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Motor home 440 engine?

fwi

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440 w/727 out of a 1979 Dodge motor home, are those any good and is it worth buying for $500? Seems to be in pretty good shape but have not heard it run.
 
Is it assembled? I’d most likely get it for $500, just assume it needs a rebuild. I wouldn’t plan on dropping it in a car and firing it off.
 
It's a smoger. Low compression, some of those had problems with core shift during casting resulting in cylinder wall thickness issues but it's not all that common. What's the plan? Mild or flat out Gonzo? Pre 72 blocks had a higher nickel content than the later, if your staying in the ballpark it should fine. 500 bucks is a good buy for a complete engine/trans provided the internals aren't junk.
 
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I think its a good deal...it may have forged crank n 6 pack rods..M.H trannys have 6 pack internals ....id try turning it over by hand and if u can do so I.M.O would drop it in car and fire it up...
 
It's all in one piece. Seller says it ran when he pulled it out. The plan is to keep it mild and drop it into my next Mopar.
 
I'd say it's a little high but not out of line. These motors typically have very few miles on them. I picked on up from a 74 motorhome and it still had crosshatching in the bores.
 
I think 250 for a running motor and 250 for a working transmission =ing 500 is a good deal
 
I understood that the transmission is longer than the car model. Just a thought.
 
What are the heads?
Just curious. Id buy it anyway.
 
The heads are most likely 452 heads. I have the same engine however mine was in serious need of rebuilding. I can say 5k later its not longer a smog era 440. :)
 
What are the heads?
Just curious. Id buy it anyway.

Not sure about the heads (wish they were 915's :D) Motor is a 1977 cast crank (the engine pad says: 7T 440 E).
Block casting # is 4006630-4
It turns over and there is oil in the pan.
Carb is the Carter Thermo Quad.
The 727 is the short tail model.
 
915 heads would be nice but not likely since those were I think 66 67 heads? I might be wrong on that. But they are hard to find. I was looking for them too. However.. The 452 heads have hardened seats and work well with the **** gas we have today. My engine guy had to replace a few seats in my heads. He also pocket ported them and milled them. With that RV engine you might help it some with steel shim head gaskets to bring the compression up a tad. However I went 30 over and a whole new set of speed pro pistons..
 
mine is a 76 block and tore it down was in good shape. price foe both i think is a good price. mine had the 452 heads. yl rods and now its different. machine shop said i had done good with my buy and is seeing more of these blocks coming in.
 
I just bought a complete and running thermoquad to pan 78 440 for 150 bucks. same engine they used in the trucks. they came through with the 452 heads. great builders for sure. I would try and get them to at least knock 100 or 2 off of the 500.
 
I just got a 73 block for feee from a member here, before that I got a 77 block and 727 trans for 200 also a 75 rv std bore block for 450 that I built my stroker with.
 
915 heads would be nice but not likely since those were I think 66 67 heads? I might be wrong on that. But they are hard to find. I was looking for them too. However.. The 452 heads have hardened seats and work well with the **** gas we have today. My engine guy had to replace a few seats in my heads. He also pocket ported them and milled them. With that RV engine you might help it some with steel shim head gaskets to bring the compression up a tad. However I went 30 over and a whole new set of speed pro pistons..

I had a set of 915's (they were only built in 67), they came off of my current 65 Coronet when it had a 440 in it (which ended its life prematurely due to a cracked cylinder).
 
Being a Motorhome motor, you can be guaranteed sure that it's never been revved anywhere near redline, had foot on the floor neutral drops done to the tranny, and other abuses that big blocks get! And they don't have many miles on them to begin with. Good Luck
 
Picked up one last fall complete with tranny for $400. Get them while you still can
DC23126B-D6C9-4AD8-93B0-D14A135326C1.jpeg
 
452 heads are what I got on mine they seem good.
Being a Motorhome motor, you can be guaranteed sure that it's never been revved anywhere near redline, had foot on the floor neutral drops done to the tranny, and other abuses that big blocks get! And they don't have many miles on them to begin with. Good Luck
We a '74 Dodge motor home. I remember it got hot once or twice but never overheated.
 
$500 is kinda high in my book. Iff you plan to use block, cast crank, rods AND heads - and the heads and rods don’t need to be touched, it’s a good deal (plus all the misc hardware and rocker gear).

But if you plan on scrapping heads, using other rocker gear and aftermarket rods... not such a great deal.

That tranny has some good parts in it (assuming it’s not toast) so if you’re the type that can tear it down and use them elsewhere, it’s a good deal. Otherwise the trans is pretty much useless.
 
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