My dilemma

[wags70ss]

So I have a dilemma I'm trying to figure out and I'm looking for advice.

I have 2 Mopars. One is a 1967 Coronet 440 with a HP 440 6 pack engine in it. It's a former drag car and is very cool! It's just a plain 440, not an R/T. Of course it's not a numbers matching car either.

The other Mopar is a 1970 Challenger R/T with only 66,000 original miles on it. It was parked in 1980 and I purchased it in 2020. It's a 383 Magnum/ automatic trans car. Unfortunately the previous owner blew up the 383 Magnum racing it. He was broke at the time and purchased a slug 400 engine out of a 77 Cordoba and put it in the car. I got it running, but of course it's a gutless smog engine.

So here's my dilemma. I have several choices as far as engines I can put in the Challenger. I have the 440 6 pack from the Coronet. I have a brand new, built 400. I have two other 440 engines. One is a 67 440 non-HP and the other one is a 77 440 out of an RV. The 77 can run, the 67 does not run. I also have a mid 60s 383 engine that's in good condition and can be built as well.

So, which engine would bring the most value to the Challenger? The 383 which it had originally? The HP 440 6 pack from the Coronet? One of the other 440 engines? IDK but I'm thinking either the 383 engine or the 440 six pack engine?

So tell me, which engine should go in the Challenger and which engine should go in the Coronet if I remove the HP 440 6 pack engine?

Here's a link to my YouTube channel Wags Automotive where I'm pulling the Challenger out of the barn after 40 years. If you want to look, there's videos of both cars on there. Thank you for your opinions!

 

[super-bee_ski]

The original 383, definitely!
For instance, I own a 70 Superbee...originally a 383 Automatc AC car.
I installed a 70 (May 69) original bore low mileage Hemi in it. Recently I pulled the Hemi and re-installing the 383. For "Original value sake...the 383 in my opinion.
Remember, if you put a Fast engine in your Challenger...a 4-cylinder turbo import (made in America) will dust you as Tech today is decades above the 60s and 70s.
But it is YOUR car...and, ask Kiwi (our Moderator) about the 400 build..a very good engine..
So, you make up your mind as again, it is your car.
Good luck

 

[440 4 speed]

383

 

[Jerry Hall]

The 383 for originality. The 67 440 for the Coronet, but means you have to build 2 engines. So just leave the Coronet alone for now, as it's running and driving. Play engines are great to have, but that one may be strictly a drag engine so it may need work for the street. If your going to keep it a drag car, all is good.

 

[RR Fan Dan]

The original 383

 

[Fran Blacker]

If it's the original 383. 440-6 if not. You offer it either way if you do the work.

 

[roadrunnerh]

383

 

[wags70ss]

As I stated earlier, the original engine was grenaded by the guy I bought it from. (he was a teenager in the 80s when he bought it) That's why it currently has a 77 400 smog motor in it.

The 383 I have is out of a 65 Polara. It's apart, but is in great condition and can be built.

So should I put the 383 in it, the HP 440 6 pack engine, or the built, brand new 400 engine? My thought process is since I can't make it numbers matching, the HP 440 6 pack engine would bring the most value? IDK!

 

[T2R9]

Stroke the 383 or a 400 and dress it up as stock 383 Magnum for 70.

 

[WileE]

I'd leave the 440 where it is. I'd install the built 400 in the Challenger.

 

[Runcharger]

You don't have the original 383 so it will never be matching #'s for those that go that way. A strong 400 should work for that. I would do the 67 non HP for the Coronet but nothing will be original for that one either.

 

[RR Fan Dan]

If you have a brand new built 400 on hand, why not use that? Put the 400 in the coronet. And the 440 6 pack in the challenger as that was a motor option for the challenger. A 400 was not an option. No big deal what motor goes in the coronet. If you don’t want to use the 6 pack motor and leave it in the coronet, then build one of the 440s and put in the challenger as that was an option too. If you have a 426 Hemi laying around, that was another option. The challenger RT is going to be worth more than the coronet, especially with a period correct motor, even if it’s not original numbers matching.

 

[wags70ss]

Oh, and the whole reason for this thread is that I intend to sell both cars so I'm looking for what would bring the most value to them. I would think a 70 Challenger 440 6 pack car would be quite valuable to the right guy?

 

[wags70ss]

You don't have the original 383 so it will never be matching #'s for those that go that way. A strong 400 should work for that. I would do the 67 non HP for the Coronet but nothing will be original for that one either.

OK putting the 67 440 in the 67 Coronet makes sense. If I put the 400 in the Challenger, what car would be a good candidate for the 6 pack motor?

 

[wags70ss]

The 383 for originality. The 67 440 for the Coronet, but means you have to build 2 engines. So just leave the Coronet alone for now, as it's running and driving. Play engines are great to have, but that one may be strictly a drag engine so it may need work for the street. If your going to keep it a drag car, all is good.

Actually I've driven it in the street. It has good manners on the street, once it warms up. That Coronet has really low gears in the rearend, so it only runs about 60 mph. I haven't really got on it hard because it needs a couple of things done to it before I rip it. But it's definitely a badass car!

 

[Dave6T4]

Put your built 400 in it and dress it up as a '70 383 Magnum. Most people just look at where the distributor clamp sits, to see if it is low block (383) or tall block (440), anyway. Nobody is going to dig around the block info beneath the distributor to see if it is 383 or 400. Leave your 440 where it is. My $0.03 ($0.02US).

 

[wags70ss]

If you have a brand new built 400 on hand, why not use that? Put the 400 in the coronet. And the 440 6 pack in the challenger as that was a motor option for the challenger. A 400 was not an option. No big deal what motor goes in the coronet. If you don’t want to use the 6 pack motor and leave it in the coronet, then build one of the 440s and put in the challenger as that was an option too. If you have a 426 Hemi laying around, that was another option. The challenger RT is going to be worth more than the coronet, especially with a period correct motor, even if it’s not original numbers matching.

I only WISH I had a Hemi "laying around"! I missed that bus! I could have bought one out of a junkyard in 1979 for $50! But I didn't even have $50 since I was 16 years old! Maybe you can donate one to me?

 

[Jerry Hall]

67 Coronet 440 is going to be a hard sell, no matter what you do to it. Been there done that, but for the most money the 67 non hp 440 would be my option. The Challenger is your money car, so do it right. It's already an R/T so the 6 pack engine would be the least money invested and probably get the most money return. My opinion, your built 400 looks just like a 383, would be my choice if I couldn't find a date code correct 383.

 

[RR Fan Dan]

I only WISH I had a Hemi "laying around"! I missed that bus! I could have bought one out of a junkyard in 1979 for $50! But I didn't even have $50 since I was 16 years old! Maybe you can donate one to me?

Sorry, fresh out. For resale put the 6 pack in the challenger and the 400 in the coronet. A nice restored 70 challenger with a 440 6 pack will fetch good money. Probably north of $60k. A numbers matching RT 6 pack for $100k or more is common. I had a 68 Coronet 440 cloned as a superbee with a 400. Nice motor. Car was badged as a 383. Nobody could tell the difference between a 383 and 400 by looking.

 

[wags70ss]

Thanks for all the input!

So it sounds like the Challenger has 2 choices: the HP 440 6 pack engine, or the built 400 badged as a 383.

And the Coronet also has 2 choices: the 67 440 which would need to be built, but would be period correct, or the built 400 badged as a 383.

So now let's get votes on those 3 engines in each car. Since I'm selling them I definitely want the most value. In my opinion, the 440 6 pack in the Challenger, and a newly built 67 440 in the Coronet would bring the most resale value. Anyone have different opinion?