What is inside a 74 440?

[LXguy]

Hey:

Maybe looking at picking one of these up. What do they have for pistons? How far are they usually down in the whole?

Is it a hopeless issue getting any power out of one without pulling apart the shortblock?

I'm aware of the cast crank, but has it got like a super smog dish piston as well?

I'd like to pick it up, get some decent heads, cam, intake and carb and make similar horsepower to my 5.9 (about 330 at the tire). Any hope of doing that realistically? If so, any recommendations?

Thanks!

Steve

 

[EL5DEMON340]

they are very low like the range of 7.8 to 1 CR, best bet if your going to use as is is look for close chamber heads that will boost it 3/4 point of if you mill the head 1 full point. you should still get 350 hp with some close chamber heads a smaller cam in the 220 to 226 @.050 and intake carb and headers. BTW i have a set of bare 516 heads, i started pocket porting one head, if your up in the aurora area ever let me know i'll let them go very cheap.

 

[JoeDust451]

Hey:

Maybe looking at picking one of these up. What do they have for pistons? How far are they usually down in the whole?

Is it a hopeless issue getting any power out of one without pulling apart the shortblock?

I'm aware of the cast crank, but has it got like a super smog dish piston as well?

I'd like to pick it up, get some decent heads, cam, intake and carb and make similar horsepower to my 5.9 (about 330 at the tire). Any hope of doing that realistically? If so, any recommendations?

Thanks!

Steve

Steve, What are your plans?? My advice, if its cheap enough, grab it, Do a basic rebuild & install new FTs & a nice cam/intake/carb & 1.7/8" headers.

Don't waiste time throwing close chambered heads on it, with the pistons that far down in the hole, it'll never gain 3/4-1 point in compression, you'll be hard pressed getting 1/2 point, Sorry EL5Demon but its not happening BTDT

I'd run a set of the TRW 2355 Sixpack replacement pistons, they sit around .019" or so below deck, with a steel shim gasket & open chambered 90cc heads the compression will be around 9.6-9.8, then you can install a decent cam with Dur. @50 in the 240s, an 850dp, nice stall & gears, otherwise your junkyard magnum is going to be faster. This is an old school set-up (relatively cheap) & still works good today.

440, .030"
TRW 2355s, Cast rings with moly plasma (top ring)
Stock 906s/452s with a good VJ use the stock size valves, maybe a 30* backcut.
New TRW oil pump, doesn't need to be HV.
Basic block prep.
.509 MP cam
M1 single or SD with an 850dp
1.7/8" headers
A good dist. like an MSD with full adjustability to dial in the timing curve
38-4200 stall
3.91-4.10 gears with a 28" tire

Have a BLAST.

Now this set-up will make around 475 FWHP or a bit better once tuned, About 400+ at the wheels, should be good for low-er 11s in an A body.

 

[womanator]

Down and ugly
76 440 ci
.160 down the hole
Schumacher headers stage 6 heads
mopar .528 sold cam
Performer RPm intake
Holley 780 carb

Off the juice it ran 11.70's

 

[JoeDust451]

Down and ugly
76 440 ci
.160 down the hole
Schumacher headers stage 6 heads
mopar .528 sold cam
Performer RPm intake
Holley 780 carb

Off the juice it ran 11.70's

That good times, but his SB runs that NA with a stock junkyard bottom end :glasses8:.

 

[womanator]

joedust451,

Not sure what you are saying.
But if you are saying his small block is running 11.70's off the juice i didn't see it.
And I think my Junkyard Duster with just add on's off the juice going 11.70's is good.

By the way the duster is my training car for the twins.

Then they go to the 10 sec car.
10.70's off the juice.
And you don't need a 850 to run 10's
This car has a 750 holley

And if you want faster
Here's the 9.09 car.

All he wanted was some idea's what he could do with a low comp engine and I gave him
A combo that I have.
And off the juice means not running the nos
On the juice the car the car ran 11.20's.

 

[67Dart440GT]

Two of the 74 440's I tore down had windage trays and double roller timing sets. They were stamped HP though.

 

[JoeDust451]

joedust451,

Not sure what you are saying.
But if you are saying his small block is running 11.70's off the juice i didn't see it.
And I think my Junkyard Duster with just add on's off the juice going 11.70's is good.

By the way the duster is my training car for the twins.

Then they go to the 10 sec car.
10.70's off the juice.
And you don't need a 850 to run 10's
This car has a 750 holley

And if you want faster
Here's the 9.09 car.

All he wanted was some idea's what he could do with a low comp engine and I gave him
A combo that I have.
And off the juice means not running the nos
On the juice the car the car ran 11.20's.

I know what off the juice means, I said NA, I understand your combo, Its not that hard breaking into the 11s with a stock bottom 440, but a junkyard SB & bolt-ons running 11.70s is impressive, & his car is Fullly loaded with all its interior. Theres nothing wrong with either carb, And for what its worth, I ran 1 & 2 MPH slower then that Dart running 10.7s with i'll bet a heck of alot less, 10.8s @ 124 with mild junky 906s & a very small cam so i'm not impressed, you can do alot with deep pockets. Why would he want to run just as fast as he is now with a stock bottom 440, doesn't make sence, at least not 2 me it don't, Plus i gave you a compliment & said your car ran good. I'm giving my thoughts like anyone else, I've played with a few BBs in my time.

 

[LXguy]

Thanks for the ideas guys!

I didn't want to get into the shortblock, just do some bolt ons like my Magnum, and this is for a different car. If I could get high 11s out of the big block project I would be pretty happy.

 

[bOb shingler]

womanator, how much timing do you pull out of the duster?