Late 77 440 Build.

I rebuilt a 77 440 out of a motorhome with my dad and am curious to know how it will run, I know these late blocks have really low compression and the HP rating is embarrasing. The block already has a steel forged crank installed to our surprise. We are running the 452 heads that came with it, dual plain weiland aluminum intake, some cheapy hedman headers purchased off summit racing with 2 1/2 exhaust to turn downs, a 750 cfm edelbrock carburetor , .509 lift 292 duration hydraulic comp cam, it has factory bore pistons. Running 3.23 gears in a 8 3/4 posi rear end with a 727 transmission. Will this set up bring this block back to life? I'm hoping for a low 14 in the quarter mile.

Nothing wrong with the later blocks at all. Add the normal go-fast parts and they'll run right with earlier 440s. It's how you build them to start with that matters.

My engine is built on a 77 440 truck block. It benefits from the "siamesed" cooling passages that earlier blocks didn't have. If you navigate around on the 440 Source website, they have a very good article on the differences between the blocks, by casting date and type. Very informative. You can hunt down my Road Racing Engine or 80 Grit threads for pics and details on mine...

I would wager you likely have a 440-3 which "should" have a forged crank. Most (all?) motorhomes built on the MB300 or larger chassis should have a -3 motor (industrial/HD) They were made for hard service. The 318-3's had forged cranks as well. The 360-3's have some fashion of "improved" crank. I've always heard forged but at the least shot-peened/hardened. It seems many like to contest that, but trucks are my forte'...

I personally think some high compression pistons and a cam will give you the most. I had one of these. Under heavy load you can get pinging which is bad. However that's in a 8,000lb (with another 2-3k in people and cargo or more) motorhome. In a 3500lb car, I wouldn't sweat upping the compression at all. Just remember your cooling.

Here are some dyno runs with a low compression 440. We added intake manifolds, carburetors, HP exhaust manifolds and headers. Towards the end we installed the 509 cam in the low compression engine and then ported iron heads. I don't recommend the 509, but this is what it did in our engine.

http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/showthread.php?t=249866&highlight=1972+440

Reamzer said:

I rebuilt a 77 440 out of a motorhome with my dad and am curious to know how it will run, I know these late blocks have really low compression and the HP rating is embarrasing. The block already has a steel forged crank installed to our surprise. We are running the 452 heads that came with it, dual plain weiland aluminum intake, some cheapy hedman headers purchased off summit racing with 2 1/2 exhaust to turn downs, a 750 cfm edelbrock carburetor , .509 lift 292 duration hydraulic comp cam, it has factory bore pistons. Running 3.23 gears in a 8 3/4 posi rear end with a 727 transmission. Will this set up bring this block back to life? I'm hoping for a low 14 in the quarter mile.

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Based on the info. you supplied I would have gone with a milder camshaft. Something along the lines of a MP 440 Magnum cam, or even the MP Hemi grind cam.

SublimeSixpack said:

Based on the info. you supplied I would have gone with a milder camshaft. Something along the lines of a MP 440 Magnum cam, or even the MP Hemi grind cam.

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We had it laying around in the garage along with lifters.