Mopar better than Chevy

[Doorkicker]

Something has been bugging me, so I'm going to put it out there.

When I look at 440 RB, at least from 66-71, I see it as superior to the chevy BB - like a 454 - from the same timeframe. Ok, granted the stock Mopar heads, compared to a 454 Chevy BB, were slightly smaller (less flow), but a lot of everything else can be argued as better. Many of the stock 440 features are now desired aftermarket Chevy BB upgrades... such as large bore lifters and shaft rockers. Also, Chevy BB valve train geometry leaves a bit to be desired and to stabilize it you have to put in oversized rocker studs and a girdle, or - ironically - shaft rockers. The structure of the 440 intake manifold is better... such as no water and you don't have to remove the distributor to pull it. The distributor location and the use of the halfshaft in the 440 is just smarter. The 440's external oil pump, which can be adjusted, is smart. Granted, 454 does not have exhaust neighboring ports, which is helpful.

The aftermarket has really focused on chevy for obvious reasons, but that doesn't necessarily mean it was a better block.

Anyway, let the knives fly.

 

[Unkle Krusty]

Many folks like the 350 Chev for many reasons. But changing the fuel pump is not one of them. Especially on the side of the rode when it is much too cold in February.
Most hod rods around here have Chev engines. They are cheaper to get more giddy up. I put a 350 in my 57 Chev 3 ton.

 

[stage3]

this should stir it up...

from 66-71 the chevys Were the better motor overall. when all out performance is desired its hands down chevy Because all the power comes from the Heads. the best 440 heads only flow max 220 where the High performance Rec port 427-454 was over 300... Now if u did like Dick Landy and install the 426 MW heads its a different story...same with the 6 pack, u can put a 2000 CFM carb on it but the Heads again only flow so much...

chrysler had 2 425 HP motors that could Compete with all the others, the 426 MW (after u cammed it up) and the 426 hemi..

Now today its totally different, with Indy, Trickflow, Edelbrock etc heads we now can make enough power to easily break all those old 440 blocks that r on borrowed time at above 600 HP.... the heads still look like they were on a small block chevy.......

 

[padam]

Since this is the racers forum, I will play devils advocate.
There has to be a reason BBC outnumbers BBM about 100-1 in bracket cars/dragsters.

 

[RemCharger]

Since this is the racers forum, I will play devils advocate.
There has to be a reason BBC outnumbers BBM about 100-1 in bracket cars/dragsters.

On the same note; there has to be a reason BBD outnumbers BBC about 1000-0 in top fuel funny cars/ dragsters.

Let's keep it real.

 

[padam]

On the same note; there has to be a reason BBD outnumbers BBC about 1000-0 in top fuel funny cars/ dragsters.

Let's keep it real.

I love Mopars, don’t get me wrong. I’ll never race anything else.

But,
How many guys are running brackets every weekend vs Top Fuel?

I think the bbc heads flow more than bbm. I’ve heard parts are cheaper and easier to get.

 

[Cranky]

You treed me @DeltaV lol

 

[Cranky]

A buddy of mine that is a total Mopar gear head but has owned other makes just the majority of us have. He too has a shop next to his home (still at it and is 77!) and the majority of his work is from.....Chevy guys. One day I was in his shop and his was just about done boring a BBM and then setup to bore a Chevy. I couldn't believe the difference in sound that the cutter made! Being a machinist, I knew the 'quality' of the cast iron in the Chevy was soft and asked my bud if they were all like that? He said yup.

 

[RemCharger]

I love Mopars, don’t get me wrong. I’ll never race anything else.

But,
How many guys are running brackets every weekend vs Top Fuel?

I think the bbc heads flow more than bbm. I’ve heard parts are cheaper and easier to get.

Well let's start with numbers. 383 vs 350.
They made 3 million 383's.. and over one- hundred- miiilliiion 350s....
so if youre in business strictly for profit..

