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440 build opinions please

SimDog

SimDog

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I have the opportunity to purchase a 440 that is already built with 0 miles. I would like some opinions on the build. Concerns if any. It has ported heads which I might leave but am not opposed to swapping for Eddie's which I know would crank up the compression ratio and hp. My biggest question is the Cam specs.

Thanks in advance!

Screenshot_2017-05-31-08-59-22.png Screenshot_2017-05-31-08-59-46.png Screenshot_2017-05-31-08-59-51.png Screenshot_2017-05-31-08-59-58.png Screenshot_2017-05-30-16-58-11.png
 
Dan Simmons said:
I have the opportunity to purchase a 440 that is already built with 0 miles. I would like some opinions on the build. Concerns if any. It has ported heads which I might leave but am not opposed to swapping for Eddie's which I know would crank up the compression ratio and hp. My biggest question is the Cam specs.

Thanks in advance!

View attachment 429780 View attachment 429781 View attachment 429782 View attachment 429783 View attachment 429784
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If the specs are correct looks like a well built engine. The cam is a little big @ .050 for that compression. I've had good luck with the Mopar Performance Hemi grind cam in Engines like this. A custom ground cam would be best. The Isky Mega cam is a old design but so is the Mopar Performance stuff.
 
fbs63 said:
If the specs are correct looks like a well built engine. The cam is a little big @ .050 for that compression. I've had good luck with the Mopar Performance Hemi grind cam in Engines like this. A custom ground cam would be best. The Isky Mega cam is a old design but so is the Mopar Performance stuff.
Click to expand...
I agree with you on the cam. I was thinking about an Eddie 7194. Lift .480/.495 Duration @ .050: 238'/246'. As you can see this is a 17 year old build that has been in storage. Possibly change to Eddie Performer or Victor heads with smaller combustion chamber for higher comp ratio.
 
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If it's been sitting for 17 years I wouldn't buy it without pulling the heads off to inspect the cylinders for rust.
 
69 GTX said:
If it's been sitting for 17 years I wouldn't buy it without pulling the heads off to inspect the cylinders for rust.
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Good advice! Do you think using a bore scope would work as good as pulling heads?
 
Depends on your bore scope. I wouldn't want to roll it over till I knew.
 
If the cylinder condition checks out I will probably get it because the guy is asking $1,000 for it. That seems like a really good price for what it is. That gives me a lot of $ for changing things out like heads and cam. The build sheet shows compression ratio @ 8.7-1. piston to deck shows .088 in the hole. What about a piston swap to increase comp? Goals is to have a streetable and run pump gas.
 
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Dan Simmons said:
If the cylinder condition checks out I will probably get it because the guy is asking $1,000 for it. That seems like a really good price for what it is. That gives me a lot of $ for changing things out like heads and cam. The build sheet shows compression ratio @ 8.7-1. piston to deck shows .088 in the hole. What about a piston swap to increase comp? Goals is to have a streetable and run pump gas.
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That's a good plan. Either swap out the pistons OR change the heads, whichever you've got the money to do.

You can probably get a boroscope in through the spark plug holes. I had an engine set for a long time & two cylinders rusted so bad the engine had to be re-bored & re-built. It was the two cylinders with the intake valves open for all those years that rusted. The other 6 cylinders looked just fine.
 
If you don't want it send me his number! lol!
A motor that has been sitting for 17 yrs without any maintenance or being rotated regularly is probably going to have some ring rust and or stains on the cylinder walls. Mine did and it was a 7-8 year old build that sat.
I would soak the cylinders with oil and try to spin it after a good soak. Then take the pan off and see what the cylinders look like.
Most of the assembly lube in mine had gelled up so I took the whole thing apart found a couple of bearings that had some light scratches. Sent it to the machine shop to clean it up.
Still sounds like a good deal though!
 
What do you all think about the cam? Is it too much for the street? It's an Isky 280 Mega
 
If the 452 heads were ported and are only flowing 132 cfm @ .500" @ 10" of depression, you have heads that are flowing 220 cfm corrected to 28" and that is a poor flowing head. Good idea to replace them.

So now you are going to buy a 17 yr old basically stock rebuild, never run, and change the pistons (re-balance the engine), camshaft, cylinder heads, head bolts, rocker arms and all new gaskets and seals. It doesn't sound like a good idea to me.

Wait a minute, May 31, 2017? Why am I answering this?
 
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