How do I know a 440 when I see one?

[Anonymous]

Had a phone conversation last night with a chap I know who has "a big Chrysler motor" for sale. "its a 7 litre". So that sounds like its a 440 to me. probably.

I do know that what it says on the V5 is not always whats in the engine bay though. My Buick they converted the torque figure off the air filter thinking it was the cubic inches...

The motor is currently in "a day van or camper thing", I know some of the bigger campers used a low compression 440. My chum also reckons its got a Dana 60 rear end in it (he's buying the whole van for the rear end!)

This spec sounds odd to me. 440 & Dana in a day van? OK It may be retrofit, but did they do dayvans with 440s?

Next up, so I'm looking at this oily lump on his workshop floor wondering whether to give him the cash for it, how can I tell if its a 383, 400, 413, 440...

Is there anything else it can be?

I know technically the only 7 litre motor Chrysler did was the 426 but I don't have that kind of luck.

I'm also told "a day van would have an RV cam in it, ideal extra torque for your big ol Fury" which I dunno if thats true either. I thought campers etc would just get a smogger style cam that goes flat after like 3500 rpm.

Its cheap enough for a rebuild anyway.

Cheers guys.

[Anonymous]

on the side of the block, starter side i think, is a big cast number, it will end something likie.... -383-8 -440-8 etc,, the last four numbrs are the engin size with 8 being 8 cyl.

there is a stamped engine No on the block infront of the heads, but i think i'm yet to own a motor that is stamped !!

[Dave-R]

This is all you need.

http://www.yearone.com/updatedsinglepag ... einfo1.asp

[Dave-R]

When you know what year the block is I will post the NHRA tech sheet for that year for you. That will give you a ballpark idea of compression etc.

[Anonymous]

thanks guys, you don't think its fishy to have a 440 in a dayvan?

I'll find out the casting numbers and get back to you.

I'm thinking pretty much any big block is going to be worth the ?400 asking price complete and running, with trans.

I think that T727A has a different output to the B/RB version so I'll need to modify the prop?

[Dave-R]

See what you have got first and measure the tailshaft on the trans because there were different lengths.

Not being the Day Van type I have no idea what would be fitted as standard but I doubt it was a 440.

[Dave-R]

The motor is currently in "a day van or camper thing"

I just re-read and spotted the camper remark. Yes the BIG campers had a 440. Up to about 1978. I don't think the smaller ones and Day Vans would have one though. Usually 318s and if it was big enough a 360 or a 400 (up to '78 again).

[Alex]

Hugh, the end of the number i.e. 440-8, the 8 does not mean V8, the last digit tells you how many cores were used, the lower the number the better the block from a racing point of view as there is lees chance of core shift, 440+6 and hemi had selected blocks and used end numbers of 4 or lower, I have seen a Hemi with a 1 meaning fresh core, the ultimate block! I have also seen smogger motors with 9, yuk !

Easy way to tell a 440 from the rest, the pad for the numbers is between the dizzy and number 1 cylinder, on the B blocks it is under the dizzy near No2 cylinder!

[Kev]

Some camper 'boxes are fitted with a trans brake. It's part of a different tailshaft. Looks like a small drum brake on the end. (Saw one at Blue's workshop today )

[Anonymous]

alex, i cant say i've ever seen an engine with anything other than an 8 behind it, even n my HP blocks i've had, hmmmm.


re dana, vans and trucks did use dana's, but they'll be real wide, most often did not have a suregrip, and will cost ya loads to narrow and fit with the good bits !

[TrevD]

some day vans used 400ci motors , i know of one with a 400 and a dana on the rear .

[Anonymous]

Still not seen the motor but the balance of probablilities suggests its a 400 then, unless someone fitted a different motor.

[Anonymous]

Oh, and the guy's not worried about narrowing, he has a machine shop. He'll need to narrow what ever axle he gets to put 18x15 Convo Pros under the back of a PT Cruiser....