RV 440 low budget

[sassygreen]

Like everyone, I want a 426 Hemi for my  Barracuda build, but $15,000 isn't in the budget right now. So I am going to settle for a 440 till I hit the lottery. This is a picture of my 440. I was told that the engine and the transmission came from an RV with 82,000 miles on it. I bought the package for 800.00. Maybe a good deal, maybe not, time will tell. I read on the 440 source site that a 440 block is a 440 block, doesn't matter if it is a 1969 Super Commando  or a lowly RV or truck block. They also said that some of the later blocks had thicker webbing between the mains and the cam bearings, thicker motor mounts.  With that information, I decided to go ahead and take a chance. 82,000 miles probably needs to be rebuilt anyway. Strip all the old junk down to the bare block and go from there. My budget for the build is going to be in the $2,000 area. 

[Topcat]

Here's a budget build 440 article.
I would get a Holley instead of the Demon.

http://www.moparmusclemagazine.com/techarticles/engine/mopp_0301_mopar_440_engine/viewall.html

[Chryco Psycho]

It will be tough to rebuild for 2 k , I would look at the 440 source 512 kit , it will cost about the same as rebuilding what you have  & I would look at a Proform over a Demon or Holley carb

[HP_Cuda]

2G's is gonna be really tight and you better know how to throw a motor together because just the machining aspect will cost you a pretty penny.

[sassygreen]

There are signs that this motor has been apart before. There are wax tags on the side of the block. Like the kind engine rebuild companies use to indicate weather the block has been overheated. They came off during the power washing that I gave it. Removed the oil pan and discovered silvolite pistons 1276. I believe these to be the 8.0 compression ratio pistons. I don't think this piston is stock. The crankshaft is stamped .010 r  .010 m. I can also see a nice cross hatch pattern on the cylinder walls from the from the rebuild. I removed the cylinder heads to find that the pistons are stamped.030. There isn't much of a piston ring ridge  at the top of the bore. Not enough to even catch on your finger nail. There is probably 60 % of the honing cross hatch left in the cylinders. I'll check out the crank and the rods later. So far so good.

[4 speed fish]

The 440 source stroker kit is  over 2k.Not counting new heads and machine work, cam, lifters carb, headers,good dist, manifold, good set of rockers, new bolts. gasket kit, and paying someone to put it all together.To do a stroker will cost 6 to 8k.

[downtime!]

I have a '78 RV 440 in my Scamp. The biggest issue with these is the ridiculously low compression. I did not raise the CR on mine, and with an old school MP .484 cam, reworked stock heads, Performer RPM intake and a 750 Demon carb, she runs out quite well. You'll get a lot more out of her if you bump the CR up a couple of points though. And unless you're going to be spinning her past 6500, everything on the bottom end will hold up just fine, just make sure you use good quality (ARP) fasteners everywhere.

[sassygreen]

That sounds like some great advice. Stroker kit is not in the budget but maybe some pistons and  aluminium  heads are. Maybe a cam and lifters too. You are making the most out of the 8 to one compression ratio.

[sassygreen]

My hopes are to have a potent street machine with a/c and decent vacuum for brakes, automatic transmission. Not looking for 10 second 1/4 mile or 572 stroker. Just a respectable street engine that will boil a set f70 14's. One that someone can drive without one foot on the gas and one on the brake to keep it from dying because it has no vacuum.

[downtime!]

I've been able to get mine up to around 15" vacuum, which for this car doesn't really matter since the brakes are non power. She idles nice and lopey, sounds good, and is easily daily driveable. The only real issues have been keeping her cool. No one ever intended for a 440 to live in that tiny engine bay. Good hood seals, proper timing and a nice 3 row aluminum radiator have gone a long way to being able to drive her in Texas heat.

[Topcat]

That sounds like some great advice. Stroker kit is not in the budget but maybe some pistons and  aluminium  heads are. Maybe a cam and lifters too. You are making the most out of the 8 to one compression ratio.

If you read the article I posted, they switched the heads and added 1.6 rockers and gained a noticable improvement.

[sassygreen]

Yes, topcat I read the  article. Thanks for the link. I read a lot of 440 builds but I missed that one. I plan on buying the 440 source heads, $1,200. new pistons around $400. Comp cam extreme energy and lifters. Mopar dual plane intake, 750 quik fuel technologies carb. All of this will be under a shaker hood and scoop. Do the 1.6 rockers used in that article require a lot of adjusting? A lot of the articles say people become tired of dealing with removing and reinstalling the shaker air cleaner.

[sassygreen]

I've been able to get mine up to around 15" vacuum, which for this car doesn't really matter since the brakes are non power. She idles nice and lopey, sounds good, and is easily daily driveable. The only real issues have been keeping her cool. No one ever intended for a 440 to live in that tiny engine bay. Good hood seals, proper timing and a nice 3 row aluminum radiator have gone a long way to being able to drive her in Texas heat.

        An aluminum radiator is already in the works. Thanks for the advice. I want to be able to drive the car winter and summer.

[Topcat]

Yes, topcat I read the  article. Thanks for the link.

Do the 1.6 rockers used in that article require a lot of adjusting?

one half turn past zero lash

[DocMel]

A basic and quality rebuild, which includes bore, hone, head job, master rebuild kit, new and mild cam, etc, done by a machine shop here will cost you right at 2K