Is this block JUNK??

[Islandkent]

Hey guys I just posted on Lorny's thread about his 440 motorhome find. Well I also just found one. Hard as hens teeth to find my way. And It also came out of a 75 motor home. Anyway to get to the point. Is this thing salvageable. It has some pretty bad pitting in a couple of the cylinders. Six of them are not too bad but the worst one looks like this...



Could this thing be saved with a bore job? Or would it need a sleeve? Is it worth the expense? Like I said these things are not to common anymore up here. Any help or insight would be appreciated.

 

[toolmanmike]

It can be sleeved

 

[Islandkent]

Thanks Mike for the quick response. Yeah that's the worst one for sure. So a bore job wouldn't fly eh? From what I understand big money to sleeve up eh? then the bore job for everybody else right? Along with the sleeve? I was lucky enough to get the engine for a coffee. So I'm out nothing. I gave it a good cleaning today and it quickly flashed over. I guess I'll wipe it down with some Lucas really good and bag it for now.

 

[F4R/T]

A sleeve makes a excellent repair and will last.

 

[Curiousyellow71]

The shop we use charges $100 a hole to do a sleeve. They sleeve them all the time.
It's really hard to see the damage in the picture to say if it can be bored enough to clean it up.

 

[Islandkent]

The shop we use charges $100 a hole to do a sleeve. They sleeve them all the time.
It's really hard to see the damage in the picture to say if it can be bored enough to clean it up.

Wow that's not too bad! Yes always hard to tell in pictures. That's why I threw some light in there to try to light up the gouges/shadows from the pitting. I also tried to get a straight edge and a feeler gauge in there, but no real way to get a accurate reading with the curvature of the bore. Going to make a few calls on Monday to see what they charge up here in the GWN.
Thanks CY71

 

[6PKRTSE]

Yes, sleeve it. I have buddies with all 8 holes sleeved in their brand X blocks.

 

[toolmanmike]

Yes, sleeve it. I have buddies with all 8 holes sleeved in their brand X blocks.

And they are stronger and seal better than the original cast iron bores.

 

[6PKRTSE]

And they are stronger and seal better than the original cast iron bores.

Yes, that is why we do it. Thicker walls that way.

 

[Islandkent]

Well that's some good news!
So would you just do the ones that need it or all eight?
Anyway I'm happy. Man I was up this morning at 3am pounding that piston out with a sledge wondering if this thing was a boat anchor. Back and forth finally made her way out.

 

[toolmanmike]

Well that's some good news!
So would you just do the ones that need it or all eight?
Anyway I'm happy. Man I was up this morning at 3am pounding that piston out with a sledge wondering if this thing was a boat anchor. Back and forth finally made her way out.

Only your machine shop will know for sure.

 

[Curiousyellow71]

No reason to do anymore then the one that is damaged. They will bore the sleeved hole to match the others and likely look for cracks.
When I have seen them sleeve all eight its when they are trying to save a expensive block like a hemi or when they are trying gain a little extra ring sealing in a competive racing such as NHRA superstock.

 

[Islandkent]

Yes kind of what I was thinking CY71. On vacation for a couple of weeks and went out to the salvage yard yesterday to pull the engine. The owner is a very good friend of my son and said I could have the engine. They ripped the body off the old motor home a couple of months ago. So I thought the 440 was protected over the years but when I went out for a looksie, the breather, carb and distributor were missing. So I knew there would be water in it but thought that it would be fresh. Meaning not to much permanent damage just a bit of water in the base right. Well when I pulled the dip stick tube out of the block the water ran for about ninety seconds or so. At that time I was still happy. Laughed but was happy. Then last night tearing her down rusted out valley pan. Then pulled the heads. Seen the results of water being in her for I don't know how many years?? Can't see any cracks anywhere. But now that I know that a sleeve or two can be put in I will have the block checked before we go any further with this experiment.
Thanks for all the responses men.

 

[PRND21]

Going by what CY71 said, if you’d have to sleeve a couple of holes you’d have 200 bucks in a 440 block. What’s a good 440 block going for nowadays? Probably more than 200 bucks, still need to clean, check, and machine.

 

[Jerry Hall]

Your lifter bores need to be checked also. I have a friend that has a ultra rare 68 RR convertible 383 4-speed with air, and it needed one sleeve and the other 7 would clean up with a 30 over. He sleeved all 8 cylinders and built it back stock. It's now a great running numbers car with no engine issues at all.

 

[WileE]

Good responses here !

 

[bm02tj]

Let shop decide if pitting only .020 deep bore .060
Make sure you can get pistons

 

[Islandkent]

I find always a good response here. I try to do the same thing every time I can but usually somebody always beats me to it.
Oh yes the machine shop/engine builder will make all the calls/suggestions. Yes for the amount of water in this bucket all the lifters slid right out. Had to gently pry a few out but once they moved, out they came.
Location, location, location. All the big iron on PEI has gone to the crusher over the decades. Most stuff like this is imported from away, but like mine they pop up from time to time by word of mouth. But as all of us Mopar guys know... we are all hoarders.
Pry that big block from my cold dead hands! lol
No immediate plans as of typing this. Going to spend a little more time cleaning and oiling her up for safe keeping. I'll put the crank back in and wrap it up.

Once more guys thanks for the help! I now have a 440 for a option. Going to be a very expensive option but a option none the least.
Have a great weekend. When you get to it.

 

[moparedtn]

I've read that they made over 1Million 440's during its' run.
Not a hard engine to find, they're everywhere...
A free one though, now that's cause for celebration! Congrats.

 

[Moparguy59]

I've read that they made over 1Million 440's during its' run.
Not a hard engine to find, they're everywhere...
A free one though, now that's cause for celebration! Congrats.

It’s all about the other 6 cyls they myt be standard /then it’s about the gooder bad cyl
As for sleeves never fear but all 8 are a whole nother debacle