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Totally new Mopar guy question...

S

squatcheus

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So, I'm currently buying a 66 charger from my boss, and it comes with a 440 built in 78. This is my first project ever, and I have absolutely no clue about this old Mopar stuff. I'm planning to do everything that doesn't require milling capabilities myself, and I guess my main question is what would it take to build this engine to around 500 hp without having to worry about breaking things all the time. I know adding power is how you break things, but I wanna have a fairly reliable car if possible.
 
Welcome from Alabama, sounds like a good project. The 440 is a 1978, or the engine was built or rebuilt in 78.
 
How is it built now and is it still in good health?
 
My opinion is get it running and see what you have before you adventure off into building an engine.
 
I’m just wondering why do you want 500 hp ?
 
Not to offend, but> " This is my first project ever, and I have absolutely no clue" and " build this engine to around 500 hp without having to worry about breaking things all the time." Uh, what could possibly go wrong? Have you ever driven 500 horsepower in an old Mopar? You might want to watch a few YOUTUBE videos about young people in high horsepower Mustangs stuffing them into curbs, poles, and other cars....
Take the advice to start out with what you have and see what you really need to do to get the "fairly reliable car" you desire.
 
I'll second that. It's downright miraculous that some of us survived these critters when we were young
and beating hell out of them...
First thing I'd be concerned about with ANY "new" old car is sorting it out - making the suspension, brakes,
steering, all that jazz work properly (and improving all of that as possible, since they're dinosaurs and all).

Once you've got a functional, safe and sturdy foundation there - then perhaps you can start adding
power. Have fun!
 
500 “old” HP is way different that 500 in a new car.
 
500 HP out of a 440 with good street manners is very doable. Lots of different ways to get there, best thing would be to look up some build threads on here and talk to good engine builders that do it everyday. For a street car ,a little on the heavy side I personally would look at maybe doing a 505 or 493 stroker ( check out 440 source.com) with around 10 to 1 compression and some decent heads, my choice being Trick Flow 240 or 270's. Again, lots of ways to get there. Cool car BTW.
 
It is fairly easy to get 500 hp out of a 440....
 
Just a general "mild upgrade" build with below .500 lift cam can get you to 450 pretty easily.
 
One of the easiest 500+ HP 440 builds was in car craft around 2000 when Edelbrock released their RPM heads.
Just a 440 with flat top pistons near zero deck height (around 10:1 compression), the RPM heads and Performer RPM air gap intake, and a comp XE cam, I think the 274/286 advertised duration cam? The engine was later tested with a few different cams and intakes that sort of shifted the power band around.

Back in the 1980's was the Bill Bagshaw 500 HP 440 that used stock heads that were ported.

The trick flow 240 engine with hydraulic roller is 620 HP.
https://static.trickflow.com/global/images/chartsguides/t/tfs-k616-620-576.pdf

These are not even stroker engines. Pretty easy to build a 500+ inch stroker big block for not much more money (maybe $1,000 more) than rebuilding back with the original crank.
 
Regardless good luck on the project op I just hope you actually finish the car because here’s two guys that also wanted a lot of horsepower

70464C25-6608-4E97-8A20-FC02798C3443.jpeg


FAB002AF-D00C-4CB5-B166-7E04372A7C4D.jpeg


5627E4DF-8B16-4C4A-80CB-F851B74552D6.jpeg
 
Welcome. Show us some pictures of that beast. I bet that old 440 runs good already. Just needs a good tune up. It doesnt matter how long ago they were rebuilt, its the miles that wear them out. I would do a good tune up , oil change, carb kit and see how it runs. You will find all the leaks, and you will learn alot about your "new car". Then you can decide which way to go with it. Remember, all those engineers at Chrysler in the '60s were pretty smart.
 
squatcheus said:
So, I'm currently buying a 66 charger from my boss, and it comes with a 440 built in 78. This is my first project ever, and I have absolutely no clue about this old Mopar stuff. I'm planning to do everything that doesn't require milling capabilities myself, and I guess my main question is what would it take to build this engine to around 500 hp without having to worry about breaking things all the time. I know adding power is how you break things, but I wanna have a fairly reliable car if possible.
Click to expand...
If it was a 440 built in 78, what did the engine come out of; a Winnebago? Good to know exactly what you are dealing with before proceeding...
 
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