440 build vs buy?

[wsutard]

Hey everyone, I'm getting a lot closer to making a Go decision on upgrading to a 440. As some of you might remember, I was looking to trade my 340 for a 440. I have dropped that thought and now I think I will just sell my 340 once I get a 440.

That brings us to the title of the post. Do I build or buy the 440?

I have never built an engine in my life. I think it would be awesome to actually give a build a go but my inexperience on such a critical component is worrying.

Also, I think building will be more expensive than buying the right engine. I am looking for the 440 to be around the 500hp range.

I'm currently speaking with a 440 selling I found on CL. The details are at the bottom of this post.

Please provide your opinions on build vs buy as well as the 440 listed on CL

Craigslist posting:

440 big block dodge wedge - $3800

Selling my 440 wedge with 400 miles just broken in. Bought it in the car torn down finish building it but really want a 426 hemi and looking to sell as I have a line one one

The details on the motor are

74 motor home 440 wedge block
Full rebuild
Steel crank
Fluid dampner
Hi volume oil pump
Extra capacity oil pan
Wind age tray
Aluminum water pump
Holey 850
Edelbrock intake
Headers
Flat top piston
Adjustable rockers
Comp cams-Hydraulic roller cam and lifters
Edelbrock rpm heads
Double roller timing chain with 3 bolt mount

The engine is bored .30 over . Very clean motor just broken in runs great only reason for sale is I want a 426. Im asking $3800obo U.S or willing to look at trades on a 426 hemi. I am located near trail bc Canada . About 3 hours from Spokane just 40 minutes across the boarder call or email me with any question . Can be seen running before pulled and have reciepts .

With how the motor was built it will produce 550+hp and was built for a street car.

 

[WileE]

There's a huge difference in "assembling" an engine & "building" an engine. Based on inexperience & you probably don't have all the tools required, just buy a good engine already done.

 

[IQ52]

So much can go/be wrong with an unknown CL engine build. You have a pile of parts there that is probably worth the asking price. But if you go that route you pays your money and you takes your chances. The best way is to find a known good engine builder and have them build you one. However it will be way more expensive than the CL engine.

 

[66Satellite47]

You can't go wrong with a professional engine builder. Even if you buy a used motor, have it looked at by a pro.

 

[440beep]

There's too many horror stories with buying what you think is a big horsepower motor. Anybody can say anything. You're better off talking to the muscle car guys in your area and see if there are any good builders nearby. Buy a 440 motor that needs rebuild, buy the parts yourself, i.e., crank, intake, heads, etc this way you know what's in it; and not what someone claims to be in.

Or as previously stated, buy a crate engine but have a shop look it over FIRST. There's been multiple posts on here about people buying crate engines only to discover they were big fails and had to be completely rebuilt.

Being that your in WA, I'd speak with member IQ52 as his shop is in nearby ID.

When I had my first motor built, I found a complete 440 with transmission that had been sitting for years on Ebay for $500. Drove 4 hours one way to get the motor, but it was a complete motor, from carb to oil pan, with transmission. It took me 6 months talking to the muscle car guys in my area to find a good local builder and then 6 months getting to know him before I gave him my 440+ project. Him and I discussed the parts list and I know what's in the motor. He made me a binder of the motor build with photos from start to finish, what junk the motor started as all the way to the finish. Plus I have all receipts and documentation of my build/parts, plus his blue print sheet with all the specs.

So hopefully this guy has such material for his motor.

 

[69a100]

If that engine runs and you can hear it, that's not a bad price. I'd be askin a thousand questions about his build, what cam's in it? I'd want all receipts, documents, etc. with that motor. You leave a lot on the table with your question about what you really want to do here. Build or buy? Do you plan on tearing a built one apart to do it again the way you want or what? If so, your just pissin $$ in the wind! Sounds like your just lookin for a easy way out on a motor, and a already built and runnin motor sounds like what you want.

 

[Canyon707]

I look at it like this. Since I am in the same boat currently buying a drag motor. Two things I do know is that he is not at all new to building race motors. He and my race mechanic here in Sonoma know each other so that helped. I bought it and will pick it up Wednesday. He has had success in the drag racing business but, not famous. The cost of a fresh new motor is going to be way more but, if the engine is built with first class race engine parts it might be good to go. I would check it out in person if you can or lots of pictures. Pull the valve covers etc. The critical parts are good heads. The elbrocks are good heads I used them on mine till I blew a rod last month. Sounds to me its a street car and should be ok to have some fun in at 3800.00 reasonable price. My 440 cost 12k to build but race only.

 

[Garys1969RR]

That's a good price, what with all he has with it. Headers and carb too? That's good! I would see if he will start it for you before you buy it. Or better yet, take a ride in the car it's in! Otherwise you are taking a chance. Take an experienced builder or someone familiar with big blocks with you if you can.

 

[not so famous bob]

I`m not in the market for an engine, and have always built my own. but I`d take a good hard look at that one, especially if you can ride and drive in it. !!
sounds like a lot of effort and good parts went into it.

 

[Shorthorse]

All good posts. You mentioned you would like around 500 HP. As 69a100 said, you've got to fond out exactly what parts are in the engine, what's been done to the heads, who did the machine work etc. Has the seller ever dyno'd the engine and does he have the results? To echo what 440beep said, getting 500 HP is not as easy or cheap ($3800) as you might think.

