RV 440 Good For '69 Charger?
 

I am restoring a '69 Charger, originally a 383 car but I am leaning towards putting a 440 in it. I have found a 1977 440 out of an RV with a claimed 40,000 miles on it. The current owner says he did a tear down to check the wear on the engine and everything looked good. He also put flat top pistons in it, and a six pack with a period correct Weiand intake and Holly carbs. He's asking $2000. Do you guys think this engine can be built to put out some high HP (400-500 HP) without a major overhaul or should I try to find a 440 that wasn't built to lug around all that weight. Is that a descent price? Down the road I want to put a supercharger on this car, what would it take for this engine to hold up to that? Help me out. Thanks.

Welcome!

I've heard that the exhaust ports on the RV BB motors have a different angle to them than the car BB motors (only heard that) so that fitting a set of headers can be tricky. I have also heard that the RV BB motors have better cooling passages through them (not sure how true it is though).

I do know that the RV BB motors have a lower compression ratio (8.5:1 or lower) so you'll need to do some work to get that bumped up some. THey can make some good power though.

If it were I, I'd keep searching around for a 440 that is more built up with the parts you want or save you money and build one from scratch.

Why not build up the 383?

I am in no way disagreeing with Tim's post, BUT that is a fair price for the engine as to buy the intake carbs linkages would be close if not more than 1k alone....

No different angles or such on the exhaust ports. They do have more cooling holes from the deck to the heads. Aftermarket heads won't have the holes. Tim is right about the compression. In 1977 I would say like 8:1.

Hi Bob, my name is Gary and I am pretty sure I have seen that intake you are talking about. I live in Denver, and was going to trade him some parts for it, but the deal fell thru. The Weiand cross ram intake with the 440 6 Pak carbs is a pretty much race only intake. I understand it is difficult to set up properly. Basically, it is a fuel distribution nightmare. It is a very nice appearing set up. But you will need a BIG hood scoop, or no hood at all. It sticks up pretty high, and with those big air filters its higher still. The engine pictures show very little wear, but most street applications will work best with a single 4 barrel carb. Some of the guys on the forum have ran that type of set up, and they can provide more details. And while it is a period correct intake for Super Stock, the intake is not the one that came on the 440 6 pak engines from the factory. The stock ones were made by Edelbrock, and there were also some cast iron ones the factory produced. The carbs appear to be the correct factory carbs. Check list numbers to be sure. Good luck.

I did plan to put a blower on this motor and have heard that it would be better to start with a lower compression motor. Would this RV 440 be a good candidate because of this? Would the bottom end need to be beefed up? Do you guys know if these are a 2 or 4 bolt main?

A 1977 440 is going to have a cast crank. With the flat top pistons he installed the Compression Ratio might be too high for a blower. They are a 2 bolt mains. It could easily be turned into a cross bolt main block.

no such thing has 440 stock with 4 bolt mains