Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3
440 Build- Stock or Stroke ? #2584959
11/30/18 12:07 AM
11/30/18 12:07 AM
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 28
Ontario. Canada
S
SunnyMopar Offline OP
member
SunnyMopar  Offline OP
member
S

Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 28
Ontario. Canada
Hi! building a 440 and wanted all opinions and advice!

440 Build- Stock or Stroke ? for a nice street car!
And few times a year take it to the track!

Any one that has rebuild their 440 engine for a 70 Cuda 4sp-??
I have a 70 Block (NOT HP) ready to be built!
But not sure if should build stock- 375-400 hp
Or stoker- 400-500 hp build

Dont want a radical car,
one I can enjoy as a driver daily for Spring/ summer & Fall!!!

I have spoken to Mancini racing:
they say!
The cost is very close to same Stock or Stroker build!

Keep in mind cuda is "non- matching" numbers!
Please give some opinions & advice!

Thank you
Greatly appreciate it!
Sonny

Re: 440 Build- Stock or Stroke ? [Re: SunnyMopar] #2584967
11/30/18 12:20 AM
11/30/18 12:20 AM
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 1,096
Australia
O
ozymaxwedge Offline
super stock
ozymaxwedge  Offline
super stock
O

Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 1,096
Australia
I would spend a little more and go the stroker, check out 440source for a good rotating assembly, maybe a nice 10-1 500 cuber, nothing crazy. Trick flow for a set of heads.


1963 Plymouth Max Wedge
1971 Barracuda
Re: 440 Build- Stock or Stroke ? [Re: SunnyMopar] #2584971
11/30/18 12:24 AM
11/30/18 12:24 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,439
Val-haul-ass... eventually
B
BradH Offline
Taking time off to work on my car
BradH  Offline
Taking time off to work on my car
B

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,439
Val-haul-ass... eventually
What parts do you have now, and have you figured out a realistic budget?

Re: 440 Build- Stock or Stroke ? [Re: SunnyMopar] #2584972
11/30/18 12:27 AM
11/30/18 12:27 AM
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 1,134
Lost in Time
Iowan Offline
super stock
Iowan  Offline
super stock

Joined: May 2015
Posts: 1,134
Lost in Time
Why did you start two threads asking the same questions?


Have a great day
Iowan

"obsolete is neat"

Re: 440 Build- Stock or Stroke ? [Re: SunnyMopar] #2585051
11/30/18 06:15 AM
11/30/18 06:15 AM
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 5,399
Aurora, Colorado
451Mopar Offline
master
451Mopar  Offline
master

Joined: May 2008
Posts: 5,399
Aurora, Colorado
The stroker kits are a pretty good deal, really not too much more $$$ than rebuilding stock lower end. The big expenses really are in the aftermarket top end of heads, cams, intakes, and headers/exhaust.

Re: 440 Build- Stock or Stroke ? [Re: SunnyMopar] #2585064
11/30/18 09:51 AM
11/30/18 09:51 AM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,243
Charlotte, North Carolina
sgcuda Offline
master
sgcuda  Offline
master

Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,243
Charlotte, North Carolina
If you already have a good crank and rods, and just need to punch the block and get new pistons, I'd leave it at that. If all you have is an empty block and are planning on buying a rotating kit anyway, I'd go with a stroker kit. You won't spend much more, and easier to make the bigger power without having to sacrifice drivability.

Re: 440 Build- Stock or Stroke ? [Re: SunnyMopar] #2585067
11/30/18 10:04 AM
11/30/18 10:04 AM
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,048
The Great White North
RAMM Offline
super stock
RAMM  Offline
super stock

Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,048
The Great White North
Originally Posted By SunnyMopar
Hi! building a 440 and wanted all opinions and advice!

440 Build- Stock or Stroke ? for a nice street car!
And few times a year take it to the track!

Any one that has rebuild their 440 engine for a 70 Cuda 4sp-??
I have a 70 Block (NOT HP) ready to be built!
But not sure if should build stock- 375-400 hp
Or stoker- 400-500 hp build

Dont want a radical car,
one I can enjoy as a driver daily for Spring/ summer & Fall!!!

I have spoken to Mancini racing:
they say!
The cost is very close to same Stock or Stroker build!

Keep in mind cuda is "non- matching" numbers!
Please give some opinions & advice!

