440: Rebuild, Replace, or Sell

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Buckeye440

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Hey all, I'd just like to pick your brains. My 440's oil pump had decided to stop sometime while driving the car to get the carbs rebuilt, which led to the engine stopping at a light. My question is, given the options of rebuilding the engine, replacing it with a crate engine or already rebuilt one, or selling the car (I got an ok deal on the price of the car and am not too deep financially into it), which would make the most sense logically/financially? Also, the older Mopar mechanic couldn't even turn the engine over by hand. Thanks!
 
What kind of car is it?
1970 Dart
20150712_125815[1].jpg
 
It still is actually. I'm a little more "free" to figure things out and not necessarily sell it, or at least attempt to fix it and ask for a little more. The carbs turned out to be the initial problem areas but that quickly turned into the oiling issue.
 
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Craigslist and eBay are options, I am just one to be hesitant trusting people's word. Just not sure what the best option out there is for this certain situation.
 
i'd rebuild it
Any idea of what it "should" cost? Both a typical rebuild and one where machine work would be needed?

I would keep the car.
It looks like its in great shape??
The car is very solid minus the "removal of the inner fenders and replacement with sheet metal." Seems to be undercoated as well. Only real rust is a tiny bit on a lower wheel well or two.
 
Any idea of what it "should" cost? Both a typical rebuild and one where machine work would be needed?


The car is very solid minus the "removal of the inner fenders and replacement with sheet metal." Seems to be undercoated as well. Only real rust is a tiny bit on a lower wheel well or two.
are you doing the tear down and put back together yourself at all? labor is a HUGE part of the pill, usually 30-50%. if you caught the oiling problem quick enough, and it didn't spin a bearing or damage too much, you might be able to get away with a simple hone job and new bearings.

make damn sure you go thru a high quality shop, and take some with you knowledgable upon pick up to make sure all work paid for was done and done right. I made the mistake of trusting my engine builder and he didnt do half what i paid.

but anyone, to give you an idea on cost. around here, most shops are in the following range. these are assuming you have the thing taken apart and they just have to do the machine work

75-85 to hot tank and prep it
50-75 to replace the cam bearings
150-300 to deck the block
15-80 to bore it (depends on how big and the shop)
150-300 to line hone the mains

now if you replace/ upgrade rods,pistons etc or just want to internal balance and hone the crank if it needs it
75-100 to hone the crank
100-300 to balance depending on how out of balance it is.


then you get into parts.

cam bearings for a 440 can range from 25-100, I recommed Kings
main bearings range about the same, 25-100

then you have you gasket set, a good one is about 150.


Course this is all assuming no major damage to the rotating components.
 
This is what I was looking to find out, thanks! I did check the oil and found no evidence of metal so there's a start but I think I recall hearing a POSSIBLE rod knock but I can't be sure as I have not started it since finding out about the oiling problem.
 
A local Machine shop in New England wanted $4000 plus for a stock rebuild.
 
I also have to factor in the cost of the other things this car needs such as the spaghetti wiring and none of the gauges or lights working, let alone having wiring run to them.
20150712_125921[1].jpg
 
A local Machine shop in New England wanted $4000 plus for a stock rebuild.

Them be nuts. I called around to probably 7-8 engine shops including some that do work for semi-professional race teams, the most I was ever quoted was 3500 and that was if I had the iron heads ported and polished.
 
Well $3500 isn't that far off from $4000!
I bought an old drag car with a 600 HP and I dyno'ed it.
Paid $9000, kept the motor and trans and resold the chassis for $5000.
It sits in my 66 coronet now, I couldn't built a motor for that and I ended up with a built 727 too!
 
My friends stroked engine is a good deal. Very reputable engine builder in my part of the country.
 
I've talked to over half a dozen shops around here and the average is $3000-$4000. The highest was $6500 from a racing engine shop. After hearing you guys on here, the prices I've been given make me sick...
 
are you doing the tear down and put back together yourself at all? labor is a HUGE part of the pill, usually 30-50%. if you caught the oiling problem quick enough, and it didn't spin a bearing or damage too much, you might be able to get away with a simple hone job and new bearings.

make damn sure you go thru a high quality shop, and take some with you knowledgable upon pick up to make sure all work paid for was done and done right. I made the mistake of trusting my engine builder and he didnt do half what i paid.

but anyone, to give you an idea on cost. around here, most shops are in the following range. these are assuming you have the thing taken apart and they just have to do the machine work

75-85 to hot tank and prep it
50-75 to replace the cam bearings
150-300 to deck the block
15-80 to bore it (depends on how big and the shop)
150-300 to line hone the mains

now if you replace/ upgrade rods,pistons etc or just want to internal balance and hone the crank if it needs it
75-100 to hone the crank
100-300 to balance depending on how out of balance it is.


then you get into parts.

cam bearings for a 440 can range from 25-100, I recommed Kings
main bearings range about the same, 25-100

then you have you gasket set, a good one is about 150.


Course this is all assuming no major damage to the rotating components.
the bore estimate is way too lite, double that for most places, maybe even more. Honing a crank? never heard of it !!
 
Craigslist and eBay are options, I am just one to be hesitant trusting people's word. Just not sure what the best option out there is for this certain situation.

If you don't trust other people, then rebuild it yourself...
 
I've talked to over half a dozen shops around here and the average is $3000-$4000. The highest was $6500 from a racing engine shop. After hearing you guys on here, the prices I've been given make me sick...

If you're close enough to run to Detroit (about 45 minutes from Toledo), I know a great engine guy near the airport that can do whatever you want to the engine including complete rebuild and machine work... He retired from the engine factory that made the 440....
 
Well $3500 isn't that far off from $4000!
I bought an old drag car with a 600 HP and I dyno'ed it.
Paid $9000, kept the motor and trans and resold the chassis for $5000.
It sits in my 66 coronet now, I couldn't built a motor for that and I ended up with a built 727 too!
yeah but that 3500 was with headwork and aftermarket pistons/cam etc vs the 4000 for the stock rebuild. Big difference

the bore estimate is way too lite, double that for most places, maybe even more. Honing a crank? never heard of it !!

those were the numbers I was quoted from the shops in my area. I ended up paying 135 total for mine to go .030. as for honing a crank, i meant turning/machining or whatever you wanna call it. Sorry.
 
If you don't trust other people, then rebuild it yourself...
I really wish I had the expertise, tools, and space to pull an engine and rebuild it. And I live in the Youngstown area, about halfway between Cleveland and Pittsburgh.
 
I really wish I had the expertise, tools, and space to pull an engine and rebuild it. And I live in the Youngstown area, about halfway between Cleveland and Pittsburgh.
really? I have a friend over there in Youngstown who's HUGE into hot rods and muscle cars, especially mopars. I'll shoot him a text and see if he has any recommendations for an engine shop. He used to resto/build these things on th side but has since retired from that.
 
really? I have a friend over there in Youngstown who's HUGE into hot rods and muscle cars, especially mopars. I'll shoot him a text and see if he has any recommendations for an engine shop. He used to resto/build these things on th side but has since retired from that.
Hey that's the best news I've heard in a little while! Much appreciated!
 
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