Got my 440, BB truck gurus on call

I got a 440 and 727 for the truck(oh yea).
I am eager to get any and all info from the been there done that gurus with locating parts and info.
I do not know much about this motor history.
I am told it came out of a truck.
Front pad says 8 T 440 E
10-78 casting
Tranny has a brake drum on tailshaft.

Never saw a truck trans with a rear drum...only RV trannys.
Does it have a front sump oil pan on the motor (RV) or a rear sump (truck)?

Sounds like motorhome engine....

Found out it is a motorhome engine.
Does anyone know what the convertor stall would be?
Is the rear brake on the tranny part of the tailshaft?
Will be taking it somewhat apart to check on things.

Motorhome engines are notorious for exhaust valves "tuliping". They build a lot of heat. A perfect recipe for future dropped valves!
A teardown should be in order.
you should start looking for a 727 trans without the e brake.

My for what its worth.

was the old transmission an automatic and do you still have it? You can swap the output shaft and tailhousing onto the BB transmission.

the old trans is a sb 904.
I wonder if the motorhome trans is a heavy duty job and what the convertor stall is,I thought that I could swap tail housings.

the trans will have HD 4 planet gears but you will most likely need to swap the tail shaft to a short or long tail shaft.

with a parking drum brake on the tailshaft it has no "parking pawl" hooked to the VB to engage the cog wheel on tailshaft.

the TC will be the large 11-3/4" AKA 12" LOW STALL for sure if it was a MH chassis.

have a look to see what spark plugs it has. some 452 heads have the small 5/8" peanut plug (auto light 23) or use a 13/16" plug (champ RJ12YC)

have a look at the damper on crankshaft. some have a steel crank 6pac rods some have "bullet nose damper" cast crank external balance LY rods depending on yr/chassis.

trust me when I say shaving off a 30' MH chassis for a 440/727/8-3/4 swb 1/2 ton truck wakes it up.

I added a Holley street Dominator intake with a Holley 650 dbl pumper headers-3" pipes with 3" muffs and it is a beast with the 3.91 sg but 10 mpg.

3.23s not as strong off the line but 14 mpg

2.76 fair off the line but 55 to 125 mph is AWSOME! 12-13 mpg

should have the WHIPLASH cam broke in next week. that should really wake it up.

FYI..the Edelbrock 440 RPM intake is another intake that will wake the stock 440 up as well.

those 2 intakes on a stock lopo 440 are impressive for a bolt on with a good 650 cfm dbl pumper.

Will a valve body from a car/truck 727 solve the parking pin issue?
Figured on a different convertor.
Definitely A cast crank,that will be ok.
Just have to find tail assembly.
Will need to get motormount brackets,pan and pickup.
Is the trans crossmember different from sb/904?

you will need 2 wheeldrive BB mounts.

should be able to add the pawl rod to your VB. when you change the tail shaft you will KNOW if it has the cog wheel(most likely does)on the output shaft. or use another VB. any long tailshaft 727 for parts.

cross member will be same/same location unless 87-up chassis when it changed cross member and mount.

you need a rear sump oil pan with pick up tube/oil dip tube in sump of pan/make sure to plug hole in block for car pan dip tube.

if it has a front sump pan with windage tray you can use the windage tray with rear sump pan.

I used a set of hedman 79250 truck headers with 3" pipes and 3" 2chamber muffs dumping in front of rear wheels.

I will have to track down mounts.
I am considering reverse manual valve body.
Looking for tail assembly as well.

Got a lead on mounts,Thanks Mike.
I will probably go with a manual reverse valve body.
Searching down a tailhousing assembly.
Pulled the heads today,will need a bore and hone,to far out of round and some minor scratches.
Next question would be get compression from pistons or heads.
What is the potential of 452 heads?
Shooting for 500-600 hp.
On a limited tight budget so one strategic piece at a time.

Unless you've lucked into some ready to bolt on 452s it would be better to start off with some good aluminum heads. Just my 2 cents.

I would be very surprised if that trans doesn't have the Park mechanism in it. Any Mopar powered Winnebago type MH I have peered into has always had a Park position on the shifter quadrant. Not that I have seen them all, just the ones I have seen.

The last 727 I saw with a drum brake and no Park in it was a push button 64 D100.

The best money you can spend will be on cylinder heads. That is where the power is.

With the possible exception of Max Wedge heads, none of these heads will be made of iron. It's not that it can't be done with iron heads, just that the iron head will cost more money to get there than the aluminum.

Just about any of the entry level aluminum heads are good for your HP goals with nothing more than having the valve job fixed and maybe touch up the bowls. That price will barely rebuild the ones you have never mind get them to flow 600 HP.

And while I'm here spending your money have you considered a stroker? I have an under 9:1 493 that makes 500 hp on 87 regular gas.

Kevin

What's the weight rating on your truck?
I have a 3/4 ton and it has the short tail housing and two piece drive shaft.
Mine is a 318 though. No idea if the BB would have the same options, but would assume so.
Being you have an engine from a motor home, I would think the pan, pickup, exhaust, and mounts would all swap in. Not sure of interchange, but I dropped a 318 out of a van right into my pick-up with out changing anything.
No idea on converter specs, but I would replace it anyway as the unit is out.

I have several tail shafts sitting here if you need one.

So I decided the 440 will be a stroker.
Thanks to bboogieart I got the tail assembly for the trans.

Ordered a set of pistons today.
KB251+.010
That will require a .034+ bore and hone.

did you pick your cam yet for a stroker?

Have not even looked at any,I think I will look at a .550-.575 lift.
When I get the pistons,I will measure them up then send the block out to get machined.
Now checking on rods,I do not think I trust the stockers to hold up,why invest in working them over.
Crank,I have one in mind,4.150 stroke,around $675.
Will a center sump pan fit in the truck?

no. rear sump for truck chassis. Milodon has a rear sump off road deep 8qrt pan that can be used in a 2x trucks IIRC.

stock truck rear sump pan is 6qrt

Found a pan,pickup and stick in good shape today near localy,great price,$50 for all 3,motor came with a windage tray so good there.
Thanks Greg.
Pistons should be here tomorrow,so the block will go out in a week or two.

One part down,many to go.

Not to upset but KB 251 are a 3.75 stroke piston. You will need pistons that are designed for a stroker crank. It may be in your best interest to buy a stroker rotating asembly from one of the very knowledgeable board members or Scat who have been building stroker assemblies for decades 440 source.

These pistons will sit .160 below deck,plenty of space.
Depending on head and gasket,compression will be around 8-1 to 10-1
If I could afford a complete assembly I would.

Earlier posts lead me to believe you did not have a well thought out plan. I was mistaken my apologies.

No need to apologize its kool and as far as a well thought out plan, haha not here.