Thank you
Greatly appreciate it!
Sonny


Sonny , Do you have a complete 440 core to work with? If so then leave it stock stroke. It really doesn't sound like you need or even want a whole lot of power. If all you have is a bare block then you may even want to consider a good small block. J.Rob


2009 PHR\EMC Competitor
2010 PHR\EMC Competitor
2011 PHR\EMC Competitor
2012 PHR\EMC Competitor
2013 PHR\EMC Competitor
2014 HotRod/EMC Competitor
2015 HotRod/EMC NoShow
2016 HotRod/EMC 3rd place SPEC Bigblock
2018 HotRod/EMC 7th place G3
Re: 440 Build- Stock or Stroke ? [Re: RAMM] #2585079
11/30/18 10:52 AM
11/30/18 10:52 AM
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 570
UK
rb446 Offline
mopar
rb446  Offline
mopar

Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 570
UK
Originally Posted By RAMM
Originally Posted By SunnyMopar
Hi! building a 440 and wanted all opinions and advice!

440 Build- Stock or Stroke ? for a nice street car!
And few times a year take it to the track!

Any one that has rebuild their 440 engine for a 70 Cuda 4sp-??
I have a 70 Block (NOT HP) ready to be built!
But not sure if should build stock- 375-400 hp
Or stoker- 400-500 hp build

Dont want a radical car,
one I can enjoy as a driver daily for Spring/ summer & Fall!!!

I have spoken to Mancini racing:
they say!
The cost is very close to same Stock or Stroker build!

Keep in mind cuda is "non- matching" numbers!
Please give some opinions & advice!

Thank you
Greatly appreciate it!
Sonny


Sonny , Do you have a complete 440 core to work with? If so then leave it stock stroke. It really doesn't sound like you need or even want a whole lot of power. If all you have is a bare block then you may even want to consider a good small block. J.Rob


My thoughts exactly especially with a 4spd. A nice stock type 10:1 440 with flat tops and even some worked 452 iron heads that can be found cheap will do, or Eddy's/440source heads, it'll have enough power to get you to mid 12's on those odd trips to the track as long as you can hook it up.....my 2's.


1969 'Cuda 446ci, best 9.96@133.9 in 1990
1971 340 'Cuda, best 11.01@122.8 in 1987
Re: 440 Build- Stock or Stroke ? [Re: sgcuda] #2585085
11/30/18 11:03 AM
11/30/18 11:03 AM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,768
Keymar, MD
DusterKid Offline
top fuel
DusterKid  Offline
top fuel

Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,768
Keymar, MD
Originally Posted By sgcuda
If you already have a good crank and rods, and just need to punch the block and get new pistons, I'd leave it at that. If all you have is an empty block and are planning on buying a rotating kit anyway, I'd go with a stroker kit. You won't spend much more, and easier to make the bigger power without having to sacrifice drivability.


Pretty much sums it up. If you have a good crank and rods that only need minor touch up, use them. If you have to buy crank and rods, I'd go for a mild stroker route as it would only be a little bit more.

Re: 440 Build- Stock or Stroke ? [Re: SunnyMopar] #2585116
11/30/18 12:15 PM
11/30/18 12:15 PM
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,205
New York
polyspheric Offline
master
polyspheric  Offline
master

Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,205
New York
Which stock 440 had "good rods"?


Boffin Emeritus
Re: 440 Build- Stock or Stroke ? [Re: SunnyMopar] #2585136
11/30/18 12:50 PM
11/30/18 12:50 PM
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 570
UK
rb446 Offline
mopar
rb446  Offline
mopar

Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 570
UK
I ran my 6pk bottom end for 2 yrs@6700rpm and once@7400 through the traps with no probs, nothing special bolts either just a good internal balance on it all smile


1969 'Cuda 446ci, best 9.96@133.9 in 1990
1971 340 'Cuda, best 11.01@122.8 in 1987
Re: 440 Build- Stock or Stroke ? [Re: rb446] #2585146
11/30/18 01:05 PM
11/30/18 01:05 PM
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,116
PA.
pittsburghracer Offline
"Little"John
pittsburghracer  Offline
"Little"John

Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,116
PA.
I look at it this way. I ran 9.80's back in the late 1980's with TRW pistons, stock crank, stock recon rods with good bolts, and ported 906 heads. If I wanted 500 horsepower or less I know I could easily do it with a stock crank build. With the nice after market rods available now I would never spend a cent doing what we used to do to stock rods. Figure out YOUR budget and how fast YOU want to go and have fun with your project. Some of the slower builds are the funnest builds. If possible plan on aluminum heads as there a LOTS of budget minded options out there. Sure beats spending money on old cast iron upgrading them and they flow a lot better too.


1970 Duster
Edelbrock headed 408
5.984@112.52
422 Indy headed small block
5.982@112.56 mph
9.42@138.27

Livin and lovin life one day at a time




Re: 440 Build- Stock or Stroke ? [Re: SunnyMopar] #2585225
11/30/18 03:41 PM
11/30/18 03:41 PM
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 1,134
Lost in Time
Iowan Offline
super stock
Iowan  Offline
super stock

Joined: May 2015
Posts: 1,134
Lost in Time
I 30 days all those stroker kits go up 25 percent, about $700.


