440 type

[Deleted member 31207]

Hello,
I have access to a big motorhome early 70's and the prime mover is a 440cui MoPar, how can I tell what this engine has for HP and what would it take to get the 375 HP.

 

[IQ52]

Starting at this page may answer some of your questions. You can go back to page 1 if you wish to read through the long winded introduction.

https://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/threads/iron-head-test-starting-on-78-440.58687/page-3

 

[vance.dykes]

you could buy the mopar engine book and it will tell you what you need and part numbers.

 

[IQ52]

I do not recommend buying a motor home to get a 440 engine. If you can buy the engine out of a motor home, okay. Getting rid of a motor home shell can be an expensive experience. For that reason, I will never again buy a motor home to get the engine.

 

[BeepBeepRR]

I built a Motor home 440. They are low compression engines and will need some work to make power. But with the standard bottom end and some closed chamber heads as well as a hughes cam I think its called the Hughes Whiplash cam HUG SMC3245BL for low compression engine. This will help a ton.

My engine was in bad need of a machine shop. It sat on a trailer out in a field for 20 years the guy told me.. My dumbass bought it anyhow. But it had some bad pitting in 2 cylinders from rain water. Anyhow now its .30 over and much better than the low compression it once was.. Only 5000 dollars later. But cam and heads should be a more budget friendly approach.

 

[wyrmrider]

Early 70's
what year
get the engine number
really early 70's still used 413 HD engines (spark plugs on top like a small block)
there may be a magic early 70 440 with reasonable compression but I would have to search out which years just as you will have to do
can you run a compression test and report back?