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Re: first 440's
[Re: 340mouse]
#1375258
01/25/13 01:34 AM
01/25/13 01:34 AM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 27,347
Today? Who Knows?
1_WILD_RT
Management Trainee
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Management Trainee
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 27,347
Today? Who Knows?
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first 440 was 66 model year... Best? maybe 67 with the 915 heads.. Or 69 with the LY rods & 6bbl....
"The Armies of our ancestors were lucky, in that they were not trailed by a second army of pencil pushers."
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Re: first 440's
[Re: 340mouse]
#1375260
01/25/13 03:38 AM
01/25/13 03:38 AM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 15,900
Central Florida
larrymopar360
Stud Muffin
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Stud Muffin
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 15,900
Central Florida
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I hope this seems relevant to the question and isn't hijacking the thread. I have been wanting to ask this; I remember hearing some 440's were prone to overheating. Was this a particular production year and what was the cause. Thanks!
Facts are stubborn things.
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Re: first 440's
[Re: 340mouse]
#1375261
01/25/13 03:42 AM
01/25/13 03:42 AM
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 21,318
Manitoba, Canada
DaytonaTurbo
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 21,318
Manitoba, Canada
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Quote:
What year did they first make the 440's, and which year is the best
(68 440 magnum ?)
Thanks
If by "best" you mean which put out the most power in stock form, that would be the 1970 440 six pack. If by "best" you mean which is the preferred year engine block to build, that's a crapshot. None are really any better than the next. Only way to know is to have your block checked out by a machine shop.
Quote:
I hope this seems relevant to the question and isn't hijacking the thread. I have been wanting to ask this; I remember hearing some 440's were prone to overheating. Was this a particular production year and what was the cause. Thanks!
None more than any other. 440 never really changed much. Head design changed a bit and compression ratios went up and down but other than that no real remarkable changes to the block, only stuff that really changed was the bolt on stuff.
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Re: first 440's
[Re: Dean_Kuzluzski]
#1375263
01/25/13 07:55 AM
01/25/13 07:55 AM
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 105
ScatPackNick
member
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member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 105
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Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
I hope this seems relevant to the question and isn't hijacking the thread. I have been wanting to ask this; I remember hearing some 440's were prone to overheating. Was this a particular production year and what was the cause. Thanks!
None more than any other. 440 never really changed much. Head design changed a bit and compression ratios went up and down but other than that no real remarkable changes to the block, only stuff that really changed was the bolt on stuff.
There was a stiffening rib added to the lwr rh side of the block at around 1969. The #3 main bearing was machined for a larger trust surface in the mid 70's (1973?). Then there's the larger cooling passages added, known as the "figure 8" as seen by the bigger passages/port at the cylinderhead deck surface. Most importantly is the varying amount of cast iron at the "saddle support area".............
OR, just go here and read all about it..........
http://www.440source.com/blockinfo.htm
Nice link, bookmarked it.
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Re: first 440's
[Re: larrymopar360]
#1375266
01/25/13 02:44 PM
01/25/13 02:44 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 18,632
jersey shore
flypaper
I hate Texas
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I hate Texas
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 18,632
jersey shore
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Quote:
I hope this seems relevant to the question and isn't hijacking the thread. I have been wanting to ask this; I remember hearing some 440's were prone to overheating. Was this a particular production year and what was the cause. Thanks!
its more like
bb cars that had 22' radiator openings
were more prone to overheating.
just take the shroud off and you would start to have problems..
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Re: first 440's
[Re: flypaper]
#1375267
01/25/13 04:13 PM
01/25/13 04:13 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,376
dogdays
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,376
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I don't recall, back in the day, any 440 overheating stories, but then again back in the day, cars with 440s in them had been built that way.
Here's what I think: If I was looking for a 440 I would grab the first block with standard bore that was available at a reasonable price.
Now as far as heads go, for stock heads on a 440 the 452s are out there, they flow like any other '68-and-up B/RB head, also have the same crappy combustion chamber design, but they have hardened seat areas and are easier to home port. The second you start paying someone to port a set of cast iron heads you should stop, think twice and go directly to 440Source, Edelbrock or MP. Those aluminum heads are much better and the cash outlay won't be more than you'd pay a decent porter to work on your 30+year-old cast iron heads.
If you can do most of the porting yourself there's no reason not to use the iron heads especially if you're just building a hot street motor. But the minute you get into horsepower wars, those iron heads have to go. That's unless you are required to use them by class rules.
R.
