440 motors

[74challenger03]

hey guys, im hoping to buy a 440 within a year.should i avoid the 440s in the motorhomes?found one in a 70s diplamate motorhome.always hearing wrong waterpump no biggie there then water jackets in intake.can i just change the intake?finally the compresion,look its all about the torque right?im not looking to go 180mph i want to eat up the cars off the line.so is the motorhome engine junk? thanks  dave

[Super Blue 72]

Depending on the year, they may be low compression engines=not much HP.  If you have the engine out, might as well bump up the compression and throw in a nice cam/intake. 

[high perf mopar]

my 440 came out of a motorhome,,block is stamped coded j  1975 code.if i remember correctly..it had a dual snorkel air cleaner..i told the wrecker its no deal if he breaks it down for me,,after i got it home the block casting was early 73..when the pan came off it had a windage tray.steel crank,which i knew that when i bought it because of the dampner, .and 440 six pack rods with a double roller timing chain.with 4 barrel carb and intake.stock bore and std,std crank.at the end of the muscle car period chrysler was dumping all the old high performance parts into trucks and motorhomes to use up existing inventorys,,u never know,, 400.00

[74challenger03]

so what would be a bad year?if i cant see the letter stamped how do i figure the year?was told sometimes the motorhomes had a 400 not 440.is this true?

[Matt70]

A lot of really good info here   http://www.440source.com/blockinfo.htm

[Cooter]

so what would be a bad year?if i cant see the letter stamped how do i figure the year?was told sometimes the motorhomes had a 400 not 440.is this true?

Best thing I can tell you is post pics of the engine BEFORE YOU BUY IT so we can tell you yay or Nay.

[Super Blue 72]

so what would be a bad year?if i cant see the letter stamped how do i figure the year?was told sometimes the motorhomes had a 400 not 440.is this true?

I don't know if this applies to many motorhomes but I remember seeing an ad on craigslist for a 413 from a motorhome...not usre if it's stock or what... 

Here it is:

http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/pts/2778945922.html

"auto tranny from 1972 dodge motorhome with 413 engine low miles works good but i can rebuild if wanted saving motor for my gtx"

[Cooter]

413= Jap the steel crank (If so equipped), and scrap the rest. MAYBE the heads if they are closed chamber (Car only). Costs too damn much for pistons and weighs as much as the 440. Sad, as it could be a real screamer, but with the 440 out there, the 413 and 426 Wedges just don't have the following.

[Chryco Psycho]

2 types of motorhome engines some have the rasied water pump that feeds into the heads , only the short block is usful on these , the normal motorhome engines are workable

[brads70]

My 440 I'm told was from a motorhome. It runs fine just not enough power for me ( then again they never are huh?  ) I swapped out the intake and have an 850 Demon on it ,now I'm building a 451". Just depends on your budget.