Engine choice for daily driver dually pickup

Guys I would like some input on an engine combo for my dually pickup which would be a daily driver and work vehicle. I would like to build something using the parts I have as money is tight at the moment. I have a few 318's, a 4 inch scat cast crank with 318 mains, standard bore 360 block and crank, a 440 thats nearly complete and a 318 poly.

The 440 is a 30 over 74 casting. It has cast crank, LY rods, TRW 2355 pistons. It has arp main studs and rod bolts, performer rpm 84cc heads which have been lightly ported, guide clearance has been corrected as has the sloppy valve seat machining, manifold is a torker which has been port matched. I have a comp xe275hl cam which I think is to much cam for the application and mopar electric distributor and orange box. I think with the right cam and efi this combo would work pretty well.

Or would a mild 318 with lightly ported heads, about 9.5:1 comp, cam with around 215-220 duration at .050, single plane iron intake with efi be a better choice. Alternatively I could put the 4in crank in and make use of the extra torque. Would ported 318 heads still be ok with the stroker crank considering I'm after torque. I could also machine the mains on the 360 crank and would have 350ci. I have both open chamber and closed chamber 318 heads.

Another option is a 318 poly or I could drop in the scat crank and have 390ci

It doesn't need to turn harder than 5500rpm. It has a dana 70 with 3.54 r&p with powr loc and trans will be be either a 727 I have which has been rebuilt already or maybe a 518 4 speed. Should weigh around 5500lbs once decked out for work. Would like to be able to tow a car trailer on occasion also. What do you guys think, all opinions welcome.
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/3b/42/d1/3b42d190a98cb3d71a9ed26210c82dfa.jpg

if fuel isn't an issue go with the 440
Next choice for me would be the 390 inch Poly.

As long as you want a truck and not a HotRod, I would build a 360 or stroked 318 based on the parts you already have.

440 is easy torq but you feed it ALL the time.
Watch the tire O.D. to not kill the gear ratio too.

I have had and pulled with a nearly stock 360 and they do suprisingly well.

An added positive with a smallblock is when travelling or broke down,it is MUCH easier to find smallblock parts at parts stores etc...
[way more common} VS BigBlock,at least here in the states.

IMO.

I'd use the 440 as a starting point. I'd build it with a stroke and rod length that gets you a nice piston as far as ring belt and compression height. The added CID will help with fuel mileage. Use an OD trans. Pick a nice cylinder head that fits your displacement/RPM and cam accordingly.

Isuzu 4BD1T...

Seriously, if $$$ are tight, there are decent 5.2Ls awaiting adoption at your local recycler's yard.

I would do the 440 with a different cam. A 318 or 360 in this application will be nearly as thirsty so I would save my bucks and dump in the 440. I think the smallest or second smallest lunati voodoo hydraulic flat tappet cam would be a good choice for your build. If money is really tight and you just need to button something together, look at the small summit cam.

you didn't give enough info ..... but this is what I know, 440=under 10mpg ANY way you build it. But the most power for gasoline. 318 stroker? why bother . 360 best small block. I run an 1989 cummins 5.9 diesel good milage good power awesome reliability low maintance. I also understand you want to use what you have on hand. that's my 2 cents.

Thanks for the replies fellas. yella71 what other details do you want to know. I have never had a 440 powered vehicle so I'm not sure what to expect but if the fuel mileage is as you say then the 440 would be a bad choice and the diesel is a no go, has to be a v8. I will add that I'm an electrician and thats what the truck will be used as, a service vehicle. I live in a hilly area, so that and the weight of the vehicle are why a torquey combo is important. Why do you think the 318 stroker is not a good choice. 318 heads when ported properly with larger valves say 1.6 and 1.88 have good velocity and can make for a torquey little motor. I have some indy 360-2 heads that are begging to go on the 360 block for another project so if there isn't much of a difference between the 318 stroker and 360 then I will save it for the 360-2's. Besides 360 blocks are getting real hard to find now and prices for them have gone up considerably.

DaytonaTurbo I was looking at the lunati 30701 recently and thought it would be a good choice.
Ric3xrt fuel will be an issue and I have read good things about poly motors. They make good torque from what I have read.
6bblFLASH I definitely want a truck over a hotrod. It would be nice to have 350-400hp and 500ft/lb of torque but the fuel to feed it will be an issue. I want a combo that cruises easily and is reasonable on mileage and when you have been inside a roof cavity or on a roof installing solar panels climbing into a nice v8 powered cruiser will be nice. I will also add that A/C is a must, summers are pretty hot over here.

Man if your gonna do a new engine and your obviously a gear head I say the 440. How fun and cool would that be? EVERYONE has a 318 or 360- kind of a yawn. I say build a torque monster 440 with a nice dual exhaust and good dual plane manifold with a great street carburetor like the poly Street Demon (Modern upgraded Thermoquad). Building a torque monster means utilizing OEM parts like rocker arms and heads- this keeps cost down and preserves reliability. Having 480 plus lb feet of torque at your gas pedal would make driving your work truck fun. Run the tried and true ( and affordable!) Trans Go shift kit in a robust 727 transmission. Yea gas mileage will be not good but your not gonna get great mileage with any engine you presented. Might as well have fun with that big wide legendary 440 Mopar!!!!!

I wold do the 318/392 unless its an eagle crank, if that was the case I would build a 360 for TQ.

I built a 360 magnum for a 97 dodge 2500 and with a mild cam upgrade from Rapid340, EQ heads and steel shim head gaskets it pulled great and mileage was the best I had ever seen in a 3/4 ton truck, I borrowed it a few times and checked as I didn't think he was checking it right. Tight quench and as much compression as your fuel can handle are your friends.

If I was in your shoes thogh I would be very tempted to go 392 poly if I could find a 4bbl intake.

Chrysler Power builds a poly 4bbl intake: https://cpwebstore.com/Poly/Poly-SS-X-Manifold

2boltmain I hear you on the 440. Like I posted at the start, I have a 440 thats just about ready for assembly, just need head gaskets and a different cam. I feel like I would be filling up every third day with the big block. Curious what kind of mpg I could get with port injection and the right camshaft.

HotRodDave the crank I have is a scat 9000 series. I think the small bore of the 318 coupled with closed chamber 318 heads that I have or even the poly heads would give me the best compromise. And Wailin D mentioned the wind tunnel poly manifold, I have seen good results with this manifold. I am leaning toward the 318 stroker or poly stroker at this point but I'd love to hear from anyone who has fitted port injection on a daily driven 440.

You got the 440 just about ready to go and money is tight...seems like a no brainer.

BB dually!

Yes yes and yes! Dual plane intake, real street carburetor, appropriate dual exhaust and a moderate accelerator foot. Probably match a 2000 era 5.9 Magnum Rams 12 mpg city. Plus-its a big HEAVY work truck. The 2.08 intake and 1.74 exhaust valves and ports of a factory head work great in this type of idle to like 4800 RPM application.

You won’t find an OD trans for a 440 or a poly.
Things can be adapted, but no direct economical choice.
That leaves you with the small block option.