Engine Swap 400 to 440

[Commando]

I am looking to swap out the stock 400 engine out of my 1977 Chrysler Cordoba, it is starting to get tired after I put in headers, redid the dual exhaust, and put in a new Edelbrock carb. I have been looking around for some 440 engines and have found a few but what I am concerned about is compatibility issues. I think one of the ones I was looking at was in a motor home, does this make it stronger, or does it show more wear? I know it will fit as there is a lot of room under the hood, but I would like to reuse the headers and starter as it was the only one that would fit with the headers. I might also like to use some other parts, but I want to know if it is missing one part can I just pull it off the 400 engine? What can't I use, I would say if it doesn't fit don't use it but I want to know if anyone has done this before, how difficult is it? And any other advice from someone with experience would be appreciated.

[440roadrunner]

This is just my opinion, but unless you are going to rebuild the engine, I'd stay away from Motorhome engines. They are under a LOT more stress, burned valves, etc. If you plan to rebuild it, and it's cheap, I'd say no problem.

If you are in a rebuild situation, and your 400 heads are in better shape, you can use them. If you need your 400 pan and oil pickup, it will fit the 440. If you have very low miles on your 400 cam (I don't know what you've done to it) such things as the cam drive and cam/lifters will fit. Most all external parts, water pump, brackets, etc, should fit.

The engines should be a bolt in but......

The intake and distributer will NOT interchange from 400 to 440. The 361/383/400 is a short stroke "low deck height" motor, so the push rods, distributor, and intake are different.

The 413,426, and 440 are long stroke (raised block or RB) and so have longer pushrods and distributor, and wider intake.

Anything else, headers, mounts, etc should be a bolt in

EXCEPT:

Here's where I'm unfamiliar. 400's MAY BE externally balanced, I'm not sure. I'm also not sure if any of the motor home 440's are or are not externally balanced. I do NOT know how Chrysler did the balancing. The extra weights may be on the flex plate, or the converter. In the case of a stick, you need the special flywheel. You need to check this out.

Even my old '70 six pack 440 was externally balanced, as opposed to the 383's and 375hp (4bbl) 440's which were not externally balanced.

[Commando]

That answers my concerns about the motor home engine. It was just one option, and if I am to rebuild I want an engine that was under less stress. As for the cams I am unsure as the person I bought the car from (owner #2) converted some components to high performance, and I will figure this out later once I pull the engine. Thats good to know about the components as I have replaced quite a few of them and would assume them to be newer than the ones on the engine I buy. I appreciate your information, and its good to know a lot of it is bolt in.
Anyone have an opinion about replacing the trans, as I have found a lot of the engines advertised with the 727 trans.

[440roadrunner]

You misunderstood part of my meaning. If you are going to do a serious rebuild on a motor home 440, AND you got it cheap enough, the "stress" that it was under won't matter--it might be worn a little more, but the heavy use won't hurt it. I only meant if you wanted a low mileage engine that you could just dump in there with no rebuild, then a motor home might not be a good choice

So far as the trans, I'm not an auto man. You have a 904 now? If so, a 727 should be a worthwhile upgrade. Some car models have different tailshaft lengths, so you might have to rework the driveshaft. If you get the correct one, it should be a bolt in so far as mounts.

Again, check out the balancing issue.

[Commando]

Alright I understand what you mean now, it will have to be a factor in the amount of money I want to spend. I think the 400 is balanced externally will look into that with the 440. What does that take to do, it sounds like it may be tricky.

[73DartSport]

Just my opinion, but if you are going to do a rebuild...I would actually recommend an engine that has had more stress put on it...such as a motor home or truck engine. The reason I say this is that the block, heads, and internals have already gotten used to being heated up and cooled down and have done whatever warping they are going to do. You will find out that these engines while not being any stronger than others built the same way you are going to build yours seem to last longer after the rebuild. Good luck building your 440.

[Commando]

Thats a good point, generally when I rebuild an engine I would replace the heads, but that depends on their condition, and they would go through the heating and cooling again. When you say rebuild do you just mean taking it apart cleaning it and putting new seals/gaskets in? A lot of people have different opinions on what a rebuild is.
What I am looking at now is the one from a motor home with a trans with an asking price of $600. Or one from a new yorker with 39K miles that also has the 727 trans for $750. They are both asking prices with room to negotiate, and similar with the exception of where they were applied.

[unit_121]

rebuild your engine, its cheaper and better make HP

[Commando]

I have been thinking about that, and considering what I plan to replace on the engine I purchased its only a couple more steps to do. And hell if I get better HP why not do it. Thanks