I just got the 440 from a motorhome I am scrapping removed today. Heres the deal. This thing ran perfect when I drove it to my property 3 1/2 years ago. I don't want to damage it since I sold my other 440's What would you do for inspection and possible fire up of this engine. I did not see any evidence of mice. the dipstick went missing somewhere during the scrapping process so I can't just "check" the oil, however the dipstick tube was protected from the elements (bent upside down) however there were a few drips of water that leaked from the left side exhaust pipe (dual exhaust) when I raised the engine up to pull it. The engine was covered with the doghouse of the motorhome with the air cleaner on it but the sides of the engine from the exhaust manifolds down were exposed to two extremely heavy rainstorms, about 2-4 inches of rain each time in the past two weeks. What would you do to make sure you don't have any problems? Or wreckage?

To be 100% safe, rebuild it.

Beyond that, it might be just fine with a little maintenance.

The 440 in my '71 Charger sat unused/not started, outdoors, car-cover only, for ten years, and was not driven for 20 years (1979 'til 2000.) The short-block was last rebuilt in 1977.

In 2000, I decided to get it back on the road. I pulled the spark-plugs, changed the oil/filter, rebuilt the carburetor, refilled the radiator, sprayed Fogging-Oil into the cylinders, replaced the freeze-plugs and turned the engine over (without fuel) to get the oil pressure up.

Hooked the fuel-pump to a 5-gallon fuel-can, primed the carb, but initially, it would not start.

Eventually, I figured out that a (professional) wiring repair from 22-years earlier, had come apart keeping the ignition system from functioning.

Soon as I fixed that connection, it started on the first crank.

Of course, there were other items that had deteriorated and over time failed, but I sorted those items out, added E-Heads and the same short-block propelled the car to 11.73 @ 118 mph in 2002.

That engine is still there today, started it yesterday, so you never know.

If you suspect anything fell down inside, pull the heads.

You could pull the plugs, and turn the engine over with a breaker-bar. You can check compression too.

The 304 V8 in my '79 CJ5 Jeep sat unused from 2005 'til June 2009 due to a problem with the transmission. It too was outdoors. I started it every few months, but the last year-and-a-half, it wouldn't start, as the ignition module had burned out.

After I fixed the trans and ignition module, I rebuilt the carb and pulled the plugs. Turned it over slowly, built oil pressure, started it, but the fuel-pump leaked from the diaphragm. Replaced it, plus lots of other small items had deteriorated and needed replacement.

Compression was fine, but the valve-seals had gone bad. Replaced the valve-seals and the spark-plugs are the cleanest of any that I have ever seen on any engine I have ever owned.

You can also modify a distributor-shaft and use a drill to turn the oil-pump/lubricate/build pressure, before you turn the engine over.

I would at least change the oil and then prime the motor before I hit the starter. Pull valve covers and check that nothing got inside. Spin it over without the plugs in it for the first time after priming. Maybe even spray a little oil in the cylinders for the spin over. Then put the plugs back in and give her a hit. Good luck with her..

pull plugs, spray liberal amt of oil in cyls, turn it w breaker bar, change oil/filter, pull dist/inter shaft & drill prime it while a helper w the breaker bar slowly rotates it so the valvetrain(s) gets primed also, new plugs & might take carb top off & see if it looks acceptable/ clean & the AP is good, pull valve covers to check inside there & might see if you can shoot some lube on the valve stems. Slight overkill but thats just me

If the motor is out, pull the pan and clean it out. Then I would decide what to do after I saw what was in the pan. You would also know how much oil you put back into the pan before fireup.

Spray a good shot of penetrating oil into each spark plug hole and let sit overnight before starting to loosen up any rust.