 

[66Satellite47]

When I bought my '65 Coronet in 1974 it was a 426W 4 speed car. I knew I couldn't drive a 4 speed at the drag strip so switched to a 727. The glove box had a bunch of time slips that looked good for those days. But I took the motor to an experienced builder & went through it. After some tuning issues got it to be over 5 tenth's faster thanwhat it did before. Then I started porting the 906 heads & got another 5 tenths. A good builder can make sure you have want you want. 500 HP with a 440 is not hard to obtain, with good heads and the right cam, presuming you have good ring seal. Getting to 600 HP is tougher. Getting to 700 HP does cost money.

 

[SlinktRR]

I have purchased a few used engines and have been very fortunate. If you just want it to run 383s are a good buy and can be had for less than 1000 dollars freshly rebuilt. My current RR engine was a used rebuild that had been pulled in favor of a crate stroker. Still runs great 5 years later. My advice would be to add up the cost of parts for each engine you find on a spreadsheet. Then get costing for reassembly and machining at a local shop. Even if you have to rebuild there will be a break point where it makes sense to take a shot on a used hi po engine. If you shop around enough it will quickly become apparent where that point is vs your budget. Its all a risk any way you cut it, performance engines generally don't have a warranty.

Find engines that come with a lot of durable parts that you can either resell to offset your cost or use again on a performance build.

 

[Fran Blacker]

The old saying" Speed costs money how fast do you want to go?"
An engine builder would say "Speed costs money how much do you have? I'll take it all!"

 

[Speedbird]

I wouldn't even try it.
"I'm good enough to know what I can't do"
So many engine builders.
Blue Print
Muscle Motors Racing
Carolina Machine Engines has engines in your price point and more if you want aluminum heads and more horsepower for more money.
Or try it yourself, spend the time and hope it works when you get it "assembled"
I think someone has pointed out, if you can't hear it run you are taking a 3800 dollar gamble.
Even hear it running won't tell you if it's got problems tomorrow.

 

[Canyon707]

I wouldn't even try it.
"I'm good enough to know what I can't do"
So many engine builders.
Blue Print
Muscle Motors Racing
Carolina Machine Engines has engines in your price point and more if you want aluminum heads and more horsepower for more money.
Or try it yourself, spend the time and hope it works when you get it "assembled"
I think someone has pointed out, if you can't hear it run you are taking a 3800 dollar gamble.
Even hear it running won't tell you if it's got problems tomorrow.

That's true of any motor. Have had race motors built only to blow. Racing has no warranties. If you want reliable buy a new car.

 

[SlinktRR]

The old saying" Speed costs money how fast do you want to go?"
An engine builder would say "Speed costs money how much do you have? I'll take it all!"

definitely. If you dont stick to a specific hp goal or budget then there is literally no limit to this stuff.

 

[Speedbird]

That's true of any motor. Have had race motors built only to blow. Racing has no warranties. If you want reliable buy a new car.

The word you used is "racing".
Is that contemplated?
All bets are off.
Reliability is a relative word.
For maximum, I'm simply suggesting to let someone build it that knows what they are doing. Money well spent IMO. A good engine builder will warrant their engine if not raced. That usually means they at least try and do it right.
Or take a 3800 dollar gamble. Who knows?

 

[66Satellite47]

Hooking up with a good engine builder is the best thing you can do. Get the input then make decide. My experience is the person that is most particular about everything in the build is the one to go with, also reputation and proven performance.

 

[Cranky]

.030 with new pistons? What's the compression height of them? Motor homes engines replacement pistons are deep in the hole and are low compression. How much experience do you have with engines? Enough to understand what compression height of a piston is? What is the piston ring type? Moly is good, run from chrome unless you plan on dirt track racing. At least that's the way is was years back. He listed a lot of name brand parts but didn't list any specs on them. His price is very low imo for all of those name brand parts but there's not much info on specs. If he can't answer questions on them, then he's blowing smoke. If he can, go look at it. If there's RTV oozing everywhere, walk away from it. Even if he wiped it off on the outside, you can't clean it up on the inside. The more engines you look at, the better you can tell if someone knows what they are doing and even then, there's no guarantee but spending time around engines and people who build them does help you become more educated imo. And at the very least, take a compression tester with you and check it out. If it's a running engine that is broke in, it should give you a good test.

 

[66Satellite47]

.030 with new pistons? What's the compression height of them? Motor homes engines replacement pistons are deep in the hole and are low compression. How much experience do you have with engines? Enough to understand what compression height of a piston is? What is the piston ring type? Moly is good, run from chrome unless you plan on dirt track racing. At least that's the way is was years back. He listed a lot of name brand parts but didn't list any specs on them. His price is very low imo for all of those name brand parts but there's not much info on specs. If he can't answer questions on them, then he's blowing smoke. If he can, go look at it. If there's RTV oozing everywhere, walk away from it. Even if he wiped it off on the outside, you can't clean it up on the inside. The more engines you look at, the better you can tell if someone knows what they are doing and even then, there's no guarantee but spending time around engines and people who build them does help you become more educated imo. And at the very least, take a compression tester with you and check it out. If it's a running engine that is broke in, it should give you a good test.

Sure is sound advise.