78 Motorhome 440

[peterro]

Hey all, I picked up a good running 440 from a 78 motorhome. I'm not looking to do a full rebuild and I'm aware that it is a low compression engine. I'm just looking to wake it up a bit so it's respectable and sounds good. The Challenger has been off the road for too many years and most of my budget is for completing the car itself and not for a fire breathing heart.

This is what I was thinking. As long as the compression test checks out, I want to replace the timing chain, oil pump, water pump, intake/carb, headers, and a cam/lifter set but nothing too radical. Is this a reasonable scenario?

Thanks in advance

[Cooter]

1978 Cast crank 440. HP around 250 Net.  MIGHT be able to wake it up a LITTLE with the correct,carefully selected camshaft....Go too big and you'll be better off with a Slant 6....

I'd go with a set of Closed chamber heads if I were you to bump up that 7.5:1 compression.

[Chryco Psycho]

You really need to change the pistons & balance it to make any real power with it

[peterro]

Thanks. I think I'm coming to that conclusion.

[boxfox]

I've got a 77' 440 in my 72' Challenger, not sure what the 440 is from, maybe a truck, maybe a motorhome. I've got the Edlebrock RPM Performer intake, holley vacuum secondary 4 barrel 670 cfm and there is some aftermarket cam in, not sure what because the previous owner put it in there. But I'm under the assumption that its still giving me only around 250 horsepower. Gives me 9 MPG city though.
I'm really looking into the 440source stealth cylinder heads and some new pistons after getting a 3.55 diff, seems to be the best route to power.