Have a great day
Iowan

"obsolete is neat"

Re: 440 Build- Stock or Stroke ? [Re: Iowan] #2585322
11/30/18 07:45 PM
11/30/18 07:45 PM
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,040
Lincoln Nebraska
R
RapidRobert Offline
Circle Track
RapidRobert  Offline
Circle Track
R

Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,040
Lincoln Nebraska
Originally Posted By Iowan
I 30 days all those stroker kits go up 25 percent, about $700.
Are the 'source ones going up?


live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
Re: 440 Build- Stock or Stroke ? [Re: SunnyMopar] #2585325
11/30/18 08:04 PM
11/30/18 08:04 PM
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 2,603
Stuttgart, Arkansas
rickseeman Offline
master
rickseeman  Offline
master

Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 2,603
Stuttgart, Arkansas
$2,249 440 Source Stroker kit gives you modern components. Full radius crank, H beam rods and lightweight pistons. This was very expensive full race stuff years ago. And it comes balanced with rod and main bearings and freight to your doorstep. To me stock internals are for the dumpster. You will have more power than ever dreamed of. I would use the 512. It's a good time to be building an engine.


2011 Drag Pak Challenger
Re: 440 Build- Stock or Stroke ? [Re: RapidRobert] #2585330
11/30/18 08:17 PM
11/30/18 08:17 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,439
Val-haul-ass... eventually
B
BradH Offline
Taking time off to work on my car
BradH  Offline
Taking time off to work on my car
B

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,439
Val-haul-ass... eventually
Originally Posted By RapidRobert
Originally Posted By Iowan
I 30 days all those stroker kits go up 25 percent, about $700.
Are the 'source ones going up?

Brandon posted a "heads up" here about his prices going up weeks (?) ago.

Re: 440 Build- Stock or Stroke ? [Re: SunnyMopar] #2585506
12/01/18 01:43 AM
12/01/18 01:43 AM
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 6,545
Downtown Roebuck Ont
Twostick Offline
Still wishing...
Twostick  Offline
Still wishing...

Joined: May 2003
Posts: 6,545
Downtown Roebuck Ont
You could build a stock stroke package that will make the number but it will take some compression which = premium fuel and a somewhat lumpy cam which might = a 3.55-3.73 rear gear. Maybe not a big deal but your highway cruise RPM is in the 3000+ range now.

OR you could build 500 cubes at 9:1 with aluminum heads and a cam with stockish idle quality and make the number on 87 regular.

The stroker will make major torque right off idle and that is what will shove your butt back in the seat and it will haul the mail even with a highway friendly gear, 2.94-3.23.

My 8.97:1 493 was making good torque by 1500 and was doing 500 ft/lbs by 2000 and peaked 600 @ 4000 and that was with a lumpy MP509 108 LSA cam.

Kevin

Re: 440 Build- Stock or Stroke ? [Re: SunnyMopar] #2585647
12/01/18 02:19 PM
12/01/18 02:19 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,237
North Central, Indiana
Roughbird72 Offline
pro stock
Roughbird72  Offline
pro stock

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,237
North Central, Indiana
For 400-500hp, other than upgrading the rods/pistons I'd use the 3.75 stroke rotating assembly and put entry level aftermarket aluminum heads on it. twocents


72 Plymouth Roadrunner 11.08@123.25
Re: 440 Build- Stock or Stroke ? [Re: Roughbird72] #2585681
12/01/18 03:26 PM
12/01/18 03:26 PM
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 1,134
Lost in Time
Iowan Offline
super stock
Iowan  Offline
super stock

Joined: May 2015
Posts: 1,134
Lost in Time
Originally Posted By Roughbird72
For 400-500hp, other than upgrading the rods/pistons I'd use the 3.75 stroke rotating assembly and put entry level aftermarket aluminum heads on it. twocents


I agree with this, very simple.


Have a great day
Iowan

"obsolete is neat"

Re: 440 Build- Stock or Stroke ? [Re: Iowan] #2585691
12/01/18 03:44 PM
12/01/18 03:44 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,439
Val-haul-ass... eventually
B
BradH Offline
Taking time off to work on my car
BradH  Offline
Taking time off to work on my car
B

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,439
Val-haul-ass... eventually
As others have mentioned above, a regular street car with a 4-speed can be incredibly traction limited. If the OP isn't going to run some fairly sticky tires on the car, the torque from even a basic modified 440 will simply turn into tire smoke. And don't forget that good traction + a clutch + big torque = the need for beefier driveline parts.

Page 1 of 3 1 2 3






Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.1