Locked up 440

[Donny]

Don't seem to have good luck in acquiring engines that are NOT locked up. Remember that Mustang engine? This 440 came in as a trade for services, the guy told me it was good, no reason to not believe him as he's a friend. It looked like the tarp covering it was under a leaky roof, and water found it's way into 1 cylinder -- which still is locked up. I was able to get the entire thing pulled apart last night (those pics later today) and this was a definite low-mileage motor, cross hair honing marks still visible in the bores!

 

[kowalski]

AWW Man! SOB! Feel Lucky though! In my area I'm lucky to find a 383 that's not locked
up totally...440's are Hoarded with a Capitol H

 

[Seventy]

At least its just one hole, had a big block the same way, just one cylinder the mice made a home in. the motor was brand NEW, never ran, sat for about 7 years in a shed though, all covered up tight, but on exhaust port wasnt covered completely because the chain they lifted it in was in the way, them lil bastids go in there and made a home...

I popped the head and pan off, got that piston out, bought a new piston, and rings, sleeved that cylinder, had that heads valves redone, and saved the motor, and a lot of machine work... The complete repair was around $500..

good luck, but it could always be worse..

 

[super-bee_ski]

Not bad at all Donny!
Cool, a vintage and complete 440
Is it a 1970?

Yup, figures, the water did find it's way in!

 

[moparnation74]

If that is the only problem with the block, that is not bad at all.

 

[Donny]

It's a 1976 motor, was told it came out of a New Yorker. Water got into two jugs, but only one piston won't let go. Was able to get the Crank out, not easy, had to move a few tight pistons with a BFH and long brass drift from the bottomside about 1/4 inch to free up Rod bolts. The Rod bolts that I couldn't pop out with a rubber mallet I had to BFH and Brass drift 'em out! Still got one Piston stuck tho. Here's pics.

 

[Donny]

Got the last seized up Piston out. Had to drill three holes in Piston, seemed to have done it! All the rusty scale stuff dissolved in the Acetone/ATF mix.

 

[Seventy]

I have had some pretty stubborn pistons, glad to see you got them out, I just us the bigger hammer method, its where having a really good engine stand pays off, lol...

what are the plans for the engine, obviously clean, mag, and bore, what else? will that clean up at 30?

 

[Donny]

what are the plans for the engine, obviously clean, mag, and bore, what else? will that clean up at 30?

Build it! Going to put an aggressive Cam in it, all of course assuming the block is good which I think it is, I think 30 will clean it up for sure. This will be the engine that goes in my GTX. It will be the wrong year engine (of course) but, it'll be a 440, built up!

 

[Coyoteduster]

what are the plans for the engine, obviously clean, mag, and bore, what else? will that clean up at 30?

Build it! Going to put an aggressive Cam in it, all of course assuming the block is good which I think it is, I think 30 will clean it up for sure. This will be the engine that goes in my GTX. It will be the wrong year engine (of course) but, it'll be a 440, built up!

Nice ... :headbang:

 

[Seventy]

what are the plans for the engine, obviously clean, mag, and bore, what else? will that clean up at 30?

Build it! Going to put an aggressive Cam in it, all of course assuming the block is good which I think it is, I think 30 will clean it up for sure. This will be the engine that goes in my GTX. It will be the wrong year engine (of course) but, it'll be a 440, built up!

Sounds like a good plan,, I am sure the block will mag good, I have done many big chryslers and cracked ones are rare, I have seen some with rear cylinders too far gone (not sure why just the rears on the 4bbl cars are trashed in some motors), but thats why they make sleeves... Good luck with the build, as far as it not being date correct, just put so much paint on it you cant read the numbers, lol...

 

[Donny]

Look at how big the 440 pistons are compared to the GM 6.0LS!