Which 440 block for build?

[Bcamp69]

Long story short my 383 has a lot of crankshaft end play. It’s the original motor I just want to pull it and preserve it.

Would like to build a 440 over the winter, but which year block is best to start with? Can I just use a cast crank? Which pistons/rods? Where do I start? What parts can I use from my 383?

I have a 69’ RR with 727 auto hardtop. Looking for more horsepower than what i had/assuming it was pretty close to stock 335. I was eyeballing a stroker kit but worry it will be too much for the street. Rear is 3:23 would like to keep it as is.

I would like to start with a block and go from there. I like to drive and want to keep it a driver but I also don’t want to get smoked by everything on the road either if that makes sense.

 

[1967coronet440]

In my opinion for what you’re doing block doesn’t matter, I don’t think you can use anything from your 383 I may be wrong though. Where at in Indiana are you? I have a block you can have I know it needs sleeves but for free it might save you some money I don’t think sleeving the cylinders is too expensive.

 

[Bcamp69]

In my opinion for what you’re doing block doesn’t matter, I don’t think you can use anything from your 383 I may be wrong though. Where at in Indiana are you? I have a block you can have I know it needs sleeves but for free it might save you some money I don’t think sleeving the cylinders is too expensive.

Close to Muncie.

 

[1967coronet440]

I’m in crown point, if you want send me a PM with your phone number and I can text you some pics of the block and if you want it come and get it. I have a 440 block, LY rods and caps. It’s yours if you want it

 

[Bcamp69]

I’m in crown point, if you want send me a PM with your phone number and I can text you some pics of the block and if you want it come and get it. I have a 440 block, LY rods and caps. It’s yours if you want it

Awesome. I’ll send you a PM.

 

[BSB67]

You'll need to share what you budget is before you get too far down the road.

 

[Bcamp69]

You'll need to share what you budget is before you get too far down the road.

Is something in the 400hp range doable at around 4k? I think I’d like to keep it around that mark.

 

[SublimeSixpack]

You could use your 383 heads, but I wouldn't. I'd keep the 383 complete if it is the numbers matching engine for your car.

 

[Bcamp69]

You could use your 383 heads, but I wouldn't. I'd keep the 383 complete if it is the numbers matching engine for your car.

It is the numbers engine.

 

[Bcamp69]

I see a lot of 440 motorhome engines in my area complete anywhere from 500-1000 price range.

I’m pretty good at following directions and I’m not too proud to let a shop do some of the assembly but I would like to do as much as possible. I’ll certainly need some advice and help.

 

[BSB67]

Is something in the 400hp range doable at around 4k? I think I’d like to keep it around that mark.

Not really. You could get lucky cobbling together a bunch of used parts.

 

[m79ded]

I would recommend a 400, it looks identical to your 383, paint it the same color it will make the car look correct since it had a 383, and the extra $$$ to build one is not much. Really the extra $$ is grinding down the 440 crank to fit in 400 block. Easier on parts, lighter pistons and easier to attain your goal.

 

[Bcamp69]

Not really. You could get lucky cobbling together a bunch of used parts.

Well I don’t want to get lucky. I’ll just take my time and put some more money in then. I’m not opposed to buying some aluminum heads if that’s what it takes.

I should be clear that I’m not an experienced motorhead. I’ll be relying on this forum, chatting with friends who are, and just simply following instructions.

Oh and I would like to keep my bulge hood with 383 badges.

 

[33 IMP]

You could use your 383 heads, but I wouldn't. I'd keep the 383 complete if it is the numbers matching engine for your car.

COMPLETELY agree. Keep your number motor as intact as you can. Everything!

 

[BSB67]

Well I don’t want to get lucky. I’ll just take my time and put some more money in then. I’m not opposed to buying some aluminum heads if that’s what it takes.

I should be clear that I’m not an experienced motorhead. I’ll be relying on this forum, chatting with friends who are, and just simply following instructions.

Oh and I would like to keep my bulge hood with 383 badges.

Right, and not being experienced will make it harder for you to do it at less cost because you won't know what to look for and where corners could be cut. The biggest cost is a nice solid rebuild. Once you do that, the cost difference between 400 hp and 550 hp is not that much.

 

[33 IMP]

I would try to find a complete, inexpensive (relative to a 400 or 440) and build a 4.310x4.25 stroked with a 440 source kit. Exact same bore and stroke as a highly regarded BBC combo,(496"). With a small to medium camshaft and a decent set of heads, it would be a street monster, and could be made to look very similar to your stock 383.

 

[Bcamp69]

I would try to find a complete, inexpensive (relative to a 400 or 440) and build a 4.310x4.25 stroked with a 440 source kit. Exact same bore and stroke as a highly regarded BBC combo,(496"). With a small to medium camshaft and a decent set of heads, it would be a street monster, and could be made to look very similar to your stock 383

What’s ballpark cost on a build like this?

 

[67MPRFAN]

If you build a 400 block and want to stay within your budget use intake heads dist and carb and upgrade as $$$ allows

 

[justavillain]

I was able to get a fair amount of power out of a 383 using a 440 source stroker kit with a big cam and victor jr head kit I got rwhp non corrected at 549 hp with a 727 and 3.55s and old Hooker long tubes that leaked like no other.

Hughes engines has a lot of good info and shop the usual sources for parts

I got a deal on the kit off craigslist and just sold off the rods and pistons. I spent 2k to get the bear heads and kit. Total was about 4500 all done

Rods/pistons 100$(super cheap off cL)
Crank 800
Heads 2200 ea (OR build them, valves 200ish a set springs 100ish, grinding angles like a back cut, decked 250 in labor)
Pistons for 30 over 600
Machine labor 1800
High flow oil pump 50
Msd 6AL 150(had this)
Headers 500(had this)
Accel 9005 plug wires 110
Holley 850 cfm carb 700
M1 intake apx 300 (had this)
Gasket kit 200$
Race oil pan/dump kit 800
Rockers (if you need the special offset $$$$) 200(onsale at 440 source
Hughes Intake kit 370
Holley red pump (has this)

I did a new alt, dizzy, coil, starter etc I can add these if needed up too

I had 2 blocks in my barn to rob littles off of. I tore it all down sold it off and now I’m doing a 440 build for a superbee that I posted in the project section and the numbers above are close again

 

[33 IMP]

What’s ballpark cost on a build like this?

This is all rough estimate. (Justavillian got some staggeringly good deals.
Try to get a complete 383 for well under $500 . Used to be you couldn't give away a 383. Times have changed.
Maybe budget $1000 for machine work, boring, decking line hone, basic block prep. New aluminum heads from edelbrock or 440 source means no money to spend on old iron heads. That can add up to mucho saved money.
Stroker kit is $2300 I think, new steel crank, rods,pistons ,rings bearings and balanced.
Mild cam kit- cam and lifters $200-$300.
Incidental short block, oil pump,timing chain, maybe another $150.
Cylinder heads, if you want to paint and look stock, 440 source, $1000, if you don't care about stock looking, there are better choices, add maybe $500.
Two plane alum intake,$250, basic hi perf carb,$300.
Ignition is up to you.
Budget a few hundred for incidentals

This motor would be ALL new except for the block and will probably make decent power and MONSTROUS torque, great for a mildly geared street car.
Used parts can maybe cut this in half, but then how confident are you in the final result.?