Hello, I have a 1977 Dodge W200 Powerwagon club cab 4x4 with 4spd. with granny gear and 440BB. When I bought it the previous owner set the truck up to pull sleds at truck shows (He did a pull with it of 284ft.). The motor is a 440 that came out of a motorhome with only 500 miles on it (it was used as a class room in a Catholic school). So he tore the motor down and built it up with a vodoo cam and these 516 close chambered heads as well as a Demon carb.. The truck runs awesome-I mean sometimes you can't tell if your in a 4x4 with 33" tires or a race car--But my problem is at the gas station I must run 91 octane or higher and also add lead additive and with gas prices being so high I can't afford to even drive the truck! Is there any way to save on gas-should I change out the heads-which brings up another question-I've read that these 440 blocks from motorhomes had additional coolant passages,now my truck never overheated, but I'm wondering if I shouldn't try to source a set of heads that were original to that motor to restore coolant flow into the heads?? Any help would be greatly appreciated, Thanks, -Jim

 

You can try retarding the timing a bit. Other than that you will need to lower the compression either by changing the heads to some with a larger chamber volume or go with lower compression pistons. The closed chamber heads where a bit more prone to ping than the later 906 heads. 452s are the even later no lead heads with the hardened seats. Someone on here may know the cc differences.

 

Here is an old thread might help with links: https://moparforums.com/forums/f7/440-head-options-207/

I just searched 440 heads and there's a ton of info to keep you busy.

 

Thanks for your help and that was kind of what I was thinking too-I just wish I knew how much horsepower I'd loose by switching over to the 906 heads ? I also wonder if there would be anyone out there with a set of 906 heads that would be willing to trade for my 516's ?

 

915s are pretty rare as they were a 1967 casting used in the 67 Plymouth GTX, Coronet R/T and a few 440 Chargers. 906s are much more available and therefore in my opinion not worth as much as your 915s. Put an ad in your local Craigs List and Recycler looking for a trade and on this website.

 

I got a set of 440 heads sitting around, not sure which ones they are, but will check it out on Friday for you.

 

Cool- let me know, Thanks !

 

The heads I got are the 452 ones.

 

Did you find your heads. I have a set of 906's if you need them.