440 RV motor or 402 Chebby?

Hi All first time poster. I've been a life long Chevy enthusiasts, but have decided to go a different route this time. I have a 1954 Studebaker Champion that tips the scale at 2900 lbs. I have a 1971 Chevy truck 402 engine and TH350, and a sweet running 1978 motor home 440 with 727tf w/ under 60,000 on the clock. I've removed all the smog and junk. I'm trying to decide which motor to run the 402 or 440, of course on a Mopar forum lol. I want a fun street car. It won't see any track time but I'd like to baste the tires once in a while and have a fun car street warrior/machine. I have the following rear end gears available 3.08, 3.54, 3.73, 3.91, 4.55. I have a Former intake for the 440 but I'm sure a Performer is probably is a much better choice. I'd like 350-400hp. I don't mind doing a cam swap,intake, carb, ignition, not sure if headers will fit in the Studebaker but manifolds do. Is there good flowing HP stock ones? Or a block hugger type for bb Mopar?,please excuse my ignorance this is my first Mopar product ever. I'm excited to play with something different for once.

Yes a MOPAR site... so MOPAR is the recommendation. The 440 should make 350-400 HP with a cam swap and good manifold.

As I remember, the Studabaker would have originally had a very small small block. Would a BB fit? How about suspension mods to carry the weight? Personally I would look for a 360 or 5.9 Magnum... and stroke it to ~400 CI if you want more. Magnum manifolds are pretty good.

'78 had pretty low compression. Finding a set of 915's with decent valves shouldn't be too much work, and bring your compression up to 9:1. A good cam, intake, carb should get you at least to the 400 hp mark.

Welcome to Moparts.

Honestly either could get you there, nothing wrong with a 402 (heads likely flow abit better on the 402), but I'd still say to use the 440. Summit 6401 cam (guys that have used them say they work good in low compression 440's), performer RPM or Holley Street Dominator would put you in the 350+ HP range. There are high flow exhaust manifolds but for probably the same price you could get some block hugger shorty headers that Hedman makes

Snap some pics of the 54 stud.

Whichever one will fit and hookup the easiest.Nothing wrong with a big block so long as it isn't a Ford.

The BBC may be slightly shorter top to bottom and narrower across the manifolds than the RB based on the deck heights.
The RB may be a better fit to the firewall (farther back) with its front-mount distributor - the BBC is rear mount.
Where is your center link? Steering mast and linkage?
The BBC oval heads (if they're not peanut) are probably better than the RB.

Studebaker V8 is 4.500" bore pitch, slightly bigger than LA, SBC, Windsor, AMC 390. Width is probably less, shorter deck.

PICS!!! around here if we don't see pic we don't believe you have it.JK WE just love pics of cool stuff.Stoodies are cool stuff.

Either will fit! We are Stude guys and 67-72 Chevy truck guys here lol. We recently parted a 53 Stude with a 413 and have had Stude's with BBC's between my father and I we have parted 8 or 9 53-61 Stude CK body style Studebakers but now its time to build mine. My father has a sweet rust free 53 and a 33 that plans are blown Hemi.
I'm not on that level lol. I'm a poor 43 year old. I do all my own work in my fathers shop. My car originally came as a 6 cyl, but all suspension will be upgraded DB, rack and pinion. I usually go BBC in everything I build I have never ran a 440 before. I guess I wanted to know is it honesty a better motor? a small block will NEVER happen..if it does it will be a 6.0 LS basically a BBC needs a set of headers, intake, to wake up. Quadrajet is a awesome carb if it works right. I heard thermoquad is the same way. Is a 440 the same a set of headers, intake really make a difference? I know the compression ratio is low on this motor. I am don't mind adding a bumpstick, but don't want to swap pistons. Maybe drop on a set of heads? What about different thickness head gaskets, I read something about that on another forum.
Pictures, of my car? Its still a pile of bolts!

