Found a 440

[msbaugh]

Advice please!i found a 440 that was set up on propane and used as a back up generator at a hospital. The guy took the injection stuff off and put a 2 bbl on it. What should I look out for on this thing since it was used this way? He's asking 400 for it. Steel crank on it and it runs how he has it

[brads70]

I bet it's as clean as a whistle inside but I'd bet the valve seats will need work? I wonder if the crank flange would be different automotive vs industrial applications?

[HP_Cuda]

Take a pic of the engine raised deck area with the stampings and post it here!

[msbaugh]

The guys an hour from me so I'm trying to get pictures of the numbers before I make the drive and take a look. You're talking about the front numbers by the distributor right?

[HP_Cuda]

 

I guess you have to find out how many rebuilds are on this baby cause if it's already at 60 over then it's at the end of it's road.

Yes I know you can sleeve it but that is not something I subscribe to...

[Moparal]

I have never seen a 440 2 bbl intake. Does it have an adaptor or something?  Sure its not a 400?

[msbaugh]

Yeah I'd have to pull the head off and measure though to know for sure. He claims the hospital got rid of it 7 years ago and it's been in his barn ever since but still runs. It's a xxx6630-440-1 casting number so it's a later model I believe. I can't imagine it would be 60 over if it was in a hospital for that long, why would a hospital have a 60 over generator? A back up generator doesn't get run much I know, but it was there a long time. It's got me very interested at least

[msbaugh]

And yes it's definitely a 440. And it has a 2 bbl. idk odd I guess? I'll have to just take the risk and make the drive to judge it in person

[Chryco Psycho]

The heads are usually damaged , but stealths are an easy replacement

[CudamanTom]

And yes it's definitely a 440. And it has a 2 bbl. idk odd I guess? I'll have to just take the risk and make the drive to judge it in person

I would like to see a pic of a 440 2bbl set up myself.
Hospitals, like military run there generators one a month as a routine test (or at least should) so the hours may not be that much on it.
But asking why a hospital would have a 60 over engine? They don't know to ask these things. As long as it runs, that's all they care about.
Chances are, it's in good shape with low running time IMHO.

[BIGSHCLUNK]

I've seen generator 440's set up with 1bbl... low hours too! http://www.flickr.com/photos/99649212@N06/sets/72157637093712076/

[hemiken]

I have seen a 2 barrel 440 intake on a motorhome engine before. Maybe it is an intake off of a 413 too Alan They will bolt straight on to a 440.

[dutch]

Valve seats could be a problem, but I doubt they are.  Back up generators usually dont run a bunch of hrs. Things do go downhill fast when they run it lean on propane. I drove a stock 1978 318 pretty hard on propane for about 20K mls before the valves went in too deep.
can`t go wrong with a 440 for $400 imo

[msbaugh]

The real questions I have hopefully can be answered before i take a look at it in person. Like mentioned above does the crank have a normal flange and bolt pattern? Do these even have ears for motor mounts?! I have no idea what the difference in an industrial 440 is. By now I'm thinking that it was just pulled out of a car and made to work somewhere down the line

[brads70]

By now I'm thinking that it was just pulled out of a car and made to work somewhere down the line

I'm not certain but I don't think so . Back then Chrysler was diversified , build boats, heating and A/C , various industrial applications. I'd bet that engine was always in that genereator.
http://www.allpar.com/corporate/airtemp.php

I have a buddy that rebuilds engines mostly racing /street but he has a steady customer that runs an airport limo company that uses propane powered vans. They are always clean inside but the valve seats are always sunk into the heads, sometimes cracked.  My guess is you might have found a good short block candidate . Plan on buying a different pair of heads though?