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400 or 440 build

drhill

drhill

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Which would you build a 400 or 440. I have both and was wondering which would be best. I have a 383 steel crank for the 400. Both engines are 1974 castings. I was thinking of using Trickflow top end.
 
If your not planning a stroker build the 440.... If you were thinking stroker I'd probably go 400..
 
Are either of the motors original to your car? Going 4 speed, you'll pay dearly to drill the 440 crank. Will both cranks be standard after polishing?
 
Neithr are original to the car. The car has a 318 and it is the numbers matching engine. Just did a 438 in my inlaws a body and the bb torque has hooked me. I also have a 727 bb Trans for it.
 
Had both also and went with the 440 to keep it ....."cheaper". Its supposed to be a warranty block, 77 cast crank smog motor that was never ran. I just broke it down the other day and it goes the the shop Friday to have the block cleaned, squared plus another.040" possibly, bores honed and the crank polished. Im lookin to go Edelbrock heads so far and a cam with a fast closing intake. Using the the original cast pistons, etc. Hopin for close to 1hp per cube or damn close
 
There are lots of good pistons available for 440s. There are lots of good pistons for STROKER 400s. Decent compression pistons for stock stroke 400s are rare as hens teeth.
Agree with above, 440, with or without a stroker kit. 400 with a stroker kit. Stock stroke 400 is an exercise in frustration. My opinion only.
 
If big block torque hooked you, then stroke the 400 to a 512 and it will blow your mind. 400 blocks have thicker cylinder walls than a 440. This only matters around the 650 hp range
 
I vote 400

Currently running 440 in 72 Satellite considering building a 400. A bit less weight up front for better handling and more room for headers would help make up for 40 less cubes. My use is mostly steady running on the highway, so the short stroke 400 would run like 383s I've had in the past.

That and gas prices are probably be at $5.00 a gal soon.
 
Two posters in a row suggest going low deck and as 67charger383 pointed out the low deck has stronger mains... That matters if you plan to make any serious HP but if your not stoking it then you won't be making much HP.. As 33 IMP pointed out there are no stock stroke 400 pistons with a good compression height....
 
If you’ve got both motors, there’s an obvious answer here: harvest the crank and rods from the 440 with new pistons and build a 451. All of the size and strength benefits of the 400, with more cubes than the 440.
 
LemonWedge said:
If you’ve got both motors, there’s an obvious answer here: harvest the crank and rods from the 440 with new pistons and build a 451. All of the size and strength benefits of the 400, with more cubes than the 440.
Click to expand...
With the price to machine the RB crank you could just have custom high compression pistons made and keep the stock stroke.
 
Somebody wrote up about using a low compression 440 piston in a 400 block. Anyways I also like big bore Short Stroke engines. And piston speed is also slower and the Short Stroke engine so you can turn more rpm with it and not worry about Ring flutter but I think today's rings are much better anyways. Not sure about cylinder walls being thicker but they are shorter which makes them more rigid. Also large bores help unshroud the valves more....
 
67charger383 said:
Race car or street/strip?
There's a set of NOS set of Arias 400 mopar dome pistons on Ebay now.
Compression ratio would 11.8-1 with 452 heads.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Arias-4-37...for-Chrysler-400-440-B-RB-Crank-/123104266824
Click to expand...
Maybe. But they would be almost 13-1 with lightly surfaced 906s, and they are for a 440 crank and rods swap. Again, where are the 9.5/10 to 1 stock stroke 400 pistons?
I have nothing against 400s! I love the shorter deck, lighter block, stiffer cylinders, and stouter main webbing (some of them anyway). They make wonderful stroker motors. I just think if one is going to build a STOCK stroke engine, and has a choice between a 400 and a 440 ......considering piston availability, a 440 is a no-brainer. Putting a big block in an a- body would be a good reason to use a low deck.
 
If using stock cranks, the 440 has a better selection of shelf pistons and intake manifolds.
Either can be stroked out for more displacement, and in a mild engine it might just come down to intake options and engine compartment fitment.
If you want the most power (like using max wedge style heads), then the 400 engine is a stronger foundation.
 
For a near stock rebuild, it does not cost any more to do a 440 than a 400. There is quite a bit more cost to stroke a 400 to about 440 size. It comes down to use and $$$.
 
You could just sell one of the blocks and buy a 383. A core is like $300 on FB marketplace. You'd have the structural advantages of the 400 but tons more pistons are available and you wouldn't have to stroke it. I'm building mine with 12-1 dome pistons and a big solid roller cam.
Here's a good video:
 
First off, I don't think the OP has stated his intentions with the build. Let's start there
 
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