438 vs 440??

[GreenFish]

I am considering a new motor for the Cuda and would like to go a little different than the norm. The engine that is in it is a 440 which was in it when I bought the car.  I have eddy heads and the motor is pretty decent but its been almost 10 years now since the build was done.  My cuda is an original BS23N car so a 383 block would be "more correct" if I care, and I'm not 100% sure I do. But it would be be nice to be as close as possible.   That being said I can easily stroke the 383 block to 2 CI of what I have now. So why not? right...? 

What differences would I see in the character of the engine.  I would also consider a roller cam, and would probably keep the eddy heads.

The car is getting a make over this winter either way, I am getting rid of the AAR paint scheme that was on it when i bought the car and just going with the rally hood and hockey sticks it should have came with. The 383 block would also help with hood clearance issues.

So as you can tell, i just about made up my mind already so I suppose I am just running it past you guys to see if I'm totally nuts for swapping engines "just because"

[Moparal]

If I was going to use a B engine platform, I would use the 400 block. Same size as the 383 and you can fit a bigger piston in it for more power.  A 451 build using a 400 block is a stout little combo..  500 hp with your eddy heads is really simple in that build, and reliable

[GreenFish]

If I was going to use a B engine platform, I would use the 400 block. Same size as the 383 and you can fit a bigger piston in it for more power.  A 451 build using a 400 block is a stout little combo..  500 hp with your eddy heads is really simple in that build, and reliable

I had considered a 400 block. I am not 100% opposed to it, but I would prefer the 383.  I don't intend to make over 500-550hp, so the 383 should be fine, especially once stroked to 438.

The other reason is I have a 383 block already.

[Moparal]

I was considering the smaller cylinder bore and notching them to unshroud the valves some.  Longer strokes dont per say make the HP as much as the head flow and piston bore. It is just easier to achieve your goal. It sounds like you have a plan already. Stick to your plan once you dedicate yourself and use quality grade parts for the build.

[Chryco Psycho]

Actually a 438 / 451 B engine is a better combo . You remove 7 lbs of rotating mass with a stronger block so it revs faster & has the ability to take more power output & as you said drops the intake down abotu 3/4 of an inch .

[GreenFish]

Actually a 438 / 451 B engine is a better combo . You remove 7 lbs of rotating mass with a stronger block so it revs faster & has the ability to take more power output & as you said drops the intake down abotu 3/4 of an inch .

I'm glad you said that. My plan to make decent power is to lighten the rotating assembly and valve train as opposed to bumping compression higher.  Light weight + roller cam + EFI should make for a nice powerful streetable engine that will last a long time.

[Chryco Psycho]

Makes sense to me 
 I was looking at doing the same thing , but I had a 440 block & a 512 stroker kit already purchased so I just did a 440+6 clone instead