted PLENTY strong enough to hold 500hp street power, just like cast cranks, a friend of mine has a cast crank earlier 440 that he beats the snot out of in a 74 charger with some pretty wide slippers and it starts everytime...

 

[HT413]

I measured my '72 413 to be at 7.0:1 (lol, sigh). I don't think the RV 440's were that low, about 8:1 I think. Pistons and rings are cheaper than heads.

 

[mopar 3 B]

Is the motor home a 1977 or is the engine a 1977. Motor homes were based on unit body year and not chassis year. I have a 76 motor home engine with flat top pistons. The only thing making it look any different than an other 440 is cylinder heads and exhaust.

 

[moparmarks]

The later blocks have thicker webbing across the freeze plugs.
mopar 3b sound like you have one of those industrial motors used in some Class A motorhomes. I've had a few of those. Weird but good setup. To bad it doesn't fit into a car.

 

[mopar 3 B]

The later blocks have thicker webbing across the freeze plugs.
mopar 3b sound like you have one of those industrial motors used in some Class A motorhomes. I've had a few of those. Weird but good setup. To bad it doesn't fit into a car.

Class C 76 Dodge Sportsman Van body 1 ton

 

[1wild&crazyguy]

look at the tranny tail housing ...it's probably the real short stumpy version, not the standard tail length.

- - - Updated - - -

 

[Bruzilla]

There's no shortage of 727s lying around, so I know I can get one if I can't get mine back. I know for sure my engine is gone, but I'm hoping I can get my tranny once I get back into the shop.

 

[dieseldazzle]

I will be happy to convert the trans over for you. I also just sold a perfect running 77 440Do some research and don't knock them there are some stout smogger combos out there. Cam I take and valve spring it accordingly and it will be the tie frier it should be and hey man cheer up its a 440 and those rumors are all false about the thinner cylinders but that shouldn't be a concern for you cuz stock non ported 915,906,452 will never tax the shortblock there are guys spraying these stock shortblock a with 200 horse nitrous plates

 

[flyingfarley]

I am running a 78 MH block in my 65 Coronet...was 8.2 compression...installed late 60's Sealed power forged pistons to get some compression back. The stock pistons were .180 down in the hole If i remember right...early pistons changed that to somewhere around .100
engine now runs good...

Mark

 

[furryfrog]

You may need to replace the water pump on the rv block, the lower intake is on the passenger side on an rv motor, where as the car ones are on the drivers side. I can not remember if I used the power steering pump from the rv donor or if the one that was originally in the car bolted up. May want to consider changing the flexplate as well, the one that was in the rv setup was quite flimsy. My Rv donor was a 72 steel crank one, internally balanced, I dont believe the torque converter had any balancing weight on it, but may be something to look into if your motor is externally ballanced with a cast crank. I still have the stock torque converter and it is pretty tight, I would guess 1600-1800 ish, I will pay closer attention next time I go for a drive.

 

[Seventy]

I will be happy to convert the trans over for you. I also just sold a perfect running 77 440Do some research and don't knock them there are some stout smogger combos out there. Cam I take and valve spring it accordingly and it will be the tie frier it should be and hey man cheer up its a 440 and those rumors are all false about the thinner cylinders but that shouldn't be a concern for you cuz stock non ported 915,906,452 will never tax the shortblock there are guys spraying these stock shortblock a with 200 horse nitrous plates

nice offer to change over the trans, good for you..

 

[jimt1971rr]

I am running a 77 motor home 440 in my 71 rr and frankly, I couldn't be happier with it. Again as mentioned before, they have larger cooling jackets. I am running a 22" radiator, purchased new, and have never had it get above the "normal" line. The only thing I really had to do was to replace the valve covers with car style ones. I didn't do the engine rebuild so I really don't know about the compression, cam, etc. Honestly, don't think of being stuck with a motor home block, just set it up properly and enjoy!

 

[440runner]

I Also have a 440 from a Motorhome in my 73 Roadrunner. Can't remember the year of the Motorhome but somewhere in the mid
70's. . Picked it up, brought it home and Pressure washed the old gunk off of it i found this!



So i decided to build this!

 

[Cranky]

If you do get the MH trans, tear it down and see if it has the 4 planetary gear sets. They usually did like most other heavy duty boxes. And not all motor home engines came with the big rods.

 

[WP29440SE]

this is a 77 sportsman 440, cast crank, flat tops , 452 heads , LY rods , picked it up for 100 bucks. went through it , added a few goodies, slapped a 72 35" 727 on it and away we go.

 

[furryfrog]

I'm stuck with a motor home block too,