Scored 4 BB's This Weekend!

[PettyBlue72]

On Friday I bought 2 400's, 1 383 and a 440. 3 of the 4 are buildable and I got all 4 for $600.00!

The 383 is a shortblock and is a 66 steel crank motor that is drilled for a 4spd and ran well when pulled. It will be a longblock because the guy who sold them to me is giving me a set of heads for it.

The 400 longblock turns freely and also ran when pulled.

The 440 shortblock is a truck motor with a cast crank but needs the most work.

The 77 400 is a complete factory 4bbl motor but is locked up so I will be using it to complete the other 2 motors.

Right now I have nothing to put them it but you never know that may change!

I have a couple of questions. What is the complete 400 from? The manifolds look like truck manifoldsand a car oil pan. Did they put 400 4bbls in trucks? Were these manifolds used in cordobas? How much HP can the 440 cast crank handle?



Joe

 

[FatJack]

Don't think the 400 was ever a truck engine.

 

[PettyBlue72]

Yes, Mopar put 400's and 440's in trucks from 72-78.

 

[73rr]

All truck B-RB exhaust manifolds have a long centre dump.

A properly prepped 440 cast crank is good for 500hp, IMHO.

Personally, I would use a 383 crank to rebuild the 400-4.

The 400 exhaust manifolds look similar to my 73 RR.
The date on the block and the intake casting numbers can be used to zero in on the application.

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[Cranky]

Yup...even had a truck with a 400....and some early 79's came with a big block too...400 or 440.

 

[PettyBlue72]

All truck B-RB exhaust manifolds have a long centre dump.

A properly prepped 440 cast crank is good for 500hp, IMHO.

Personally, I would use a 383 crank to rebuild the 400-4.

.

So if the manifolds on the 400-4 are not from a truck, did the motor come from a M-Body like a Cordoba? The 440 has some pretty deep pitting in a couple of the cylinders due to ahead being off so it will need bored at least 30 over. Regarding your statement about the 383 crank going into the 400, what would be the advantage of this?

Thanks for the info,
Joe

 

[73rr]

So if the manifolds on the 400-4 are not from a truck, did the motor come from a M-Body like a Cordoba? The 440 has some pretty deep pitting in a couple of the cylinders due to ahead being off so it will need bored at least 30 over. Regarding your statement about the 383 crank going into the 400, what would be the advantage of this?

Thanks for the info,
Joe

You can search for photos of various stock installs and get an idea on the exhaust useage.

A competant machinist should be able to look at the pits and make a good guess as to the needed bore.

As to the crank, some 400-4 have been found with forged cranks as late as 1975 so there may not be an advantage in using a forged 383 crank except for the manual trans pilot. If the 400 has a cast crank then decide if crank swapping is needed based on what you plan to do with the engine.

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[SirSixPack]

FWIW a guy I have known for years runs cast 440 cranks in his auto 600+ HP 1/8 mile drag cars. He puts his correct numbered/year forged cranks in his resto trailer queens and 4-speeds.

I asked him WTF and he said that properly machines and equipped the 440 cast crank is just fine for most automatic tranny street/strip applications. I have never seen (or heard of) one of his cars oil down the asphalt due to a bottom end failure.

I know that the cast cranks have a bad rep for some reason, but at the same time, ALL factory 360 cranks are cast, and people are surprisingly silent about that...

*shrug*

 

[PettyBlue72]

Thanks for the good info guys, I really appreciate it! As of right now I have nothing really to put any of these motors in but I got a good deal and figured I would find a use for them someday. Other than the 400 being locked up, the 440 is is the 2nd worst shape of the four and after further inspection may require a sleeve in at least one cylinder. The 383 is definitely a good builder as is the 400 longblock. I will just have to wait and see what I will do with them.

Thanks,
Joe