 

[Doorkicker]

this should stir it up...

from 66-71 the chevys Were the better motor overall. when all out performance is desired its hands down chevy Because all the power comes from the Heads. the best 440 heads only flow max 220 where the High performance Rec port 427-454 was over 300... Now if u did like Dick Landy and install the 426 MW heads its a different story...same with the 6 pack, u can put a 2000 CFM carb on it but the Heads again only flow so much...

chrysler had 2 425 HP motors that could Compete with all the others, the 426 MW (after u cammed it up) and the 426 hemi..

Now today its totally different, with Indy, Trickflow, Edelbrock etc heads we now can make enough power to easily break all those old 440 blocks that r on borrowed time at above 600 HP.... the heads still look like they were on a small block chevy.......

100% agree... hence my point about Mopar stock heads... they dropped the ball there. And yes, now with Indy, TF... it's a game changer. But the other points... you have to agree with

 

[Doorkicker]

Since this is the racers forum, I will play devils advocate.
There has to be a reason BBC outnumbers BBM about 100-1 in bracket cars/dragsters.

One word... aftermarket. It is WAY cheaper and WAY easier to make a high powered Chevy, especially the LS... than a Mopar. And the options for a Chevy are 1000 to 1. to Mopar. No comparison at all. But is that because of design or sheer number, availability, and cost? If design, then I say Mopar is in pretty decent standings... top fuel car engines are usually based on the hemi, one could argue.

 

[RemCharger]

Chrysler came out with the competition crushing large port factory RB heads. Then promptly shut that down in favor of the world dominating hemispherical heads. So I guess we are just lamenting the loss of our own HP wedge versions...
And they didn't make all that many super duper chevy 990 heads either...

 

[RemCharger]

. top fuel car engines are usually based on the hemi, one could argue.

Please do!

 

[Cranky]

I love Mopars, don’t get me wrong. I’ll never race anything else.

But,
How many guys are running brackets every weekend vs Top Fuel?

I think the bbc heads flow more than bbm. I’ve heard parts are cheaper and easier to get.

Years ago when my 66 Belvedere was still running with a /6 I was taking it to the track. One night when the turnout was low, they grouped all the bracket racers into one bracket. Had that old 100k miles 6 banger running good and consistent. Ended up beating the fastest bracket car out there. His dial was 11.50 iirc but was capable of running faster. It was a first gen Chevy II with a small block and a blower on top. I do know it's not so easy to beat the slowest car at the track (my dial was....19.66! And no, I didn't try to get it doing that) when the dial in is so far apart.

Not my cup of tea to run that slow but it was fun for a while especially that night. 7 rounds of racing and the Chevy II was in the final round.

 

[padam]

I know a lot of guys on this forum can afford to build a Hemi, but it’s out of the question for the average guy.

 

[Cranky]

Well let's start with numbers. 383 vs 350.
They made 3 million 383's.. and over one- hundred- miiilliiion 350s....
so if youre in business strictly for profit..

Got to consider just how huge GM vs ChryCo was. GM was huge just compared to Ford even and yet the biggies had to convince NASCAR and NHRA to 'sensor' little old ChryCo because they were getting their butts kicked on the race tracks and they didn't like it.

 

[RemCharger]

Got to consider just how huge GM vs ChryCo was. GM was huge just compared to Ford even and yet the biggies had to convince NASCAR and NHRA to 'sensor' little old ChryCo because they were getting their butts kicked on the race tracks and they didn't like it.

Let's just focus on,, oh I don't know let's say nascar championships between 64-74.

 

[F4R/T]

Chrysler was a leader in tech years ago. GM was bigger but that doesn’t mean better. I’m sure Chrysler had the engines running where they wanted. Chevy was very sloppy seconds compared to Pontiac , Olds and Buick. Hard to believe the sloppy seconds is their brand ambassador now. I’ll take a tin Indian— the real super duty not ford!

 

[Doorkicker]

Let's just focus on,, oh I don't know let's say nascar championships between 64-74.

boom...

 

[RemCharger]

That's our boys!