Most BB Mopars make a ton of torque with all stock parts, I would put a set of the 440 Source aluminum 80 CC cahmber heads on it and a RV type cam and degree the cam so it is advance 3 to 6 degrees on the intake lobes That will add to the torque, which tends to spin the rear tires more The stock springs on thsoe heads are good to .600 valve lift so they should work good on almost every hydrauilic cam out there for a 440 with stock stamp steel rockers IHTHs. BTW, 1953 Studebaker Starlight coupes are one of my favorite cars, I wish I had now I would even take a 1953 Champion or President 2 door Coupe

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I agree with Cab. What he's suggesting is a great way to upgrade most engines of that era without breaking the bank or doing a complete overhaul. Plus, between the aluminum heads and intake, that front suspension will thank you.

Here it is with a ugly 55 front clip. Its now disassembled and in bare metal. I can't seem to load mor pics I tried, but over 2 MB. I have a Exploder disc brake 8.8 rear with 3.73 posi but probably to much gear and a few of the Dana 44s but are to weak for the 440.
I'm going to run a Stude 224 and 4spd until I have the 440 ready. I don't have the funds to drop on aluminum heads or I would. I could find some better flowing stock ones. My stepdad gave me a lowmile 6/26/65 dated 440 that the heads were rebuilt I just have to pay shipping from Arizona to Washington will they be a good choice for a 1978 motor?
Also it has a new Crane Comp 292 cam. He said it sounded pretty lumpy.
Do they make block hugger headers for 440. I have very little room to clear the steering box. Stock BBC manifolds clear but boil the grease out of the box. I took a 413 out of a Stude and a custom set of headers but was told they didn't fit on a 440 and they were rusted out and junk.
I'm getting excited to play with Mopar for a change and going a different route than the normal Stude crowd. I was going to go Caddy 500. I'm after brute torque.

I'm not worried about weight Studebaker engines are the heaviest in the car manufacturing world a dressed small block Studebaker 289 tips the scale at 685 lbs, 75lbs heavier than a BBC or even a BB Mopar!
I have stayed away from Mopar as I have been led to believe they cost twice the price to build over a chebby, not sure if this holds true. I am about to find out.
I have a 440 Torker intake is this a decent intake? or should I sell it and go with a Performer or a Performer RPM, how about the purple can that I've heard and read about on different forums or does it need more compression to work right?

440 Torker is a decent intake. The 440 that your stepfather offered you should have closed chamber heads (last 3 digits of the casting number is 915). They may have small 1.6" exhaust valves though (most BB stuff is 1.74) They would give you a boost in compression. The headers from a 413 will fit a 440, they're the same engine family (413 just has a smaller bore). Most factory BB heads flow about the same, unless they're Max Wedge's.

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,104749.0.html

Locally I was just offered some free BB heads part numbers are 1 pr. 4006452, 1 pr. 3462346 and some exh manifolds 2843992,2806900,2863409
I just have to pick them up or it all goes to scrap.
It a 2 hour- 1 way drive ugh. I guess my garage will need some shelves cleared for the non bowtie parts lol.

Being that your a chevy guy... why not just put in a LS
and be done with it

The heads on that 1966 model year 440 motor in a C body will probally have what are known as the "516" ( last three digits of the casting number) heads, they are a small exhaust valve head with closed combustion chambers used from 1964 to 1966 on all B and RB motors, they where designed for leaded fuel, not unleaded gasoline All B and RB headers are normally inter changeable

a 440 magnum spec motor with some cam and the 452 heads which flow better than the 906 i think would work. the 452 should have seats for unlead fuel.

Mr.P Body. Yes I've always been a Chevy guy but I am open to learning new things. My all time favorite cars are Cudas, Challengers.
I'm a Chevy guy because thats what Ive just always had and learned and grew up into plus I can afford them lol. However my first car was a 79 Magnum, I've had a few Miradas, and a 83 Imperial. I always wanted to put a 440 in a Mirada.