Turbo 440

[Christian-440]

Thinking of how I want to build my 440. I kind of want to do a single turbo and blow thru carb. Wanting some advice from people who know more than I do about that sort of setup.. how much power can the stock cast bottom end take with a max rpm around 5k? Just curious because I don't think I'm gonna get the bottom end done until later, I just want to get it running for now. When I do finish the build, bottom end, aluminum heads, stud girdle, all that, how much power can the stock 1978 440 block take?

Thanks for any input, hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

 

[MiradaMegaCab]

I believe the 440 block is the limiting factor as the main webbing is prone to cracking under pressure. Pun intended

Using aluminum main caps might actually be better than running a girdle.

 

[1 Wild R/T]

@feets

 

[Don selleck]

 

[furious70]

I've run 12 psi on a cast piston steel head gaskets 383 and it was fine. Efi and water injection with a safe tune

 

[dvw]

We built and still run a blow thru 360 on E85. Don't even think about building a motor without good forged boost ready pistons. E85 is much more forgiving than gasoline. Especially without an intercooler. Small cam stock heads and rods will live at 12psi. When we first built the 360 it had a stock block, factory cast crank, stock rods, forgrd non boost ready pistons (yes they sunk in the center) .500" lift reground hydraulic roller, 323 gear, 75mm turbo. In street trim with the proper converter, trans brake, and good shocks it dipped in to the high 9" in a 62 full weight Plymouth. At it's peak it had a .550" hyd roller, ported Eddy heads, 3.54 Dana, billet wheel in the turbo. Ran a best of 9.55@142@3775lbs on same tires we drove on the street with full exhaust. Currently detuned to 14psi in a Duster. Eats Hellcats for lunch on the street. Over the years we sacrificed a few pistons getting the tune right. But it's been street driven for over 10 years with no other engine failures. Same crank and block we started with.
Doug

 

[Christian-440]

I believe the 440 block is the limiting factor as the main webbing is prone to cracking under pressure. Pun intended

Using aluminum main caps might actually be better than running a girdle.

I'll keep that in mind, haven't heard that before. Thank you!

 

[Christian-440]

We built and still run a blow thru 360 on E85. Don't even think about building a motor without good forged boost ready pistons. E85 is much more forgiving than gasoline. Especially without an intercooler. Small cam stock heads and rods will live at 12psi. When we first built the 360 it had a stock block, factory cast crank, stock rods, forgrd non boost ready pistons (yes they sunk in the center) .500" lift reground hydraulic roller, 323 gear, 75mm turbo. In street trim with the proper converter, trans brake, and good shocks it dipped in to the high 9" in a 62 full weight Plymouth. At it's peak it had a .550" hyd roller, ported Eddy heads, 3.54 Dana, billet wheel in the turbo. Ran a best of 9.55@142@3775lbs on same tires we drove on the street with full exhaust. Currently detuned to 14psi in a Duster. Eats Hellcats for lunch on the street. Over the years we sacrificed a few pistons getting the tune right. But it's been street driven for over 10 years with no other engine failures. Same crank and block we started with.
Doug

Thank you for the advice, I appreciate it very much!