picking a 440 engine to build

[dodgediesel59]

Well guys I have been spending a lot of time on the coronet lately since work has been slow. I have made up my mind that I am going to build a 543 stroker for the old girl. My question is what would be good to look for as far as a core builder? Obviously for the most part, all I need is a block as the vast majority of it is going to be aftermarket but it would be nice to get brackets and such as I didnt get an engine with the car. Are all the 440 blocks throughout the years created equal or were there stronger castings and such? Just looking for some input and would much appreciate it! Thanks for the help and keeping me in the right direction. Im hoping to get the car sent off to the builder to get the mini tub, cage and body work done this spring. Then we can start doing the fun stuff!

 

[mopar12372]

why stroke it so much ? what are you planning to do with the car ?

 

[Deleted member 214]

http://www.440source.com/blockinfo.htm gives you a lot of information.

 

[IQ52]

I saved my nickles and I saved my dimes.

For I knew there would be a time.

When I should buy a brand new...................aftermarket block................

And all the freakin' headaches that go with them.

Nothing is going to be easy unless you are darn lucky.

540ci with a stock 440 block is going to require about ten blocks to sonic check in order to find one with cylinder walls thick enough for a stable wall and one that will stand the abuse over a long period of time. Then probably a 4-bolt main conversion and/or a girdle.

 

[HEMI-ITIS]

They say that 700 to 750 is the limit for a stock block. Yea,some guys get more than that,,,,,,,,but for how long. I want with the siamesed bore block and started at 521 ci,After a few parts failures I am now up to 545 inc.hes with room left to grow.Can go to 4.5 bore with the siamesed bore,I have heard of guys going 4.6 with a sonic check and still have some meat left. I also use a 4.5 stroke crank. Choose your parts wisely,there is a reason the cheap offshore crank is cheaper that a Callies,Crower or Bryant. Build it RIGHT the 1st time and save the misery later.
I street drive about 2000+ a year and try to get to the track when I can and it's not too hot out:blob1:

 

[383man]

I would seriously consider an aftermarket block to build your 543. As they say stock blocks get shakey after so much hp. I know the MP block and good aftermarket blocks are not cheap but I would try to get one to build a wedge that size. I looked into a MP block when building my 493 as it is a stock block and I figure I am making about 600 flywheel hp. But I would not go much more then what I run on a stock block. Some do get away with over 650 hp on stock blocks but its not worth the worrying if you can afford a better block then a 50 year old stock block. What ever you decide good luck with it. Ron

 

[Mike Gaines]

Go to Indy Cylinder Head and buy a 500" short block for $3695 and be done with it. simple as that...I dont think you need 543" as a 500" stroker in a stock block (not World aftermarket block) will give you all the horsepower you need. Just a good set of heads, an Edelbrock Super Victor with a 1050 Dominator and a MSD Dist with a 6al Box, and a good set of headers and a good cam and YOU WILL NOT NEED MORE HORSEPOWER PAL. You will probably get around 600HP with this setup. You can run 10-1 compression and pump gas and with this combo still run in the high tens easily on pump gas and be very streetable. 4.10 gears would be fine with a 3500 stall. The key is the 500", good cam and heads....you would be buying all the other stuff anyway. Let me know what you and others think.

 

[IQ52]

I have made up my mind that I am going to build a 543 stroker for the old girl.

Mr. Gaines does bring up a point.

But I find it hard to discard the OP's statement. "I have made up my mind..........."

Do we tell him his thinking is faulty and he should do something else, or honor his word and answer his question?

There may be 100 other ways to get the power that we think dodgediesel59 wants. But he says he wants a 543. If he changes his mind after he gets feedback on what others think he needs as block for the 543.................well, okay.

Until then, I'm personally, all for the 543.

 

[dodgediesel59]

I appreciate all the input from everybody. I'm still in the planning stages to an extent and am trying to get a good plan together. 3600 for a 500" short block is not bad at all. The nice thing with a 500 is i believe you can get away without fancy oil pickups and external systems correct? Do we think a 500 would handle some boost down the road with lower compression and head studs? My ideal goal is to build a motor that would eventually handle boost with the change of a cam and pistons. I know I should build it right the first time but considering I'm completely gutting this car and starting from scratch a turbo build the way I want is going to break the piggy bank right off the bat. I appreciate all the help and patience everybody has. I'm new to the mopar gas world so I'm trying to learn from all you wise ones!

 

[IQ52]

You want a 543 and turbo it?

I was running my 9.5:1 compression, pump gas, 451 stroker at a chassis dyno contest in 2008. It was making 528 RWHP. The dyno operator asked me to bring it to his shop and he would install a turbo and related components. He said with the way the engine was running now, it would make 1500 RWHP with a proper turbo set up. I could just see my stock 440 steel crank laying in the road with the pistons and main caps in the oil slick, so I declined.

What do you want?............Really.

