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What makes a 440 a magnum?

Dave6T4 said:
The R/T never came with 440 signs because the 440 engine was standard equipment. Chrysler had a general policy of putting engine call outs only on optional engines. Thus, R/T's and GTX's got 426 HEMI signs when this optional motor was specified. The 440 Magnum engine was optional on 1967 Charger's only, so had the engine call out. 440 Magnum was standard engine on 1968 Charger R/T, so no engine sign. It has always struck me as strange that Dodge did not market the R/T package on the 1967 Charger whenever the 440 Magnum was ordered. The 440 was not factory available in 1966 Charger or any other 1966 B-body.
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I thought the 440 was available in the '66 Charger. The only B body that got one. My memory may be failing me though.
 
70/71 440 Magnum AND Six Pack both had 908 rods
(although Pistons were different) = I have owned
them myself when they were near new or new. 70/71 six packs had
different piston with different deck and 4 valve notches.
But all other years 440 and Magnum and 69 piston had same piston
and deck height ONLY IF they were the same model year. I am elderly -
but my memory I believe is correct as I raced several in the 1960s and 1970s.
I owned a 70 Challenger RT 440 Magnum (It had hood emblems) Plus my
brother and father had 70 440 Six Barrel Cudas and i sold the Challenger
and bought a 70 Hemi Cuda (All of them Red)
 
Last edited:
66Satellite47 said:
I thought the 440 was available in the '66 Charger. The only B body that got one. My memory may be failing me though.
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I believe 67 was the first year of 440 charger.
I believe 66 was 383 or Hemi for the HP options
My English teacher(Mr. Cole) in HS had a 426 Hemi Red 66 Charger
AND before that a 63 Max Wedge 426 High Compression.
If it was not for his influence = I would be racing Fords today!!
RIP
 
Dave6T4 said:
The R/T never came with 440 signs because the 440 engine was standard equipment. Chrysler had a general policy of putting engine call outs only on optional engines. Thus, R/T's and GTX's got 426 HEMI signs when this optional motor was specified. The 440 Magnum engine was optional on 1967 Charger's only, so had the engine call out. 440 Magnum was standard engine on 1968 Charger R/T, so no engine sign. It has always struck me as strange that Dodge did not market the R/T package on the 1967 Charger whenever the 440 Magnum was ordered. The 440 was not factory available in 1966 Charger or any other 1966 B-body.
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My Dodge Coronet 70 RT with the Ramcharger Hood had 440 Emblems on the side of the scoops =
I believe they were factory installed.
 
Geez ask what may seem a simple question and the brain trust here can quickly go into high gear. I’m with the guy that said if you like the look of the emblems you purchased put ‘‘em on and move on. When that day comes that you meet St Peter I believe you will be forgiven any in-congruencies with the emblems.
 
Joseph Giamanco said:
This is a dumb question but what makes an engine a Magnum. I have a 66 Charger with a 440 engine. I wanted to change out the decals from 383 to 440 but the only ones I found say 440 Magnum. Are all 440 Magnums? If not how do I know if mine is?

View attachment 1238101
Click to expand...
", centerline
the camshaft (valve lift & duration & compression ( most of the late mo-*/ -dels r low compression smog motors change the heas or put in dome pistions & then the mp 268-284-46* lift 450/458" centerline 115 * u can find cheaper cams but then r the right & do they run right . i allways used the mp cams & used stock timming specs & i NEVER had a issue
 
Beekeeper said:
The HP engines in the dodge were Magnum and Plymouth was Commando
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That's good to know. My 67 RT came with a commando tin plate on the air cleaner . Must of come off another car (Plymouth
rt3.JPG


rt1.JPG
, maybe GTX).
 
GetX'd said:
Geez ask what may seem a simple question and the brain trust here can quickly go into high gear. I’m with the guy that said if you like the look of the emblems you purchased put ‘‘em on and move on. When that day comes that you meet St Peter I believe you will be forgiven any in-congruencies with the emblems.
Click to expand...
St Peter will have plenty of others things to point out in my life, the wrong badge will be way down on the list! Thankfully I can say, “but Jesus” after all of them!
 
Dodge didnt start using Magnum nomenclature until later in the 60s.
The 426W had already been discontinued.
 
Beekeeper said:
The HP engines in the dodge were Magnum and Plymouth was Commando
Click to expand...
I have a similar question. I'm the original owner of a '69 Charger with 383 HP engine. The air cleaner has never had a decal that says "MAGNUM". From what I've been able to find out, the High Performance version of the 383 has 335 hp and is called the Magnum. Does Chrysler owe me a decal, or what? The engine code on the broadcast sheet and the fender tag is E63, which is a 383 cid, 4-bbl V8, 335 horsepower.

