Posted By: kdsmith07
440 block but no caps - 03/15/13 12:54 PM
anybody have experience in buying a block minus caps.looking to buy a 67 440 hp without them.would it be a dumb move money wise trying to machine non matching oe caps?btw,250.00 for the block.standard bore.any comments,opinions and stories welcome.thanks in advance,kent
Posted By: Pyper70
Re: 440 block but no caps - 03/15/13 01:11 PM
How odd...My 505 block started off life as a 67' 440. I couldn't find my main caps either. On a whim, I went ahead and ordered a brand new set from 440Source. I gave them to the machinist and he asked me how much I paid for them because they are the nicest caps he had ever seen for a BB Mopar
http://store.440source.com/Billet-Steel-Main-Caps-Set-of-5/productinfo/200-1039/ 
Posted By: buildanother
Re: 440 block but no caps - 03/15/13 02:34 PM
I've used caps off of different blocks before, along with line honing at least. I would look at the 5 saddles for signs of nasty bearing spin etc. Oh, and try to get the thing for less cash if you can too.
Posted By: peabodyracing
Re: 440 block but no caps - 03/15/13 04:10 PM
It's been too many years, but as I recall you simply have a machine shop align bore them installed on the block. Believe they cut a bit off the bottom of the caps before installing. Pretty standard process.
I should say I hope it is still a standard process as the original HP block I got with my 69 RR came in the same condition as the one you're looking at and I have hung onto another set of caps to use.
Posted By: 451Mopar
Re: 440 block but no caps - 03/15/13 04:32 PM
Just for a comparison of labor/machining costs, align boring/hone to fit aftermarket caps is around $450+ or more, plus the cost of the caps when I did the BCR aluminum caps with girdle on my 400 block. If you had a stock block with original caps, align hone is only around $100.
My point is, if you don't need the aftermarket caps for your application, you can save money using a block with the stock caps even if it is a few $$$ more than a block without the main caps.
If you get it and can't find a stock set of caps I have a 68 HP block I will be scraping soon. 50 dollars plus shipping for the caps.
Posted By: Dodgem
Re: 440 block but no caps - 03/15/13 09:13 PM
I've done it with just a line hone always do that anyways!
course 5 years later I found the box with the right caps in!
Posted By: kdsmith07
Re: 440 block but no caps - 03/16/13 12:25 AM
thanks guys for all the replies.i'm still up in the air about it.john,i don't need a 67 i just saw it on c/l.looking for a cheap block to mess around with.i found a 440 block w/caps for 150.00 and it's a 77 bored .040.i was told buy a few local "experts" that are smarter than me i think,not to buy it as your're not supposed to bore a thin wall 77 over .030.is that correct?should have come here first but i don't like feeling stupid.lol.thanks again in advance
Posted By: 451Mopar
Re: 440 block but no caps - 03/16/13 12:35 AM
Fairly common to go 0.055" over to a 4.375" bore.
The "thin wall" myth has been debunked years ago.
Posted By: kdsmith07
Re: 440 block but no caps - 03/16/13 12:41 AM
ok,thanks.think i'll go back and buy that one too.
Posted By: kdsmith07
Re: 440 block but no caps - 03/16/13 01:01 AM
appreciate ya pittracer.think i'll read it now before i buy anything else.lol
Posted By: fastmark
Re: 440 block but no caps - 03/16/13 01:33 AM
I sonic tested all of my blocks and my 77-78 blocks were the best. Earlier ones are mostly good but some were really bad.
Posted By: DaytonaTurbo
Re: 440 block but no caps - 03/16/13 04:49 AM
Thin wall is a myth. For 150 bucks I would scoop up the 77 block.
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: 440 block but no caps - 03/16/13 10:04 AM
Quote:
Just for a comparison of labor/machining costs, align boring/hone to fit aftermarket caps is around $450+ or more, plus the cost of the caps when I did the BCR aluminum caps with girdle on my 400 block. If you had a stock block with original caps, align hone is only around $100.
My point is, if you don't need the aftermarket caps for your application, you can save money using a block with the stock caps even if it is a few $$$ more than a block without the main caps.
Same as 451Mopar, I bought the BCR girdle and aluminum caps. They look very nice. Bought them for a 400 with the extra meat. Don't mind spending a little extra on it.
Posted By: viperblue72
Re: 440 block but no caps - 03/16/13 10:31 AM
440 blocks are not hard to find. I would just be patient and find a standard bore motor with caps. I have never paid more than a few hundred bucks for a complete one.
Posted By: kdsmith07
Re: 440 block but no caps - 03/16/13 11:58 AM
thanks for all the info.knowledge is king.