• When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

440 rv motor in a 66coronet

hemi66coronet

Member
Local time
5:57 PM
Joined
Sep 17, 2014
Messages
11
Reaction score
0
Location
new york
I found an rv 440 motor and transmission for sale and wondering what it's going to take to install it in my 66 coronet? I know that a different drive shaft, exhaust will be needed. Should I grab the motor mounts that came with the motor.What else is needed to get this done?
 
Last edited:
It should go right in, however, the YEAR of the Motor Home determines if the Motor Mounts will work.
Exhaust manifolds should be the same.

By the way, welcome aboard and thanks for joing the forum.
 
A good possibility you'll need a car pan and dip stick with tube! Also what heads and water pump setup does it have? Some had an industrial setup, water went into the front of the head and the manifolds are square flanged! The motor mount brackets maybe different! Just letting you know! The block is the same so if you can I'd change the top of the engine to car style heads and exhaust, and water pump housing.
 
An RV engine can be a bargain, or a money pit. As mentioned, many RVs have the Industrial 361 or the 413, both of which are pretty useless in a swap to a car or a pickup for many reasons. MUCH different heads, water pump housing and brackets, mounts, exhaust manifolds, eight-bolt crank with a different flange, oil pan & pickup, dipstick and tube...and much more. Some 440s are similarly configured, but the Industrial 413 or 361 are definitely NOT a player for a swap.

The RV exhaust manifolds on an RV are not the same as what would be on a '66 or '67 B-body car. You are going to want car manifolds, or perhaps headers, if that is what you want.

If you absolutely must have this engine, you must verify that it is not an industrial 361 or 413...they ARE different that the car 413 and 361. If it's a 440 for certain, you are probably in good shape.
 
You need a different transmission or you need a passenger car tailshaft. Motorhome 727s usually have HD internals though.
 
And you are getting an auto with it and it is from the 70s?
It probably be a cast crank and won't work too well for a four speed.
The dampener on the front is the way to tell.
Fat one for a cast crank.
 
Thanks to all that replied. I have not seen the motor and trans yet due to it being an hour away. I'll let everyone know how it works out. Will also try and get some pic's Thanks again. p/s it is an automatic,year 1977
 
I have rebuilt many mid-late 70's motor home 440s that came equipped with a steel crank and the HP/six pack rods. This could end up being a really good engine for your swap, definitely worth checking out. As a side note, a lot of the rv engines are fairly low mileage as well.
 
You will probably also need a new set of valve covers. The motorhome/van covers had a large grommet on the drivers side for the oil fill instead of having a cap like a car. They are also a little different design due to clearance issues with the van type mount. My RR has a '77 440 van engine with a four speed overdrive 833. I really is very strong and after I made the changes, looks pretty much like it should.
 

Attachments

  • $(KGrHqRHJBYE9BSM9N,GBPQ)Ud5uEw~~60_3.jpg
    $(KGrHqRHJBYE9BSM9N,GBPQ)Ud5uEw~~60_3.jpg
    108.6 KB · Views: 605
Last edited:
Also, be sure it really is an RV motor and not a marine motor. A guy on here picked up what (if I recall) he thought was an industrial 413. Turned out it was a marine motor with a reverse rotation crank.
 
Just a warning motor homes are titled by year of RV body manufacture not vehicle body. So you could have a 1977 RV with a 1976 or any other year engine that was laying around. Just make sure you check casting dates for verification. 440's in 1976 and older were normally truck engines while 1977 and newer low compression general productions.
 
Just a warning motor homes are titled by year of RV body manufacture not vehicle body. So you could have a 1977 RV with a 1976 or any other year engine that was laying around. Just make sure you check casting dates for verification. 440's in 1976 and older were normally truck engines while 1977 and newer low compression general productions.
Hoping I can wake this thread up again. I am also going to pick-up a 1976 engine and transmission that just came out of a Winnebago. 46,000 miles and complete with maintenance records. Should be a good starting point. I eventually would like to sink it into an B-body also. I have read that a main shaft change is required in additional to the car tail shaft and housing. Can anyone provide some specifics on this topic? Thanks!
 
Also, be sure it really is an RV motor and not a marine motor. A guy on here picked up what (if I recall) he thought was an industrial 413. Turned out it was a marine motor with a reverse rotation crank.

HT413
I remember that!
 
Hoping I can wake this thread up again. I am also going to pick-up a 1976 engine and transmission that just came out of a Winnebago. 46,000 miles and complete with maintenance records. Should be a good starting point. I eventually would like to sink it into an B-body also. I have read that a main shaft change is required in additional to the car tail shaft and housing. Can anyone provide some specifics on this topic? Thanks!

I can't comment on the tranny, but I CAN comment on having a low compression rb motor in a b body (mine being a 413 with 7 POINT 0 compression lol). Toss it in there, with the right combo it'll go.
 
I can't comment on the tranny, but I CAN comment on having a low compression rb motor in a b body (mine being a 413 with 7 POINT 0 compression lol). Toss it in there, with the right combo it'll go.
Thanks for the info. What do you have for a cam and intake / carb?
 
An RV engine can be a bargain, or a money pit. As mentioned, many RVs have the Industrial 361 or the 413, both of which are pretty useless in a swap to a car or a pickup for many reasons. MUCH different heads, water pump housing and brackets, mounts, exhaust manifolds, eight-bolt crank with a different flange, oil pan & pickup, dipstick and tube...and much more. Some 440s are similarly configured, but the Industrial 413 or 361 are definitely NOT a player for a swap.

The RV exhaust manifolds on an RV are not the same as what would be on a '66 or '67 B-body car. You are going to want car manifolds, or perhaps headers, if that is what you want.

If you absolutely must have this engine, you must verify that it is not an industrial 361 or 413...they ARE different that the car 413 and 361. If it's a 440 for certain, you are probably in good shape.

Beg to differ with you a little bit, but the 413 Motor home engine I am using has the same forged crank as a 440 car engine The industrial engine may well have a different crank......................................MO
 
Thanks for the info. What do you have for a cam and intake / carb?

My combo was way out of wack when I bought it and as a result it was a dog below 4000 rpm and ran out of breath at 5000 lol. Now I'm running a 750 Holley vac secondary, RPM manifold, relatively stock stall B&M converter, MSD 6AL (more for my 451 that I'm building than for the 413), headers and what I "think" is a comp 268H cam. Honestly, it really goes. Fun to drive, loud and torquey.

Of course, I'm building a 451 to replace it, but for me the hobby is about wrenching on a DRIVER so of you can get an RV motor for cheap, drop it in and drive it, then he'll, that's just what I'd do. Then save your pennies and buy some bolt ons that can work well with your next motor.
 
I have rebuilt many mid-late 70's motor home 440s that came equipped with a steel crank and the HP/six pack rods. This could end up being a really good engine for your swap, definitely worth checking out. As a side note, a lot of the rv engines are fairly low mileage as well.
 
Auto Transport Service
Back
Top