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Re: How much power out of stock 440 block?
[Re: Cab_Burge]
#1059366
08/22/11 01:17 PM
08/22/11 01:17 PM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,028
Trumbull,CT.
jim sciortino
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,028
Trumbull,CT.
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Just an example....
Mid 90s.....440 block (filled), stock caps w/studs, 4.150 arm, 400-1 heads.
At 3280#...146mph N/A, 156mph w/a little plate system.
After about 80 laps at ATCO (all N/A except 4) and almost 4 years of HARD street driving, The block and caps were wrecked.I'm lucky I didn't drive over the crank.
I will !!!!!!!!!!!!!NEVER!!!!!!!!!!! use a stock block again. Not even for a good street build. Just not worth it IMO.
Last edited by jim sciortino; 08/22/11 01:30 PM.
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Re: How much power out of stock 440 block?
[Re: jim sciortino]
#1059367
08/22/11 01:43 PM
08/22/11 01:43 PM
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 481
Cheswick, PA
Bob_Spelic
mopar
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mopar
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 481
Cheswick, PA
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my experience is about 600 HP and above 13 to 1 compression. Before I went up in compression and HP, I had about a 500HP setup and put 4 years and maybe 600 runs on it (no street miles), drag only. Built a new engine, about 600HP and 13:1 compression, different stock block (filled). After 2 years it started to use water. It was still running great after 2 seasons, but when freshened it was cracked up the #2 main web. I had another block done and filled also, and it also cracked up the #3 cylinder in 2 years. That motor would loose water. Still running good time wise, but would use water so something was wrong. Pulled the pan and saw the crack. Went to a mega block, 4 years and about 600 runs, (maybe 750 HP) and all is well. That original motor that made about 500HP has been freshened and is going into a 66 charger this year (500 HP....maybe). So, from my experience, stay below 600HP and stay below 13:1 compression and it will serve you a long time. Exceed those numbers and the life is limited.
Bob Spelic
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Re: How much power out of stock 440 block?
[Re: XXHEMI]
#1059371
08/22/11 09:46 PM
08/22/11 09:46 PM
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 3,112
LONG ISLAND
fishy340
master
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master
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 3,112
LONG ISLAND
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Quote:
Don't want to jinx myself. 807hp with 286 heads and a original max wedge intake and exhaust. But very limited use.
i know that car of urs (sweet) 
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Re: How much power out of stock 440 block?
[Re: XXHEMI]
#1059373
08/22/11 09:49 PM
08/22/11 09:49 PM
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,600
Alberta Canada
StrokerAspen
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,600
Alberta Canada
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Quote:
Don't want to jinx myself. 807hp with 286 heads and a original max wedge intake and exhaust. But very limited use.
THAT is one of the sweetest 63's I have seen!
I believe there is a guy running a 440 block with the BCR main caps & girdle pushing 1400hp going on 4 years now??? Maybe he is on here and will chime in.
We built our own main cap girdle for a 520ci. B1 alcohol engine. It wasn't a cheap piece, but that thing isn't coming apart!
-Kenny
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Re: How much power out of stock 440 block?
[Re: jim sciortino]
#1059377
08/23/11 11:11 AM
08/23/11 11:11 AM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 8,165
Left Coast
BobR
master
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master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 8,165
Left Coast
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Quote:
Just an example....
Mid 90s.....440 block (filled), stock caps w/studs, 4.150 arm, 400-1 heads.
At 3280#...146mph N/A, 156mph w/a little plate system.
After about 80 laps at ATCO (all N/A except 4) and almost 4 years of HARD street driving, The block and caps were wrecked.I'm lucky I didn't drive over the crank.
I will !!!!!!!!!!!!!NEVER!!!!!!!!!!! use a stock block again. Not even for a good street build. Just not worth it IMO.
That should be the last word on this subject. But it won't be.
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Re: How much power out of stock 440 block?
[Re: LAR_414]
#1059378
08/23/11 11:27 AM
08/23/11 11:27 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,104
Wheels up, MO
nhramark
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,104
Wheels up, MO
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I know there are guys with high hp rb blocks out there that have stayed together. My personal experience is that I split two 440 blocks from the mains all the way up to the top of one cylinder on each side with around 750 hp n/a. I am also lucky I didn't drive over the crankshaft, hit the wall, etc. I have had my Mega block with about 850 hp n/a since 2003, I have put many hundreds of runs on this motor. We took it apart after 300 runs and the bearings were so good we put them right back in it. I have not had one single piece fail on this motor....ever. It will come apart again this winter. I would have saved a ton of money, effort, and lost racing time by going with the mega block in the first place. If you are paying for a nice crank, rods, pistons, heads, valvetrain, etc., why risk it all with a 40+ year old stock block that wasn't designed for that hp level? Get a good aftermarket block and start with a solid foundation. 
[image]http://s1126.photobucket.com/user/nhramark1/library/Racing[/image]
9.100 @ 150 mph
5.780 @ 120 mph
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Re: How much power out of stock 440 block?
