It will definately be unique. I don't know much about Mopars, but I assume the space requirements will be similar to a BBC. IMO if you are going to do this, don't do it halfway. What I mean by that is, you should definately make whatever alterations are necessary to the firewall to get that 440 sitting in a similar position to a SBC(relative to the wheel center line). I know several people who have installed BBC in a tri-five but were unwilling to alter the firewall so they set the motor forward just a bit. They said that the cars didn't drive worth a darn on account of the weight being further forward.
Not HAMB-friendly, but I used a 400 Chrysler rear sump oil pan once in place of the 440 front-sump pan. Worked ALMOST like a charm.
I've installed Pontiacs (461") Oldsmobiles (455") and a 500" Cad in '57 Chevies. I grinned a lot doing it, the Pontiac powered one was an 'A' gasser at Fremont drags in 1960...Stiff competition required ballast, was better as a 'B' gasser! LOL The 455" Olds powered one was a scary torque monster...wrapped rear springs up, the owner reluctantly let me install traction masters. Straightened out the launch, but car never could get much bite... 500" Cad was predictable...similar to the 455 Olds, wanted to twist that Chevy! Motor plate and all... 440 MoPar in the Chevy, BY ALL MEANS! Let 'em talk, take 'em for a ride... I put an old 276 Flattie in a bud's '55 Chev 210 in '63, 3-jugger, finned heads, headers, chrome radiator hoses...open the hood, and FLASH! Somebody asked what kind of engine that was...He said, "It's a hot rod motor, outa one o' them roadsters from L.A." Much laughter.
Go for the 383, and if its a 383 Magnum thumbs up. But the 400 you can only use the block and crank, its smog one so the heads,intake, carb is junk. Allso importent that you buy a 1966-1970 440, 1971 is ok but not same block. All mopar after 1972 have crap engines....
I bed to differ, with your statements: - All mopar after 72, do not have crap engines - they were just lacking in compression and cam timing. 400's mostly came with 452 heads, which are some the better flowing big block heads out there AND have hardened exhaust valve seats. The Stock Iron 4 barrel intake from a 400 is about as good as an edelbrock performer, just weighs a ton, and some have the weird EGR jet in the plenum, which can be plugged and forgotten. Depends on which Thermoquad came on the motor too - most can be made to run hard and reliably. I have built a few 400's, and the biggest problem is the compression ratio, which is usually around 7.5:1. On a budget, mill the heads .060 to bring the ratio up to 9:1, stick a good cam in it, tune it properly with a 625-750 ccm carb (or an 850 thermoquad) and go hunting. The myth of certain year blocks being thicker in big blocks has been dispelled too, with some of the later ones actually being a bit better, but not enough difference to worry about. It is all spelled out here http://www.440source.com/blockinfo.htm In deference to your statement, the wide majority of 383's and 440's came with 8:1 compression pre 72 as well, so they would be crap too. Please avoid blanket statements, especially in the area of Mopars, I will call you on it every time.
you are correct brad I had to use the truck rear sump for the rambler we are building , also I just fabricated the dipstick from a 3/8 fuel line . you can make a 440 fit in anything . just takes a little time and bunch of new sawsall blades .
All of this from a guy with a Mopar in his avatar?? What gives? Perhaps some blocks have some perceived differences, but in a street package they are all equal and all up to the task. The heads on my 73-400 work quite well, thank you, and the intake sure does look like the 'good' ones... I wonder how hard it would run if I used the 'better' parts...naw, I can't control first gear launches as is... .
seems like this excites the mopar boys more than us chevy guys---going to look like a chevy and run like one---scrap those mopar bodies and come on over to the dark side...
Nothing like loyal mopar fans ! Im lovin it . Ps did i mention i love the idea of a big block mopar in the bow tie car - adds a little bit of class to it i think .
AjMopar you have your favorit i have mine, not after any piethrowing contest. Mayby wrong to use the word crap. All after 1972 engines i have delt with(360, 400) as been real tierd comperd to a 1969 383 Magnum, wasent this about like stock engines? Havent done much qutermile(mayby just 50 starts) but havent been beaten by a 400 in either my avatar 1969 SE Charger with stock 383 Magnum(sure Msd, and 4.10 in the rear) or my 1970 RT/SE Challenger with a 440 Magnum(sure Msd) and i do race the stock class, the 8 seconds or better dudes that builds engines here in Sweden anyway use Hemi or 440 and tune the shit out of them and not using carbs either bla bla. You can take what ever 340-440 and build a racemotor, i was meaning stock engines... Have a nice evening. Now im even more glad to go over from that, and play with Flathead V8´s insted...
http://bangshift.com/blog/gasser-ba...-air-dgas-426-max-wedge-mopar-power-epic.html The link above is from bangshift.com. Great site. Good idea on the RB in the '57. Sounds like a wheelie machine...especially with any kind of engine set-back. Since you have to make the mounts anyway, why not move the motor back??? Good luck. Tom
Which 440? The MOPAR original or the International 446 produced for Chrysler after their loan agreements with GM and Ford? If it is the International version don;'t waste your money. The cooling tunnels erode out. Normbc9
Fortunately the big Mopars have the distributors where they belong, in the FRONT, so firewall clearance usually isn't a problem. Probably will locate farther back than the factory V8.
I have a friend that back in the 70's or so said he put a 440 six pack motor in a 57 chevy. He claims it to had been badass. Ill talk to him and get the details on what had to be done. The only snag I can think of would be which exhaust manifolds or headers would work. Since im a mopar guy and have a hemi in a 50 ford, I say go for it and the 440 is far superior than a big block chevy. My opinion
Chassis engineering makes mounts for mopars. I love the idea too by the way I'm loyal to no company as long as its cool haha Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad
Good point. I hadn't even thought about the distributor. When I was typing the earlier post I was thinking specifically of the head/valve cover on the righthand side being a clearance issue.
If a guy used the "elephant ear" mounts Morpower guys use to install 426 style blocks into their rides , it would be pretty easy. Come to think of it a 426 Hemi would cause some excitment with all the makers fans. Y-not ? Years back I was in on a couple "outside the box" swaps, An early 331 hemi/cad/lasalle into a '50 Olds because I had the stuff to do it, pissed a bunch of Olds lovers though. A '63 split window with a blown 392/ hydro for the street.The most fun though was a '66 A-100 musician's hippy van with a 440/727 from a CHP pursuit sedan ,just because of the "sleeper" factor and the drugs he was using at the time and his schedule of gigs. King Henry was his name , rock and roll was his game , based in Vegas but played the river joints and was always in a hurry to get his equipment from here to there--baad jose ! A 350 in a Fiat 124 for a later date.
I'm amazed that no one that runs or ran at Woodburn drag strip in Oregon hasn't chimed in. A few years ago there was a whole group of cars running 440's straight out of the wrecking yards with nothing more than a cam and intake change in a variety of bodies including at least one late 30's Chevy. Those cars were quick and reliable. Run a torqueflite though as you will loose several car lengths in the quarter with a Mopar 4 speed to a matching 440 with a Torqueflite.
A little OT but think about this - the .030 over 440 in my 3650 lb '66 Coronet pushes it to mid 10's @ 125 I'll bet you a '57 Chev is lighter and is also a leaf spring car so it's easy to make it hook. go ahead and embarass 'em.
I Say "Go For It" At the very least the Chebby will have a Real Engine! Now all you need is some Pentastar emblems!!!! Mopar2ya!!!!