Does anyone know if you change a bunch of the stock parts on a 440 if you can get the weight down to an all stock 340? Change parts from the cast iron parts to aluminium such as the intake, heads, water pump housing.

This probably is way out there. What about going with an all aluminum block, heads, etc? Bill Mitchell sells aluminum 440 blocks
for about $6,000.

According to Hughes, that's about 150 lbs, doable? Yes. 670 vs 525lbs, as a note a 400 is at 620.

Stock assembled BB heads are about 60lbs each. 29lbs for assembled Stealth heads/ So that's 60 pounds right there.

Stock intake 40 lbs, aluminum 15 lbs, so that's 25lbs.

Water pump iron 20lbs, aluminum 5lbs, that's 15lbs.

Exhaust manifold 50lbs, headers 25 lbs, another 25lbs off.

We are at 125lbs less right now. If this was a 400 we'd be less than a 340 right now. For a 440 you have to find another 20lbs. Time to dress the block, remove all flash, unneeded bosses, smallest capacity oil pan you can run. Standard oil pump vs HV. lighten the crank, rods, pistons.

I've done a 470 some years back with everything alum (heads, intake, water pump, rods, light pistons) except the block and crank. i'd estimate the weight to have been between 550-575lbs. I doubt you'll get there with a tall deck engine.

I've weigh a bunch of 440 and 400 blocks, the difference in weight depends on how much gunk is in the water passages and on the block They weigh between 210 to 225 lbs. each regardless of which block heights

Sure, no problem. But if you do the same to a SB then it would be lighter too.

All things equal it's easier and cheaper to get 440 cubic inches out of a 340 with a 4.25 inch crankshaft.

Not to mention ease of parts and transmission options with the small block.

I seriously doubt that a 4.25 stroke 340 is cheaper to build than a stock stroke 440.

Well, how about 10 times cheaper to attain the weight goal?


"New forged 4340 4.250" Small Block Mopar
crankshaft w/2.00" SBC small journal.
Currently available in 340 mains (2.500")

$629.00 +shipping"





Or, you can add up aluminum heads, intake, headers and water pump for an RB for Me? Not a big block expert but I'm sure there's 4 grand there?

Just looked at Mancini Racing's website. Trick Flow aluminum heads are $1020.00, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake is $300.00, Mancini aluminum water pump housing is $107.00 and their aluminum water pump is $77.00. Works out to $1504.00. Add a 440Source stroker kit and you have a 505" motor for $4100.00 in parts. Still going to cost you the same to have your block machined whether it's a 440 or a 340.

Thats Each for the Trick flow Heads

Still need pistons for the stroked 340, maybe even different rods, I dunno, Muscle Motors has a kit with a 4.25" stroke 340 crank and all that is replaced, $3300 for just the rotating assembly. Mods to the oil pump as well. Like to see a link to the 4.25" crank mentioned. Not to mention stock iron 340 heads are going to be a big cork as will the stock Iron intake and exhaust manifolds. So no, a stroked to 440 cid 340 isn't cheaper, much less 10x. Unless you just want to be able to say it's got 440 cubic inches, otherwise it'll be an exercise in wasting money. You will have to do all the mods we are discussing on the RB 440 to make that LA 440 worth the effort.

Stealth heads are $500 each, FWIW.

I have a 440c.i. engine out of a 360 block, with the 4.25 crank in a 4200lb. Chrysler"300" with factory 73 cast iron heads, 587 castings. Car has run 11.20s at 118mph, so far. Engine was fairly inexpensive to build.