JonnySlick

Hello!

This is my first project car. I recently purchase a 72 Duster. I independently also purchase a 440 and 727 trans for the car.

My question is about the 440. I wasn't able to physically inspect it as it was in another state during purchase. The previous owner stated it was just bored over .30 and engine rebuilt. However, when I received the engine and did my own inspection. I found the below images. As you can see, chips around the cylinders. If I had to guess he blew a piston or value which caused the chipping. Is this something that can be repaired fairly easily or should I just strip out the guts and find a new 440 block?

Any ideas on what the max bore this engine can handle? From my reading online many don't recommend boring over .40 but I've hear of people doing .60 and higher on these things. I believe the cause for concern was the "engine walls being thin" but also heard that really isn't true on these blocks.

If I bored it out more or shaved the block down enough to fix this. Will I significantly lose performance? Or will that be made up with a larger bore?

What are your recommendations?

Thanks in advance!

Archer

Jonny -

Warning - I'm not a machinist, nor do I play one on TV.

I can't see that being a problem, but I would have to suggested having the block magna-fluxed to make sure there isn't anything else going on.
In a worst case scenario, that cylinder would have to be sleeved.

Hopefully someone with more knowledge will chime in.

Artcher

Iowan

At the very least I think decking the block might get enough of it to run it, but that depends on how far the pistons are down the in the hole.

JonnySlick

Thanks guys. I'm willing to desk the block and get shorter pistons or whatever needs to be done. I just want to ensure it's fixable and I'm not just wasting my time when I could have purchased a used block without damage for cheaper etc...

What would be the best course of action for this issue. Not just a "get it to run" but optimally with performance in mind. Sleeve it? Desk it? Bore it out more? etc... Thoughts?

Iowan

I've had to deck every 440 block I've built because of the fact they were not square to start with.

Coronet 500

If the damage is above the top piston ring a chamfer of the top edge will be fine.