[Re: nhramark]
#1059380
08/23/11 03:49 PM
08/23/11 03:49 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 731
NY
XXHEMI
super stock
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super stock
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 731
NY
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I would have saved a ton of money, effort, and lost racing time by going with the mega block in the first place. If you are paying for a nice crank, rods, pistons, heads, valvetrain, etc., why risk it all with a 40+ year old stock block that wasn't designed for that hp level? Get a good aftermarket block and start with a solid foundation.
I agree with you one hundred percent. Just not legal in the glass I run in. Stock block,heads,carbs,intake and exhaust manifolds. I maybe one of the very few looking at the rule book though!!!!!!!!!!!
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Re: How much power out of stock 440 block?
[Re: steeldust]
#1059384
09/21/11 12:10 AM
09/21/11 12:10 AM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 58
Illinois
bad543dart
member
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member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 58
Illinois
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Ive got a 76 440 punched .060 with a 4.5 stroke crank billet main cap a cre main girdle and the block is half filled just over the freeze plugs. It made 755 h.p. @ 6500 and 725lbs@4200 and still together after 2 seasons and am now putting it on alcohol and a new hill born injection and recently had the head fully ported and polished. So i guess ill find out how much it can take, but so far so good.
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Re: How much power out of stock 440 block?
[Re: dodgeboy11]
#1059386
09/21/11 01:09 PM
09/21/11 01:09 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 17,914
S.E. Michigan
ZIPPY
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 17,914
S.E. Michigan
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I've seen the main caps break in half and a chunk of the main webbing in the block torn ou with it of a 440 that was making maybe 430HP on a good day.
It had main bolts instead of studs...bad idea, and the guy was running around with about 60 degrees of timing.
Rich H.
Esse Quam Videri
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Re: How much power out of stock 440 block?
[Re: ZIPPY]
#1059387
09/21/11 01:52 PM
09/21/11 01:52 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,020
Frostbitefalls MN (Rocky&Bullw...
gregsdart
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,020
Frostbitefalls MN (Rocky&Bullw...
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Cap walk, weak main webs and long cylinders make the RB block kind of an orphan now days. The only reason to use one is a resto, a moderate hp street build, or a moderate (550-600 hp?)race build with light components and aluminum main caps to let it live.
8..603 156 mph best, 2905 lbs 549, indy 572-13, alky
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Re: How much power out of stock 440 block?
[Re: gregsdart]
#1059388
09/21/11 03:40 PM
09/21/11 03:40 PM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,080
organ
maximum entropy
master
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master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,080
organ
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i love these threads. really. the stock blocks vary so much, it's impossible to give a set maximum hp tolerance, and the tune is always critical. a good stock block, with a conservative tune, a stud girdle, and at least a partial fill, can take pretty big power ime. aftermarket is nice, but fill and a girdle are cheap, and if the backyard is littered with blocks, the temptation is hard to resist, you know?
for what is the good life if not doing things thoughtfully?
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Re: How much power out of stock 440 block?
[Re: maximum entropy]
#1059389
09/21/11 04:21 PM
09/21/11 04:21 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,932
NC
440Jim
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,932
NC
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Quote:
the stock blocks vary so much, it's impossible to give a set maximum hp tolerance, and the tune is always critical.
When the power level goes up, it is a matter of time, not just max power. 80 or 800 passes, no way to really know. The quality of the machine work and assembly help too.
The main girdle or aluminum caps help. Sonic checking the cylinders should be considered a must for 600 plus horsepower, IMO. And only use a block that sonic checks thicker than average (the production blocks can be very bad).
I run a 400 low deck (not a 440).
It has aluminum main caps and ARP studs. A tall fill (drag race only. It makes around 750 hp, 13.5 CR, 4.250" crank, 511 CID (4.375" bore).
I did a rebuild over the winter and it had 636 passes in 5 seasons (2006-2010). 7 of the rod bearings were from the original build. The only reason 1 was changed was during an inspection one bearing was scratched. I replaced the mains after the second year (inspection), they were OK but not like new, I just wasn't going to put them back in. The mains were fine at the 600 pass mark also.
That block is now over 700 passes, but I did do a bunch of work during the rebuild last winter. Hone, new rings, all new bearings, etc. Same Cometic MLS head gaskets and that is after several inspections (4th reuse).
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He didn't know the mains where cracked, he did know that it had 14 broken or bent pushrods 
They outran me sometimes and sometimes not, I eventually quit racing stock for several reasons,time, money and politics 
He ended up winning class on Friday and then won the race on Sunday 
What a eye opener 
My message is go buy a good race block and use it, the Chevy and Ford racers(and maybe some Mopars racers 
)are already using aftermarket Compact graphite iron race blocks 
Long live Max Wedge racers and Cars 
when you start getting 650 to 800 HP or more and making pass after pass you or asking for TROUBLE 
