How would you build this 440?

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Craig Burriss

Craig Burriss

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I recently bought a ‘71 440/727 that I plan on putting in my ‘83 RamCharger. I have a basic idea of how I want to build it, but am interested in other peoples opinions too.
It’s a standard bore block with a factory forged crank. Came with some crusty 452 heads, iron water pump housing, and some even crustier rocker arms/shafts. Only 15 rocker arms are present though.
All of the pistons, rods, and the crank look decent, but there’s a slight ridge at the tops of the cylinders, and not much cross hatching left. All of the bearings looked great.
Part of me just wants to slap it back together and send it. But I’ll probably end up doing a pretty in depth build on it.
The truck it’s going in is an ‘83 RamCharger 4x4 with a 318/727/208. It currently runs and drives, but it’s gutless. It’s mostly used for driving around town. But will see some trails once I get it ready for that.
I’ll be combining the small block 4x4 727 and the big block 2wd 727 to make a 4x4 big block transmission.
How would YOU build this engine?
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I'd get a cam that has a beefy low end power band. maybe 1200-5200. maybe .40 over to get that ridge out of there plus a little extra for all the POWAAAA. If you don't want to do all that, just do a cam and enjoy the little boost in power and still be able to put 87 octane in it.
 
Seriously, I like the stock truck build best so far. But with the 375HP Road Runner cam.
 
mopar head said:
I`d build it to truck 440 stock specs.
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If the heads weren’t so trashed, and if the engine came with a stock cam. I’d probably do that. But it didn’t have a cam in it at all, and if I’m going to put a cam in it, I might as well put a bigger one in.
 
Craig Burriss said:
If the heads weren’t so trashed, and if the engine came with a stock cam. I’d probably do that. But it didn’t have a cam in it at all, and if I’m going to put a cam in it, I might as well put a bigger one in.
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It`s all on you and what your using it for.
Good looking Dodge BTW:thumbsup:
 
It's unfortunate that you live so far away, & I'd hate to see what shipping 100 pounds across the country would cost.
Those crusty heads probably wouldn't take much to clean up. Hot tank, glass peen, check for cracks, do a valve job, surface them and send it if the guides aren't too bad
You might wanna call a machine shop and just ask.
By the way I do crustier heads than that daily.
 
MOPARMAGA said:
It's unfortunate that you live so far away, & I'd hate to see what shipping 100 pounds across the country would cost.
Those crusty heads probably wouldn't take much to clean up. Hot tank, glass peen, check for cracks, do a valve job, surface them and send it if the guides aren't too bad
You might wanna call a machine shop and just ask.
By the way I do crustier heads than that daily.
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I’m definitely going to look into it before I drop a couple grand on some heads lol.
 
Craig Burriss said:
I’m definitely going to look into it before I drop a couple grand on some heads lol.
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Definitely a good idea, 440 source heads are 1200, but they need some work even new. Pretty much all the budget stuff requires some finishing up.
 
What is your budget ?
Forget about all the drag race builds you have read about and focus on torque and heat dissapation .
A motor that puts out 600 hp for 10 seconds is different from one that drives in the city or mudbogs for 2 hrs.
 
Are you assuming the heads are trashed because they're rusty? That might be a mistake. A vinegar dip is very cheap and might show you they're not all that bad.
 
It is a heavy vehicle. Greyhounds run faster than elephants....
I see in the pic some valves. I would use the 452 heads & a mild cam.
 
RustyRatRod said:
Are you assuming the heads are trashed because they're rusty? That might be a mistake. A vinegar dip is very cheap and might show you they're not all that bad.
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I’m going to clean them up and figure out if I want to use them. A couple valves were seized into the guides. If it’s all just superficial rust, I’ll probably use them.
 
 
Craig Burriss said:
That’s some nice stuff, but that link shows nothing about the cam specs. And I hate edelbrock carbs lol. Their intakes are nice though. Why only a 650?
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Aw hell, the cam specs are on the cam only section of the website, if I remember right from looking at it last night, that cam is intended for around 800-5600 or so.

The "small" 650 carb has annular boosters, so it should give good atomization at lower throttle and a good signal at part throttle.
 
Ottmundr said:
Aw hell, the cam specs are on the cam only section of the website, if I remember right from looking at it last night, that cam is intended for around 800-5600 or so.

The "small" 650 carb has annular boosters, so it should give good atomization at lower throttle and a good signal at part throttle.
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Not to mention mopars ran really well undercarbureted from the factory
 
I run a Eddy LA Performer cam and intake with 600 CFM Holley vacuum secondary on my 318. My 74 PW is happy as such with 3:91 gearing and 36" tires!

With the 440, I would do much the same and keep the Torque in the low end!
 
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RustyRatRod said:
I'd sell it and build a slant 6.
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I'm not sure of the price of slant parts, but a Brutal one would drag that thing around, and be less on the nose. Normally, I'd never think of such a thing... but gas may become a hot commodity. I had one with a nasty 318, low.dual.plane, headers, a 600, and the radical resto cam... thing was Sick in 4 low
 
Ironracer said:
I'm not sure of the price of slant parts, but a Brutal one would drag that thing around, and be less on the nose. Normally, I'd never think of such a thing... but gas may become a hot commodity. I had one with a nasty 318, low.dual.plane, headers, a 600, and the radical resto cam... thing was Sick in 4low
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This what I am saying! In 4 Low my Truck will Pull down most anything with that solid 318!
 
1969383S said:
This what I am saying! In 4 Low my Truck will Pull down most anything with that solid 318!
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We went to the Bay one night, slammed her in 4 Low, there were huge piles of dirt for road work off Gandy Bch (same bridge we'd drag on back in the day) plowed through em, over em, just raised all kinda dirt. The way the 318 wraps up, combined with the low gears...
 
Ironracer said:
I'm not sure of the price of slant parts, but a Brutal one would drag that thing around, and be less on the nose. Normally, I'd never think of such a thing... but gas may become a hot commodity. I had one with a nasty 318, low.dual.plane, headers, a 600, and the radical resto cam... thing was Sick in 4 low
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They are quite surprising with their bottom end off idle torque.
 
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