71 440 or 74 360?

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dustdevil

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hey guys i got a 73 duster that im gettn ready to start building up, it started life as a 318 with a 904 tranny. now i got a 440 out of a 71 dodge d100 and a 360 from a 74 roadrunner. i plan on doing a street slash drag car, my question is which would be best for the duster? and from reading i hear i could stay with the 904 tranny but im not really sure on that one.
 
Id go with the 440..the 360 will probably be lower compression due to the year...unless you're doing a complete rebuild, then it depends on your pocketbook...
If you go with thr 440 and its got any grunt id look for a 727
 
well i plan on rebuilding both, i know i would have to make some mods to fit the 440 and then i wouldnt with the 360. i just wanna get at least over 400 horse, can i get those kind of numbers with a 360 if rebuilt with heads and cam the whole shabang?
 
sure...i have a 400 hp 340...just cam,headers,intake,over 9.0 compression and some head work
 
440 for anything. Easy torque and horsepower. Can be very streetable built the right way and much more so than a 400hp 360.
 
true about the 440 but i really dont wanna cut up the car..i rather save the 440 for another project. so i can get those numbers even thou the 360 is a 74 block? awesome!!! i thought being a block when emissions kicked in after 72 would hurt my chances of make a monster out of this 360.
 
What do you mean "cut up the car"? Go to www.engine-swaps.com and you'll see what I mean. I used them for my 383 and it wasn't cut up and secondly with a little extra money it's easy to get 450-475HP out of a 440. :burnout:

P6020033 (Custom).JPG
 
You can get 400 HP from your 74 360 but it will take quite a bit of dollars compared to the 440 and installing a 440 in your Duster isn't really that big of a deal. As Jim said no cutting is required. A big block K member is all that is required and it will bolt right in. Also to echo earlier comments a 400 hp 440 will be much more streetable than a 360. In fact a 400 hp 440 is extremely mild and would probably get better fuel mileage if that is any concern. The tire shredding torque of a mild 400 HP 440 compared to a 360 would be fantastic.

And you would need a 727 for the 440. Your small block 904 won't bolt up.
 
so i can get those numbers even thou the 360 is a 74 block? awesome!!! i thought being a block when emissions kicked in after 72 would hurt my chances of make a monster out of this 360
Click to expand...

The problem in emission engines lies mostly in the piston and its pin height affecting the compression ratio...new pistons and maybe some head milling will bring it up into the workable 9-10:1 range...
but ya, all the boys will say "no replacement for displacement...go with the 440"...
 
sweet pic's! thanks guys for all the info, 440 will go in the duster for sure, ill save the 360 for my 74 roadrunner..so no issues with header clearance going into the duster?
 
dustdevil said:
sweet pic's! thanks guys for all the info, 440 will go in the duster for sure, ill save the 360 for my 74 roadrunner..so no issues with header clearance going into the duster?
Click to expand...

Not if use the Schmacher Tri Y's, the TTI's are a little tighter mostly if you're using power steeering.
 
If you're rebuilding either motor, I'd vote for the 360. With the cheap stroker cranks for these motors, you end up with 408 cubic inches. Agood set of
W-2 heads and 450 hp is not a real problem. Its a lot lighter and there's more room in the engine compartment. I have a 383 in my duster and I really like the car, but if I was starting over I'd go with the small block. My 2 cents

don
 
Consider this on maintenance (regarding the tighter clearances). There are only two places (three is you count the distributor) where any maintenance issue is different between a small block and big block. That is spark plugs and oil changes. It is easier to change plug on a small block and easier to change the oil on the big block. Which do you do more often?
 
ever gone for lunch and had the sandwich instead of the soup?

small block or big block?

you go small block and wonder what would have been if you went big block.

i like the 360 personally but with a chance to cut up a junk car and put in a 440 or 383.. and im ALL over it just to feel that mopar power.
hmm Sleeper.. :toothy7:
 
I am having the same debate with myself right now about my 27 T. Do I want to drop in a 360 with a big cam and a duel tunnel ram or take the 400 thats sitting in the shop and stroke it.
The way I see it...You only live once...slam the big block in it and have fun!!!!
 
Stick with the 360 for a street car. Unless you go with aluminum everything that you can find for it and spend a buncha cash to upgrade the susspension, the 440 will make it handle like a model T on ice. BB are for drag racing and gobling fuel. Small blocks are for street vehicles that would still like to make it around a corner in a reasonably quick and agile fashion. IMO and expierence. I have been in both and I will take the 360 over a bb on the street anyday.

And I can change the oil & filter for my small block in my 73, with headers, in 20 minutes in the driveway. Thats stopping for a beer to let the oil drain for a few minutes too mind you, and I can do the plugs in just about the same amount of time. Weight bias is everything for a road car.
 
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