383 HP.jpg
 
The “HP” stamped on the block seems kinda funny to me in 2022. The machine shop I used back in the mid 80’s got in a ‘71 ‘Cuda 440 Six Pack matching number engine for a rebuild. The guy said it had been previously rebuilt. He was having it done again because the best his car was running at the track was high 14’s. Upon disassembly of the engine, the entire rotating assembly, crank, rods, pistons were out of a later 70’s 8.5-1 440. It hadn’t even been over bored, and had the heavy rod damper on it. I’m not sure why that “HP” stamp has become so magical. :D
 
From my understanding, the 383 Magnum (or Commando) engines were only supposed to show up in SuperBees and RoadRunners in 1969, without A/C. A friend of mine has a factory A/C '69 'Bee and it has the turquoise 330 h.p. motor. I believe the E63 code covered both these engines. Does your engine have a Holley carb, or a Carter AVS? The 330 h.p. motor came with a Holley, while the Magnum had the AVS. With you being the original owner, knowing the history of your car from Day 1, if the engine has always been orange, I would say that it is a 335 h.p. piece.
I bought a new 1969 SuperBee with the 335 h.p. orange motor and AVS carb. My car had the RamAir hood, so did not have the small round air cleaner with a pie pan. At the same time, an acquaintance had a new 1969 Coronet 500. It had the turquoise 330 h.p. engine with a Holley. At the time, I felt like I got cheated, because all the hot rod magazines made out that a Holley was the ultimate carb. I remember that my Super Bee sounded a lot more " rumpety " than the other guy's 500, so definitely a different cam. A while ago, I discovered a 1969 Coronet 500 convertible in a local junkyard up here. It had the remains of an orange 383 in it with a stick shift bellhousing ( the 4-speed was missing ). I harvested the the HP exhaust manifolds off it for my project. I have learned to never say " Never " with Mopars. Although printed literature says the orange 335/383 was a special motor available only in SB and RR, there must have been a way to order it in other B-bodies as well. Does anyone know of Belvederes or Satellites with factory installed orange 383 with AVS?
 
Dave6T4 said:
From my understanding, the 383 Magnum (or Commando) engines were only supposed to show up in SuperBees and RoadRunners in 1969, without A/C. A friend of mine has a factory A/C '69 'Bee and it has the turquoise 330 h.p. motor. I believe the E63 code covered both these engines. Does your engine have a Holley carb, or a Carter AVS? The 330 h.p. motor came with a Holley, while the Magnum had the AVS. With you being the original owner, knowing the history of your car from Day 1, if the engine has always been orange, I would say that it is a 335 h.p. piece.
I bought a new 1969 SuperBee with the 335 h.p. orange motor and AVS carb. My car had the RamAir hood, so did not have the small round air cleaner with a pie pan. At the same time, an acquaintance had a new 1969 Coronet 500. It had the turquoise 330 h.p. engine with a Holley. At the time, I felt like I got cheated, because all the hot rod magazines made out that a Holley was the ultimate carb. I remember that my Super Bee sounded a lot more " rumpety " than the other guy's 500, so definitely a different cam. A while ago, I discovered a 1969 Coronet 500 convertible in a local junkyard up here. It had the remains of an orange 383 in it with a stick shift bellhousing ( the 4-speed was missing ). I harvested the the HP exhaust manifolds off it for my project. I have learned to never say " Never " with Mopars. Although printed literature says the orange 335/383 was a special motor available only in SB and RR, there must have been a way to order it in other B-bodies as well. Does anyone know of Belvederes or Satellites with factory installed orange 383 with AVS?
Click to expand...
I ordered the car with the 383 engine, 4-speed, and without A/C (installed later). I don't remember if I specified the high-performance version. The dealer order form just says "383 4 bbl". I have the Carter AVS carb, and the engine was always orange.
 
440 PHIXX said:
The “HP” stamped on the block seems kinda funny to me in 2022. The machine shop I used back in the mid 80’s got in a ‘71 ‘Cuda 440 Six Pack matching number engine for a rebuild. The guy said it had been previously rebuilt. He was having it done again because the best his car was running at the track was high 14’s. Upon disassembly of the engine, the entire rotating assembly, crank, rods, pistons were out of a later 70’s 8.5-1 440. It hadn’t even been over bored, and had the heavy rod damper on it. I’m not sure why that “HP” stamp has become so magical. :D
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440 PHIXX: Why do you think the HP is "funny"? I wouldn't say the HP is "magical", but it's stamped on my engine, which has not yet been rebuilt (it's in for rebuild now, after 178,283 miles). Actually, I never knew the stamping was there until I began disassembly to pull the engine out for the rebuild. I highlighted the stamping on the pad with chalk for a better photo.
 
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