Hi, I could use some help on picking out a good motor for my 1972 dodge dart swinger. I have already decided on going with a B/RB engine block. I have narrowed it down to a 361 "B",383 "B", 383 "RB", 413 "RB", 426 "RB" MAX WEDGE, or a 440 "RB". My questions now are what prefferences and input you have on those blocks. Another does anyone reproduce the 426 MAX WEDGE due to its rarity? What are the differences on the 383 "B" and "RB" other then the bore and stroke (I am under the assumption that is due to the "RB" being the raised block, please correct me if I am wrong.) Those are the big questions, I would also like whatever input you have to share.

 

with the big blocks, I would go with a 400 B block with a stroker kit. This makes the piston shorter,therefore lighter and also the engine will be a bit narrower to help fit in the A body a little easier. A 383 with a 440 crank will get you 426 cubic inches if you want some more cubes easy from the 383.

 

You are right
RB is raised block
the 440 is taller than the 383
i would rather have a 440 over a 426 max
they are the same block, just one is bored out more
a 400 is a good block to work

 

I agree, go with the 400 block w/stroker crank,not much room in a "A" body's engine bay.

 

I happened to stumble uppon a 383 B block just the other day, the owner wasnt able to answer my question so I am hopeing you can. You mentioned that the 383 can get 426 cubic inches with a 440 crank. Would I need the 383 RB so its the same family, or would the B work just as good?

 

yeah, just use the common 383 B block. The 440 crank and 440 rods. Use Ross pistons {there are others}. The 440 crank, main journals will need to be turned down to the size of the 383's size. If you bore the block .040, you will end up with 434 cubic inches. would be an extremely strong engine. It will have lighter pistons than a stock 440 and will fit very nicely in your A-body.

 

I have been doing some more research, and have come up with a few questions on 440 stroker motors now. I have found that you can make 378, 408, 500, 512, 528, 543, and 572 cudic inch motors out of a 440. Big question is; it is hard to find anything that talks about the 378, and 408 strokers, was stroking the 440 down a bust (I did some number crunching and kinda liked what I saw from the two is why I ask)? Add any other info you have on those strokes as well. Second I have talked to people who ran motors with lower than a 1.00:1 bore/stroke and 1.60:1 rod/stroke ratio and they werent very impressed, but the HP and torques I have seen online from the 512+ show up great when they run that (Big worry is that they will bell out the bottom of the cylinder like the chev 454 that had a 1.534:1 rod/stroke ratio which spent more time trying to push the rod through the side of the block then build power). Was it just bad building on their part, or is there something else there im not seeing? Last question what all strokers in any block are even worth my while looking into if any?

 

I am getting ready to build a 470 out of a 400 block. The builder I have been consulting with says that for mostly street use the 470 is the one to build. A 500 from the 400 block is is more for the track with their short, super light weight pistons. He tells me you can make silly power with the 470, easily over 700hp! Also the 400 block is still very cheap to pick them up. I just got a 400 and 727 for $200!!!
Good place to get some info is www.440source.com
I think the 408 is a stroked 360?

 

Thanks for the input, I hadnt even looked at the 470. This will definatley give me something to talk to my builder about, see what he has to say about it...You need to do my shopping around too, id like to see some prices like that.

 

is this with nitrous and high compression, or supercharging?

with that much power, streetability will be hard to come by

 

Streetability might suffer some at the higher HP levels. The builder I am in discussions with knows what I want as far as street manners and says thats easy with my 600+. He also says these motors are able to produce those higher HP numbers but didn't mention if it would still fit my expectations. SO I guess I had better not say how streetable it would be with the upper HP figures. He does not mention the use of any power adders when he talked about it.
I was at work and notes not in front of me earlier. SO I just went over some notes and I might have confused a few items. the 470 is able to do 700 HP - the 500 from the 400 would go to 800HP but that would be more of a race motor and 11-12:1. SORRY.

 

I have two complete 400's and another block just for a spare.. My engines are drag race only at 14:1 but both are over 750hp.. both are 440 cranks and one has steel rods and the other has alm.. Both have Indy 440-1 alm heads and matching intake... One has a Loniti (SP) cam and the other has a Comp cam... Both have taken my Barracuda in the low 9:90's... I have the "spare block" and a stroker kit to do a 500" next time.. The have a TON of torque and pull like a freight train... You will not be sorry with a 400... And getting one with a core 727 for $200 is a steal!!!!

 

So that makes them around 451's then?

I really wasn't in the market for the motor trans but too good of a deal to pass up. I would have prefered to get a car first and get some work done on it then get teh motor, build it and drop it in. But for that price I had to get it! Plus it "ran" when pulled. We'll see what kind of shape its in once it warms up a bit.

 

All I know is dont let the big block name or small block name scare you out of one or the other I have seen it a thousand times people bragging well I have a Hemi well I have a 340 and then the small block kicks *** and leaves the hemi in the dust it all depends on what you want it to do. how much you want to put into it and what its going to look like. some blocks parts are easier and cheaper some are more like I said it dont matter how you go it depends on what you know about building a motor

 

I have a line on a 440; but then again I have a 3/4 ton truck. I'm debating on doing the swap from a 318. Not a race truck by any stretch; but a Helluva WORK truck! Been busy this week "rescuing" fords working out of the back of my Dodge.

 

Make sure you use a main Girdle!400 stoker is a great choice!

 

I agree with the 400 as it sits lower then the RB block. We have a 400 in my sons 72 Dart. They make great stroker engines but you dont have to stroke it as my sons is not stroked. It uses the 383 crank which is the same as a 400 crank and it is bored .030 for 406 cubes. It has the MP .557 cam and 10.6 comp with KB pistons and Eddy RPM heads. Runs the Performer RPM and a 750 DP. TTI headers and 3" pipes. Has 3.91's and uses Hoosier 26 x 9 QTP tires. It goes 3550 with him in the car and has run a best of 11.45 @ 117. Ron

 

Ron!!!!, Long time no see, how have you been? You will figure out where you know me from by my sig.

 

Dave how have you been ? How is the Duster running ? Ron

 

Wrong name, right car. The Duster is in pieces in the garage, getting a very slow resto.

Don

 

Sorry Don. But I was close ! Ron