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The 78 was the worst 440 ever built trying to meet the smog standards. It ran the poorest and generated the most heat. The carburetor has a phenolic base trying to prevent heat soak into the carburetor. What you are hearing is the the gas percolating. Also could be the water in the heads boiling and being trasmitted through the intake manifold plenums. You'll also see insulation under the valley pan that was stock from the factory. If it's not there, then that adds to the heat problem



I wouldn't go so far as to say the 78 440(or 400 for that matter) is the worst 440 ever built. Internally it's no different than any other 70's 440 with smogger low-compression pistons. Just had all the emissions junk tacked onto it, all of which can be removed.