440 rear valley pan rail notches?

[Brandy]

Low and behold....on the front of my 73 block...two corresponding indentations....lol. Bet they are to "locate" the block, upside down for machining on the crank valley area...

 

[mopar 3 B]

The offset at the top of the bellhousing came around 75 as far as I know. Them notches in the rear valley pan rail puzzle me.

Yea I am still looking for valley pan pics

 

[Brandy]

Yea I am still looking for valley pan pics

I found lots of pics from the front, but few from the back until I looked for oil pressure sending unit mounting location pics..

 

[khryslerkid]

I haven't researched this but how many plants manufactured these blocks and which ones.

Might be a plant related design?

 

[khryslerkid]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trenton_Engine_Plant

 

[Bobby Sixkiller]

Ok so all B and RB blocks were made in Trenton North.

 

[mopar 3 B]

The things we take is being all the same just to find out there were differences.

 

[Brandy]

On 440 Sources web page they say that beginning in 1975 they changed the upper center bellhousing flange, not the bolt pattern, just the flange, from continuous curved to having the little rectangular bump up. Doesn't say why though..

 

[yella71]

cause that's the way they are that's why

 

[Cranky]

On 440 Sources web page they say that beginning in 1975 they changed the upper center bellhousing flange, not the bolt pattern, just the flange, from continuous curved to having the little rectangular bump up. Doesn't say why though..

View attachment 877970

View attachment 877971

Looks to me they did that to help facilitate machining of the flats for the holes and probably ease of access....getting in and out...? I know having a flat surface will help a drill to be able to not walk off center. Then again, I'm just a lost soul heading for the waterfall.

 

[Brandy]

Here's an unrelated article about BullDog Engines Foundry casting 440,400 and 426 Hemi.

https://moparconnectionmagazine.com...ormance-hemi-block-from-casting-to-machining/

 

[Beekeeper]

Now after looking at my 72 HP block it also has the same 4 notches on the pan rail too. So it’s about gotta be for some type of holding fixture of some sort

 

[Brandy]

Locate the block onto those spots with round steel pins and apply pressure that block is going to stay put...gotta be for bottom end machining process...

 

[Beekeeper]

Well thanks for all the replies I’m not so puzzled now now just gotta figure out why they are hit or miss on various year blocks

 

[Brandy]

Here's 440 SOURCE's reply...

Terry Hohenstein <terry@440source.com>
Wed, Dec 11, 2:34 PM (15 hours ago)

to me

Hi Randy,

We're not really sure why that area was machined on some blocks, but our original drawings for the RB engine shows that machined area on them.

Here's your opportunity to start that rare never seen factory supercharger rumor lol.

 

[Daves69]

….that rare never seen factory supercharger rumor..

Cool, maybe my old '68 block is worth a buck two ninety eight, lol!

 

[ChargerST]

Here's 440 SOURCE's reply...

Hi Randy,

We're not really sure why that area was machined on some blocks, but our original drawings for the RB engine shows that machined area on them.

Here's your opportunity to start that rare never seen factory supercharger rumor lol.

They have original drawings for the 440? Man I wish they would publish them....

 

[Brandy]

Email them and ask 'em to.

They have original drawings for the 440? Man I wish they would publish them....