RainRat

Hi all, first time poster and Mopar owner. It took me a lot of thought to not go my normal route and motor I am familiar with...the BBC. I picked up a sweet running 60,000 mile 440 and 727 from a 1978 motorhome. Upon inspection of motor today its dated 1977 and has 1977 smog/timing info sticker on valve cover.

I've posted this on another Mopar forum but I like as much input as possible. Its going in a 2800 lb 1954 Studebaker Starliner coupe. I'm on severe budget my goal a real 350-400hp tire fryer. It will serve as my toy/cruiser. I live in the mountains with lots of open highway.

It has the 452 heads, I'm going to replace oil pump, I have a windage tray, replace timing chain, put on my rear sump pan/pickup tube, re seal it, headers.

I guess I'm trying to pick a nice cam with some lope...I'm thinking Thumpr series or maybe go with the Hughes Whiplash kit since I have a low compression engine.

I currently have a vintage TM7 intake but has been suggested to ditch that in favor of a good dual plane..also 440 and gear ratios I know BBC don't care for gears much so a 2800 lb car 440 and 3.08s? I have a 8.8 Ford 3.73 posi disc brake rear from a Exploder waiting for me to pick up. too much gear for a bb Mopar?
I have a nice 650 double pumper...too small?


I'm open to any comments or suggestions please, this is my first 440. I just want good matching parts that work well together.

Magoo

WELCOME -- 3.73 gears should be OK -- put a shift kit in the 727 -- 750 carb -- Hydraulic cam around 280+ duration and .480" to .500" lift would be a little lumpy - nice for street. -- A Mopar Performance 284 - .484" works well, but is a little pricey. -- Some 906 heads, if available, and a Edelbrock Performer, Performer RPM or Air Gap intake or ???? -- You mentioned Headers. -- If the Ford rear is too wide, then look for a Mopar A-Body 8-3/4" rear and a posi unit. With that, 3.55 gears would be a good choice, for the street. -- A 2800 lb. car is a big plus for performance. -- Just my 2 cents worth. -- Have fun.

Iowan

Welcome to the forum,
The biggest drawback to a 77 440 making decent power is the 8 to 1 compression, you will need to limit duration in the cam to 220 -225 @ .050 and don't forget the valve springs. This isn't going to be a high RPM combination so your 650 will work in fact it should give good throttle response.

I like the Explorer 8.8, 31 spline axels and it can be narrowed 3" with one cut and one used short side axel shaft.

The biggest thing is don't over cam it.

Magoo

--- I didn't realize that it was that low. -- That changes things compared to My 440s which were always built from HP, car, motors from the late 60s to early 70s, which I believe were around 10:1 ratio -- Or -- they were built to 10:1 when freshened, by a local motor guy.

Coronet 500

Welcome.

That car has always been one of my favourite cars and always wanted to build one into a drag car. Your location, mountain/highway, along with driving style should decide your gear choice. When you decide a tire size use an online mph/rpm calculator to narrow it down.

I ran your combination on Comp Cams Camquest and there was no gain going to a carb bigger than your 650, revving to 5-5500 rpm your still limited by cylinder head.

Cam choices can be Lunati Voo Doo 256/262, 262/268 or Comp Cam Extreme Energy 256, 262. Some say stock valve springs and gear can be used. A cylinder head freshen up would be money well spent, maybe do some bowl blending yourself when they're off to save some dough. An oil pan with accel deccel baffles welded in will control oil while mountain driving.

One thing not to overlook with that light car with heavy engine is front suspension, steering and BRAKES in the mountains.

Magoo

--- I agree that's a neat little car. -- File picture - attached. -- Should be easy to make it go fast with a 440. ----- In a 65 Coronet, 2 Post Car, at around 3,500 lbs, - 27" tall slicks -- 10:1 fresh 440 -- 284 - 484" Mopar Cam -- HD valve springs -- electronic ignition -- freshened 906 heads -- Performer RPM intake -- 750 Holley DP -- 8 Qt. oil pan -- High volume oil , fuel & water pumps -- 3.91 posi gears -- 11" convertor -- 727 with shift kit -- open headers. -- I shifted at 3,300+- RPM (shift lite at 3,200), and ran 12.52 at 108 in the 1/4, without heating the slicks. -- 108 was a little fast for 12.52 and was a indicator of a better E.T., with the right set up. -- That was after I added a Hemi Hood Scoop and a home made Ram Air set up. -- Also, I had drum brakes, F & R, but switched the rear brakes to 11" X 3", from a Chrysler. -- In the summer this was driven, every day, on the street. -- At the time, this was not a "Big Buck Set Up", of course that was back in the "Dark Ages". ---

Iowan

I ran a similar combination 35 years ago in a 65 Jeep pu with 4.10 gears and it worked very well. I recommend changing the valve springs because in that 440 I didn't with the heads off and had to after I started breaking them in the vehicle, not fun.

moe7404

in the 60s Dodge had a habit of holding trucks over to the next year and even changing the title. i think some Dodge truck service manuals didnt have the year on the book but just had the model name. I.E. P-u21

BBishere2

I think I'd check the compression height of the pistons - deck height of the block and maybe go with a set of pistons and have the block height cut back to around zero - that should get your compression back up in the 10 to 1 range - check the rods and maybe change the hardware over to ARP bolts - 650 carb is too small for a 440 - I'd go to something like a Holley Street Avenger 780 cfm on a dual plane intake. There are a plethora of cam choices out there - just don't want to go too wild with the lift/duration - shorter duration with a higher lift will give you more lower end torque and HP - which is where you want to be. Sounds like a great street rod when you get it done!