The last chassis dyno I was at my normally aspirated, single 4bbl, 500ci 1974 factory 440 block made 696 RWHP.......and a 427ci small block Chevy made 1,740 Horsepower with his turbo. Yeah to the rear wheels!

Think about it. I'd get a good block as a foundation. Or back off on my power expectations.

 

[Cranky]

It's easy to run 10's with a stock block/crank and better rods/pistons with the right top end. Heck, You can do that even with ported stock heads. How bout 9's? Gets a bit tougher and much tougher to run 8's. Question is....how fast do you want to go? Keep in mind that the car itself plays into the equation too. The heavier it is, the harder things get. The car's suspension will also need a good upgrade if you want to go fast...

 

[Brandy]

IQ52 is the guy I would listen to if I were you. Yes there are many on here that are also great resources and I'm not discounting them at all. IQ52 however has built that 440 and has the dyno sessions to let u see what it can do with a budget in mind. As I get further along with MY 1974 440 engine I will be asking all of these guys for help and using IQ52's thread about his 440 as a guide for sure. JMHFO.

You want a 543 and turbo it?

I was running my 9.5:1 compression, pump gas, 451 stroker at a chassis dyno contest in 2008. It was making 528 RWHP. The dyno operator asked me to bring it to his shop and he would install a turbo and related components. He said with the way the engine was running now, it would make 1500 RWHP with a proper turbo set up. I could just see my stock 440 steel crank laying in the road with the pistons and main caps in the oil slick, so I declined.

What do you want?............Really.

The last chassis dyno I was at my normally aspirated, single 4bbl, 500ci 1974 factory 440 block made 696 RWHP.......and a 427ci small block Chevy made 1,740 Horsepower with his turbo. Yeah to the rear wheels!

Think about it. I'd get a good block as a foundation. Or back off on my power expectations.

 

[ma mopar nutz]

if your thinking about a 543 why not go all out and build a 572!?? Just saying money wise not a lot of difference! I'm currently working on putting a 572 together using a 73' block working on the bottom end now still trying to decide what I'm gonna do on the top end kinda like the new trick flow heads!!:headbang:

- - - Updated - - -

IQ52 is the guy I would listen to if I were you. Yes there are many on here that are also great resources and I'm not discounting them at all. IQ52 however has built that 440 and has the dyno sessions to let u see what it can do with a budget in mind. As I get further along with MY 1974 440 engine I will be asking all of these guys for help and using IQ52's thread about his 440 as a guide for sure. JMHFO.

Sad thing is you probably had almost as much money in yours as the Chevy guy did ! Sucks we have to bend over and take it to build a BB Mopar and Chevy guys can build one out of the junk yard but it is what it is I never wanted to be one of the masses so I'll spend more to have something you don't see everyday !:headbang:

 

[IQ52]

Here is the "tale of the tape" on the 500" engine. Not terribly expensive.

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,81562.0.html

The Chevy was an exotic piece in my eyes and was in this Rambler. I over stated his horsepower, it was only 1724 RWHP.

https://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;_ylt=AwrTcXzYT6VUYuUAh.SJzbkF;_ylu=X3oDMTIybmN2NzFiBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDaW1nBG9pZANjODI5NTkyNTc3NjdkNTVkZGMzMzY1MTZiYjdkNmE3NgRncG9zAzcEaXQDYmluZw--?.origin=&back=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fyhs%2Fsearch%3Fp%3Dbrian%2Banderson%2Brambler%26fr2%3Dpiv-web%26hsimp%3Dyhs-001%26hspart%3Dmozilla%26tab%3Dorganic%26ri%3D7&w=640&h=480&imgurl=image.hotrod.com%2Ff%2F10117480%2Bcr1%2Fhrdp_0709_01_z%252b1964_amc_rambler_classic%252brear_view.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hotrod.com%2Fcars%2Ffeatured%2Fhrdp-0709-1964-amc-rambler-classic%2F&size=93.7KB&name=View+Full+Image&p=brian+anderson+rambler&oid=c82959257767d55ddc336516bb7d6a76&fr2=piv-web&fr=&tt=View+Full+Image&b=0&ni=21&no=7&ts=&tab=organic&sigr=127s7e9d6&sigb=13tmsvlgg&sigi=12pov5n65&sigt=10fte29cj&sign=10fte29cj&.crumb=TVYKYBMDEDQ&fr2=piv-web&hsimp=yhs-001&hspart=mozilla

 

[dvw]

Turbo small block will get you there easy. 360, forged pistons, E-85 blow through, reground factory cam, truck manifolds. At 3700+lbs with a 2.76 gear at 12psi 10.70@130 easy on 255/60 radial. Or you can hop it up and go way faster.
Doug

 

[383man]

I dont know if I missed it but did you say if you plan to race the car this will go in and if so how fast you want to go ? And what car and how much it weighs ? Just curious if you do have a performance goal and if you plan to race it at the track ? Ron