What's up,all. I wanted to know,is there any difference/advantage to building a 500" stroker w/ a 400 engine as opposed to a 440 (besides the low deck)? I've heard that the 400's rev faster, is that true? Thanks for any info/help.

The 400 block is a much better fit in an A body. I have a 451 3/4 done (440 crank/400 block). If I did it again I would have offset ground the crank for a 470. I have a bare 440 block & when the time comes it's gonna get a 535 "source" kit

There are some advantages/disadvantages either way. Which way you go may depend on what you will do with the engine and what it will be going in.

One thing for sure; there are more intake choices for the 440.

You can get the same displacement in a 400 or 440 block. The 400 block is not as tall. I did a 496 with a 440 and I have hood clearance problems--would not be an issue if I used a 400 block. I'm going with a 400 block for my next stroker for the Charger. I've read the 400 block is stronger-more rigid. I don't know if it is or not.

I am running a 499 cube out a 400 block on the street. No complaints here. Fits perfect in a B body

The height of the block V is 3/4" (.745) taller on the RB. If my math is right using the V increase as the hypotenuse of a right triangle then the height increase is going to be .745 divided by 1.414 for a .527 vertical height increase with all of the bolt ons being the EXACT same dimentions & this lets you go with a longer stroke with the RB rod till the CH of the piston gets so short to where there are issues. I think you can get "buttons" to cheat a bit on that so the pin is in the oil ring but I would avoid that if possible. I believe the B block is stouter & I'd always thought they were lighter but I was thinking someone said that in some cases that ain't always true. In an A body use the B hand down. Anything else, if you can get the cubes you need with an RB rod/no piston problems then I would go with a B (~500 cubes or a bit less) & if I needed more than that then I'd suggest starting with the RB block & going with the max cubes. People have went way above 500 in the B but this is my preference.

What Robert said. I believe the piston starts getting so short in the 500 inch B block, that you get into longevity problems. Thrust forces, piston slap, etc. Kinda depends on what your goals for the engine are.

Up to about 650 hp both will work fine. The 400 block is a bit stronger in places and if I was going over 650 hp I would use the 400 block if I was gong to stay with the stock block but much more hp and your getting into aftermarket block territory. Myself my 493 is a 440 block as I wanted to have the selection of the 440 intakes. As for reving once you stroke it then it will depend on the stroke you use as to how quick it revs. In stock foorm the 400 revs faster then the 440 do to its short stroke but when stroked it may not if you put a long enough stroke in it. Ron

A good, sonic tested to make sure the cylinder walls are good, 400 block has a lot thicker main webs than any stock 440 block, Mopar made them that way for a reason The 440 blocks have weak main webs and will crack once you get above 600 and detonate the motor even a very small amount, been there done that Add a set of after market steel or aluminum main caps and go crazy, I have My last pump gas 400 stroker motor, 518 C.I.,made 727 HP on Oregon pump swill, it had a bunch of good parts in it also You can do the same thing, use a 4.250 or 4.300 stroke crank made for a low deck with BB Chevy rod journal sizes and a decent set of long forged steel H beam BB Chevy type rods, (6.700 works very well ) rods and shoot for under 11.0 to 1 on the compression ratio with aluminum heads, I shoot for 9.5 to 1 or under on all my pump gas iron headed motors. Lots of choices out there, make the correct ones and have fun

I built a 4.15" stroke 400 block (499") to take 700+ HP and 7,000 RPM, but it also has the BCR aluminum main caps and girdle, 1/2" internal oil pickup, and Edelbrock victor max wedge port size heads.
As mentioned, not much selection for intakes for the combination, Just using an Indy Single plane right now. The 400 does fit the engine compartment better, not just hood clearance, but clearance to the passenger side inner fender is better (headers and spark plug clearance.)

I also have a mild street 440, 0.030" over with the 4.25" stroker crank and 7.1" rods. It has a mild hydraulic roller cam 10.3:1 compression, and fuel injection. It might be making 550 HP, but a ton of torque. I have the rev limiter set at 6,000 because of the hydraulic cam and lighter valve spring pressures. This engine has mildly ported 440 source stealth heads. When I built the engine I was going with a more stock look.
If your building a 500+" stroker engine for power, you will want to use a larger Max Wedge port cylinder head. If you plan to make over 750+ HP, use an aftermarket race block. By the time you modify a stock block with oiling mods, and main caps and girdle You could almost pay for the race block.

For your application, I'd go with the RB motor.