Questions on a 73 440 Mopar rebuild:

jeep_406

It's been awhile since I posted on SMOKEmUP.com
Have a friend who wants to pick up some performance with his 67 Satellite. It's got a 73 440 in it. He runs a 727 automatic with a stock converter and a 3.23 rear end gear.
Probably will never be taken to the strip. Figure we're best to try and pump up as much torque as possible and still run pump gas. It has power brakes.
Haven't done any BB Mopar work in years. Any stock heads to stay away from. I think it has an Edelbrock Dual Plane manifold. 73's are listed as having 8.2 compression. Any cam suggestions? Figure on keeping the redline around 5K-5500 RPM. Driving

Big Dave · Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 10:00 am Post subject:

Consider the 440 to be an over sized small block Chevy. Anything you can do to improve a smog era SBC will work just as well on the 440 only you get better responses as the larger displacement and longer stroke magnifies the improvements. This implies higher compression pistons and new aftermarket heads.

Pistons cost about the same as you would find in any other big block as the same companies you would source for the SBC sell 440 pistons in all three materials found in street driven motors.

If a rebuild and the price of aluminum heads are prohibitive or you seek a higher level of power than a relatively stock normally aspirated motor will provide you can take advantage of the current motors low compression to turbo charge the stock motor.

Big Dave

jeep_406 · Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 11:15 am Post subject:

Thanks Big Dave,
Don't know just what the guy is looking for right now. I believe he thinks he's going to kiss hone the block, put in rings and bearings, change the cam & make 450 HP. The engine has about 90K on it, so I'd be surprised if the bore is good.
Jeep Driving

Isn't turbocharging a kick. My son has a T-Type 3.8 Buick that went 135.55 MPH at New England Dragway last year before it took out a head gasket.

af2 · Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 8:53 pm Post subject:

Gene I had 2 440's. The last one was a 69 rated at 375 hp that I ran in my flat bed delivery truck, People used to get pissed when they couldn't pass me going up the hill towards the shop.

The first thing I would do with that 73 is put a set of pre 70 heads on it. The difference is amazing. But premium fuel is needed.

jeep_406 · Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 9:45 pm Post subject:

Thanks Adam,
I think the owner may have access to some earlier heads. I'm pretty sure he doesn't have the money to update to a roller cam setup. If I get the job, I hope to start it in a few weeks. I'll keep you posted.
Gene

af2 · Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 10:35 pm Post subject:

Thinking again>>Another 440 with an Isky supercam was pretty impressive in the 80's. I think it was the 280...A friend ran in a boat/ car Fury. We used to call it a Furry LOL.

That was a 70 with the 10.5 compression.