RB VS B Blocks

[mtandrews]

stolen from www.allpar.com

The 383 cubic inch RB engine was only available in 1959-1960 on the US built Chrysler Windsor and Saratoga (thanks, Ian Smale and Bill Watson); at that time, American-made Chrysler and Imperial cars used the RB blocks, with the 413 going into Imperial, New Yorker, 300E, and 300F.

 

[NCmtnDWELLER]

Same same. If it has "HP" stamped on it it's worth a little more strictly due to hype. Otherwise, it's worth what someone's willing to pay.

Well Put !!!

 

[moparlover]

they can all be good. depends on the builder. heck there is even some guy over on moparts has a cheapo build 383 turbo belvedere or something and after a few years it's still running strong.

 

[SteveB1974]

I have 440's and a couple 400's and I have researched and if you would have asked me 10 years ago I would have said 440 but knowing what I do know about 400's and Strokers It is definately 400 for me, I just dropped off a 72 400 block and a 72 440 steel crank to my machinist to hot tank and start on my journey to 451 Stroker land! Shorter deck equals stronger more rigid block, less height less flex, 400 has the biggest bore of ANY big block Mopar, so as much as I love saying "440" I will have to say 400 block!

 

[SteveB1974]

wont say that when the 400 blows itself apart ! the block thickness is so thin i wouldnt use one for a factory rebuild unless its a frost block . ive seen a sleeve .020 thick that isnt much at least a 383 is .100-.140 thick

 

[Jeremiah (jd)]

For a performance build a 400 block has the most value. For resto stuff the casting/stamping dictates value to the buyer. We don't buy 413 or 4:40 engines however every 400 that comes up for reasonable money comes home with us.

 

[67Dart273]

I have 440's and a couple 400's and I have researched and if you would have asked me 10 years ago I would have said 440 but knowing what I do know about 400's and Strokers It is definately 400 for me, I just dropped off a 72 400 block and a 72 440 steel crank to my machinist to hot tank and start on my journey to 451 Stroker land! Shorter deck equals stronger more rigid block, less height less flex, 400 has the biggest bore of ANY big block Mopar, so as much as I love saying "440" I will have to say 400 block!

You can say, "400 stroked to the sky!!"

 

[Killer6]

wont say that when the 400 blows itself apart ! the block thickness is so thin i wouldnt use one for a factory rebuild unless its a frost block . ive seen a sleeve .020 thick that isnt much at least a 383 is .100-.140 thick

.............ahhhhh.........

 

[AndyF]

Does an RB block have more value and is it more desired than a B block? Just curious as to your opinions. Thank you MMG

All depends on the block, the stamping, the casting, etc.
A few RB blocks are worth a bunch, most aren't worth much. A few B blocks are worth money, most aren't worth much.

 

[MOPARMAGA]

wont say that when the 400 blows itself apart ! the block thickness is so thin i wouldnt use one for a factory rebuild unless its a frost block . ive seen a sleeve .020 thick that isnt much at least a 383 is .100-.140 thick

Huh ?
Seems to me and almost anyone building 600 + HP it's a stroked 400 block because they're a much stronger block than 383 plus a bigger bore than a 440

 

[TT5.9mag]

Wow thread revived from 2014! That has to be some kind of record.

 

[Mr. Sinister]

No not really, "factory" 400's used cast cranks and back in those days it was either cast or forged (there wasn't different grades you could choose from) I'm not aware of being able to order your 440 or later on your 400 with a extra special crank. Back in those days if you were building 400HP or lower use cast (remember these are old world cast cranks) everything over 400 use forged. With few exceptions forged cranks are internally balanced and cast externally balanced. The 440 6 pak crank required an external balancer because of the heavier con rods, more or less. Nowadays you can buy basic quality forged cranks and top of line forged cranks but I believe it's not necessarily the steel involved but more the process, quality control and testing at the molecular level which seperates a good quality crank from a top quality crank. That and price of course.

Now they do list a forged crank for the 400 in 71-72 cars but guess what, it's actually the 383 forged crank or what was left over when the 383 was discontinued in 71-72.

The last year for 383 had a cast crank. 1971 383 2 barrel was a cast crank.

 

[Mtrhead]

I'm fixing to try the 230 cold weather block 1971 casting that was produced in sept. and see what it does producing it into a 451 with a 69 440 steel crank I'm hoping to get some je slugs and some flat tops or dished...2" super comps fenderwells turned around backwards with 2 hairdryers(small ones)64-76mm...trying to get a fast time at track...daylight to dark in 5 seconds

 

[Killer6]

Wow thread revived from 2014! That has to be some kind of record.

Sadly,.......no....

 

[Ottmundr]

Wow thread revived from 2014! That has to be some kind of record.

 

[MOPARMAGA]

View attachment 1716413874

Reminds me of the slayer song necrophiliac lol

 

[PROSTOCKTOM]

You know the old saying?

Education Cost, How Much Are You Willing To Learn

Tom