440 Crank for Hemi Build

[TetanusShot]

So after investing in some good rocker assemblies plus a used set for spare parts, a stroker crank just isn't in the budget anymore. I've decided to go with stock displacement and save the stroker for a rebuild 3 or 4 years down the road.

There is a perfectly good forged crank in the 440 that came out of the car. I may use it depending on what my brother does for his wedge build.

Is this crank even compatible with stock hemi rods since the rod journal fillets are different? Will I have to run a bearing meant for a 440 or are the rod bearings the same between the two engines?

Thanks for the help

 

[mmissile]

Lots of Mallory.

 

[TetanusShot]

Guess I'll figure this one out myself, doesn't anyone build these engines themselves anymore? Must be all job shops and crate engines.

 

[Cranky]

I used a set of Hemi rods in a 440 years back and had to use a pretty good amount of Mallory metal on it like mmissile mentioned and even used really light pistons in it. That's about the only real drawback of using a 440 crank with heavy rods.....bearing sizes are the same. Keep in mind that the Hemi crank has an 8 bolt flange while the 440 is 6 bolt.

 

[TetanusShot]

Well we're almost there, but I was asking about the rod journal fillet to bearing clearance. Wish I had a picture to post up. Ultimately what I'd like to know is: can I run 440 rod bearings in hemi rods? That would solve this question for me.

 

[MCODECUDA]

Lots of Mallory.

If you use a 6 Pac crank you still need Mallory but you need less of it.

 

[Hemirunner]

Well we're almost there, but I was asking about the rod journal fillet to bearing clearance. Wish I had a picture to post up. Ultimately what I'd like to know is: can I run 440 rod bearings in hemi rods? That would solve this question for me.

Yes, you can. I think what everyone is trying to tell you is that by the time you get done paying for the mallory metal (tungsten based 'heavy metal') you'd have been better off spending the money on a forged stroker crank. You'll most likely spend nearly the same money, but by using the 440 crank you won't have as nice of a bottom end.

 

[TetanusShot]

Everyone would be better off with a forged stroker crank, but they're 1800+ from callies and crower. I can hardly believe balancing a 440 crank would add up higher than that.

 

[Hemirunner]

They're less than half that from RPM, Eagle, or K1 or Molnar.....

 

[TetanusShot]

They're less than half that from RPM, Eagle, or K1 or Molnar.....

They're less than half that from china, china, or china or china....

No way, regardless of their quality.

About 50ci isn't worth undercutting quality u.s. crank manufacturers to me. I'd sooner rework worn out factory parts or not build at all.

I really do appreciate the help and advice you guys are giving me though.

 

[dvw]

The lower priced stroker cranks are fine. However then the rods and pistons need to be part of the stroker kit as well. That thing will probably be a $500+ balance job. Even an aftermarket crank may need mallory. The rods will fit the crank. Race bearings are the same part for either motor.
Doug

 

[mentor70]

They're less than half that from china, china, or china or china....

No way, regardless of their quality.

About 50ci isn't worth undercutting quality u.s. crank manufacturers to me. I'd sooner rework worn out factory parts or not build at all.

I really do appreciate the help and advice you guys are giving me though.

well, it boils down to what your gonna do with the engine, if your not seriously competing with the engine, you dont need a Callies crank. but its your money.

i just got my short block back from the machine shop last friday, new China crank, and its really nice...even with the heavier H 13 pins i teamed up in my Icon pistons, they had to remove 200 grams from my crank.

 

[mmissile]

they're less than half that from china, china, or china or china....

No way, regardless of their quality.

About 50ci isn't worth undercutting quality u.s. Crank manufacturers to me. I'd sooner rework worn out factory parts or not build at all.

I really do appreciate the help and advice you guys are giving me though.

thank you.

 

[Garys1969RR]

I once used hemi rods on a 440 build. Seems the stock bearings worked fine. But I believe the hemi rods are .093" longer than stock 440 rods, so I had to cut the piston tops down to bring them back to zero deck.

- - - Updated - - -

That motor later threw a rod, and I found one of the rod bolt nuts in the valley pan. I'm sure one of the rod bolts broke. I have always used new rod bolts since then, and have never had that happen again. This happened 30 + years ago.