Buffalojoe426

I am looking for a 440 to put into my 71 Charger.

I have been trolling around on E Bay and Cragslist. I have spotted several adds and post. As I read through them I have been reading bout the engines for sale. Stuff like, year of manufacture, if it runs, the last time it ran, the mileage on the engine, casting numbers on the engine, accessories on the engine, If a transmission is attached, heads, intakes, and if the crank is cast or forged.

What should I be looking for to know if its worth my time to investigate further? I am wondering what could be applied to all engines with this information in reference what to look for?

Thanks.

PURPLE HORONET

Word of advice, if you can not here it run consider it blown up, and the price of a rebuilable core.. 2nd you taking a chance anyway buying a rebuildable core without a complete tear down for inspection.

Last on my list their are no friends when buying and selling, belive nothing you here and half of what you see.. Been burt twice by a preacher

jacilynn_s

Despite what many seem to think there is quite a few good running engines out there. Some are older rebuilds that are already broken in properly.

I prefer to hear the engine run and take it for a test drive before I decide on the engine. I usually go for engines between 68-71 better cranks and intakes. Do a compression test all around if its 90 pounds its good if its 70 between two cylinders take heads off get them redone. Not to often have I encountered one that is less than that for compression when they are its a rebuild.

Oil pressure should be about 50 pounds if not you can put on a high volume pump easily enough since they are external on big blocks. If its 10 pounds or less chances are there is a bad bearing which can be done without tearing apart the top end. Done a few of those. New timing chain and stock magnum cam dialed in and its usually good to go after cleaning out the crossover. Slap on some high flow manifolds with working heat rizer, an afb or avs carb rebuilt or new Chrysler Eldebrock performer, some paint a few gaskets frost plugs, fuel pump, water pump and the engine runs drives and usually leaves a good 20 feet of rubber at 3/4 throttle which is more than good enough for most people.

In the end it really depends on what you are looking for in an engine and what you plan to do with it.

Coronet 500

Be careful of the "slap" together engines just described, painted and advertised as "rebuilt". Lots of those out there. If they won't let you at least take the oil pan off think twice.

Buffalojoe426

Thanks every one. Im not afraid of doing a rebuild. I just want to make sure I don't pay too much for something that doesn't work. Does anyone know how much on average a non running engine would go for as opposed to a running engine? How much a rebuild-able core is worth?

PURPLE HORONET

Please direct me to this land of good running 440's laying around. That was 20 years ago. The only ones I see are the ones in a 4 door sled that has been parked under a tree for 30 years.. Every gasket is rotton and the sludge build up looks like ant hills inside.... Its just a waste of time with out doing a complete rebuild..

I learned my lesson.. I used to buy these engines, stick them in a car and start the long nightmare of rebuilding them from the outside to the inside.. I think it took 2 engines before I learned my lesson.. Still remember how I did it.

Get engine running
1. Buy battery
2 .plugs, wires, points, cap and rotor
3. rebuild carb.
4. fix water leaks,, T-stat water pump
5. Change oil.
DRIVE IT AROUND THE BLOCK COME BACK
7. Change valve cover gaskets
DRIVE IT AROUND THE BLOCK COME BACK
8. tighten oil pan bolts
9. Change intake gaskets
DRIVE IT TO TOWN COME BACK
10. Change fuel pump and fuel filter
DRIVE IT TO TOWN COME BACK
11. Pull heads to do a valve job and valve seals..
DRIVE IT TO TOWN COME BACK
12. Change oil again, stick some rebuild engine in a can additive.
13. DRIVE IT TO TOWN COME BACK
14. Pull the engine and rebuild the rest of it because it started loosing oil psi when hot and started smoking..

I have rebuilt engines both ways,, and let me tell you its cheaper in the long wrong to start from the inside..

PURPLE HORONET

In the last couple of months I have been seeing 440 block crank rods and heads going for 500.. Complete oil pan to carb with with all pullies and brakets 800.00... Complete with 727 trans 1000.00.. I will not buy anybody elses rebuilt nightmare,, been down the long exspensize road before..

If you are willing to travel my way,, I will ask a couple of people if they want to turn loose of a rebuildable unit..

For example this craigslist add close to me... First off why did he paint the inside of the heads.. second why lay a crusty rusty chain on the cam.. 3rd does not say anything about head work or cam.. Just bla bla bla about that balanced crank.. You do get a bunch of parts..
http://hickory.craigslist.org/pts/3672709006.html
.
Also this coment he made tells me he got this from sombody else
HIS COMMENT IN ADD

Everything appears to be fresh and ready
.

Buffalojoe426

Thanks! I have a much better Idea on what to look for. I'll keep my eye out for a core in my area. Still waiting for the blaster to finish my other parts first. But now that grass season is back I can help raise some money to pay for it. Maybe even work some off duty, although I don't like to.

I would like to find a engine with a transmission. If you do here about anything in your area Purple Horonet would you PM me please?

PURPLE HORONET

Just came up, can here run.. does not get any better

http://greensboro.craigslist.org/pts/3716713733.html

TVLynn

http://greensboro.craigslist.org/pts/3716713733.html

It's a low compression motor out of a motor home The trans ? may not work ?? Might be a loadflight truck version of a 727.
Even if I could hear the motor run ? I would replace all the gaskets & freeze plugs timing chain & maybe a valve job before installing it

PURPLE HORONET

We are thinking the same, I was thinking a good rebuilable engine that you can here run.

Buffalojoe426

I saw that one, unfortunately my finical situation is a little tighter that I would like at the moment. After the next two pay checks. I should have a green light to buy.