off centre 440

[Celt69]

This may be a REALLY dumb question but I have to ask. I was measuring up my hood on my '67 GTX clone to install my new Sledcity scoop and noticed something I had not before. My 440 is offset to the passenger side by a couple of inches (i.e. air cleaner is not in centre of hood).

Is this normal? I am concerned because I want to remove the HP exhaust manifolds and install headers but am now REALLY concerned about clearance issues on the right side.

Thoughts o' great B-Body collective?? Is this regular or did the previous owner do a hack job 440 installation? (I keep discovering "unique" modifications the more I tear into this car)

 

[the mississippi madman]

As far as I know that's normal with big blocks in b bodies

 

[Frank Mopar]

It's all of them. Mopar offsets the engine while others makes offset the rear end pinion. It has to do with the driveshaft geometry

 

[Celt69]

It's all of them. Mopar offsets the engine while others makes offset the rear end pinion. It has to do with the driveshaft geometry

Makes sense, takes a concern away!

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As far as I know that's normal with big blocks in b bodies

Thank you, will stop obsessing about that now!

 

[Hanover Mopar]

I also wondered the same thng as mine is about 2" out of line (to the passenger side).

Thanks for the answers.

 

[Daves69]

Some info here...............

http://ttiexhaust.com/Footnotes/39.htm

 

[RJRENTON]

Gentlemen,
The engine is off set to the right to counteract the torque reaction of the engine at maximum loading (racing). As torque opposes rotation, the off set position actieves this. This is also why there is 5+2 half leaves on the right side rear spring configuration....6 leafs on left side of the car.....
Cheers,
RJ RENTON

 

[440+6]

I always thought it was to make room for this steering

 

[Moparsmitty]

A little story. When I worked at a local NAPA store one of our counter guys got a call for motor mounts for a 70 Challenger with a 440 from a local shop. A few hours later I noticed that they were sent back and another set of mounts was sent out by the counterman. When they came back I took the original set out to the shop so I could see what the problem was. You guessed it, the tech said that the mounts must be wrong because the engine wouldn't sit straight in the chassis. I proceeded to spread some knowledge to the "tech" and I could tell that he was skeptical. I dropped by later with my Belvedere to prove to him that I wasn't full of BS. So it's not a dumb question, you were smart enough to find out before you got into trouble.

 

[miller]

I always thought it was to make room for this steering

On the money...

 

[Cranky]

It also makes for more foot room on the driver's side of the car but.....the engine offset has nothing to do with torque reaction. If that were the case, the engine would be set as far to the left side as possible. And for drive shaft geometry.....you can take care of that without moving the engine side to side. Reading many things about this over the years, it was done mainly for steering box room and iirc, the old Direct Connection book mentions it. Another reason I've heard it that is helps offset the weight of the driver. That one made me laugh.

 

[Hanover Mopar]

63 Dodge 330/440 motor.

My K frame has a slight notch in it for the oil pan. Does anybody else.

I'm assuming it was done for non stock oil pan clearance

 

[Rick62]

Yes, a small notch in the K-frame gives more options for oil pans.

 

[Cranky]

63 Dodge 330/440 motor.

My K frame has a slight notch in it for the oil pan. Does anybody else.

I'm assuming it was done for non stock oil pan clearance

Yes, a small notch in the K-frame gives more options for oil pans.

I've notched the hell out of them before but did the factory ever do it? Never saw one myself but that doesn't mean much.....

 

[lewtot184]

the early b's are not only offset about 2 1/2" but sit angled in the chassis. any notched k-member was done by the owner for an aftermarket pan. a lot of milodons need a small notch on the passenger side.

 

[Hanover Mopar]

Thanks. The pan is a Milodon so that's why it's notched.

 

[Frank Mopar]

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/u-joints-pinion-angle-and-engine-offset-oh-my.198625/

 

[patrick66]

I always thought it was to make room for this steering

Nope. If you look at the Aussie Mopars (Valiant, Charger, Chrysler by Chrysler) with a 318 or 360, the engine sits the same way as LHD US Mopars. Considering the oil filter outlet and the steering box are both on the right side of the car, there is even less room for these components on these cars, as compared to their American LHD cousins. Hence is why the oil filter on th small-block Oz cars is a remote set-up with the plumbing running from the filter mount on the side of the block to a spot normally behind and above the RH valve cover; or mounted up front, similar to a V8 AMC product of the same timeframe.