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Re: first 440's
[Re: 340mouse]
#1375268
01/25/13 04:57 PM
01/25/13 04:57 PM
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 15,134
Kelowna, B.C. Canada
DPelletier
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 15,134
Kelowna, B.C. Canada
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I agree with most of the others; - "best" is subjective and without clarification, unanswerable...at least logically. best block? best engine assy? is the highest hp best? - all 440 blocks are substantially the same; changes in blocks year to year are negligable, especially for most uses. - Though there are certainly advantages and disadvantages to various 440 heads, it's kinda like arguing which fat chick is going to win the bikini contest...and you can make decent power with any of them though Dogdays advice on the available aftermarket heads should be heeded IMO. Unless you care about casting dates and HP stamps, I'd use any 440 block that was in good shape. I would stick with a forged crank though it isn't strictly required and depending on budget, I'd either use any muscle-era 440 head or an Eddy or Stealth set. A painted stealth set for a stock appearing street engine would be my first choice.  Dave
1970 Super Bee 440 Six Pack
1974 'Cuda
2008 Ram 3500 Diesel
2006 Ram 3500 Diesel
2004.5 Ram 2500 Diesel
2003 Ram 3500 Diesel
2006 Durango Limited
[url] http://1970superbee.piczo.com [/url]
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Re: first 440's
[Re: DPelletier]
#1375269
01/25/13 07:04 PM
01/25/13 07:04 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 27,347
Today? Who Knows?
1_WILD_RT
Management Trainee
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Management Trainee
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 27,347
Today? Who Knows?
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And here is my reason for liking the 915 head.. Granted it gives up port flow to the aluminum offerings Plus it won't take as much compression as the aluminum heads.... But lots of guys have a shortblock that was built with the piston .018-.024 in the hole... My 383 is like that... If you use a closed chamber head (915) & a .021 steel shim head gasket that puts you at .039-.045 piston to head.. Ideal quench.. But you can't run an aluminum head with a steel gasket so the typical comp gasket is .039 + .018-.024 makes quench .058-.063... Detonation central....
"The Armies of our ancestors were lucky, in that they were not trailed by a second army of pencil pushers."
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Re: first 440's
[Re: 1_WILD_RT]
#1375272
01/25/13 08:27 PM
01/25/13 08:27 PM
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 15,134
Kelowna, B.C. Canada
DPelletier
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 15,134
Kelowna, B.C. Canada
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Quote:
And here is my reason for liking the 915 head.. Granted it gives up port flow to the aluminum offerings Plus it won't take as much compression as the aluminum heads.... But lots of guys have a shortblock that was built with the piston .018-.024 in the hole... My 383 is like that... If you use a closed chamber head (915) & a .021 steel shim head gasket that puts you at .039-.045 piston to head.. Ideal quench.. But you can't run an aluminum head with a steel gasket so the typical comp gasket is .039 + .018-.024 makes quench .058-.063... Detonation central....
I'm sure you're correct. My point was that all things being equal (i.e. identical compression using, different gaskets, shaving the heads, different CH pistons or whatever) that one cast iron Mopar 440 head isn't going to make a bunch more power than another cast iron Mopar 440 head. Of course MW heads are somthing else.
It's not like oval port vs. rectangular port BBC heads, or RAIV vs. standard poncho 400 heads, or W30 vs. regular 442 heads, or LT1 heads vs. 350 2bbl heads or ...well, you get the idea; Mopar stuff is nice in that you don't need the exotic stuff to get your base engine up to the same level as the HP models.
Dave
1970 Super Bee 440 Six Pack
1974 'Cuda
2008 Ram 3500 Diesel
2006 Ram 3500 Diesel
2004.5 Ram 2500 Diesel
2003 Ram 3500 Diesel
2006 Durango Limited
[url] http://1970superbee.piczo.com [/url]
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Re: first 440's
[Re: RUNCHARGER]
#1375274
01/25/13 10:00 PM
01/25/13 10:00 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,436
Blair County,PA
62maxwgn
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,436
Blair County,PA
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Quote:
I guess the ultimate 440 with stock parts would be to use the thickest wall stock bore block you could find (any year), big valve 915 heads, non HP rods, any year forged crank, 70-71 HP pistons, 69 six pack intake with a set of six pack carbs that didn't have sticking problems, oh and a 73 electronic distributor as well as a 3 bolt drive Six Pack spec camshaft with matching double roller, windage tray and 70-71 HP oil pan.
Sheldon
Just about right !! 
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Re: first 440's
[Re: 1_WILD_RT]
#1375276
01/25/13 10:28 PM
01/25/13 10:28 PM
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 21,318
Manitoba, Canada
DaytonaTurbo
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 21,318
Manitoba, Canada
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Quote:
And here is my reason for liking the 915 head.. Granted it gives up port flow to the aluminum offerings Plus it won't take as much compression as the aluminum heads.... But lots of guys have a shortblock that was built with the piston .018-.024 in the hole... My 383 is like that... If you use a closed chamber head (915) & a .021 steel shim head gasket that puts you at .039-.045 piston to head.. Ideal quench.. But you can't run an aluminum head with a steel gasket so the typical comp gasket is .039 + .018-.024 makes quench .058-.063... Detonation central....
Some guys do run the steel shim gaskets with the aluminum heads. Also IIRC cometic makes a very thin composite gasket as well.
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