MomsDuster
Well-Known Member
I went the 440 route,
I REGRET NOTHING!
I REGRET NOTHING!
Torn between 360/408 and 440
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SLOPAR72
Well-Known Member
Hearsay. Depends on the final fitment but with the Schumacher mounts (SB to BB) it clears no problem..... You can also get a short blower motor and that's option 2 if there is interference....
JW
Inertia
Well-Known Member
Putting big horsepower in is real easy !
Getting it to hook, - will be your biggest problem .
Smoke hides everything but the timeslip .
Getting it to hook, - will be your biggest problem .
Smoke hides everything but the timeslip .
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abodyjoe
Well-Known Member
if thats all you are doing with it i'd go a very mild 360 with a 2.94 or 3.23 gear and be done with it..
that being said, there is nothing like a big block abody. they are awesome.. but for your intended use i'd go with what i posted above..
Car will be mainly cruising through mountains and side roads. Maybe go to the strip a few times a year just to see what it will run
I usually ask what someone is going to do with their car before I make a recommendation but he was Johnny on the spot and knew exactly what his plans were. This has small block written all over it and would serve him well.
I usually ask what someone is going to do with their car before I make a recommendation but he was Johnny on the spot and knew exactly what his plans were. This has small block written all over it and would serve him well.
abodyjoe
Well-Known Member
nope. i had a 440 in a 64 valiant and a 72 demon with stock blower motor and no issues.. used a moroso valve cover..
stunning
Uncle Bob
Shiny paint causes stress.
It's just as easy to buy a built 400/440, you just have to look beyond factory type rebuilds. (Those Blueprint engines aren't cheap.)
My current Duster came with a 400, so that's what it got, but if I was starting from scratch I'd do a small block.
I admit I am NO racer, I never could afford to build a car and go into the cost of racing knowing ALL racers struggle with the "I want to go faster, and speed costs more $"!
I have had a ton of BB B bodies over the decades and some stock 340, 318 cars. Never had any stroker of any flavor.
I always loved the torque of a good 383 Roadrunner with a stick and 3:55'
I had a 67 Cuda 383 4 speed car once, with a big aftermarket front sway bar. It cornered very well! ONly BB A body I ever had.
I still say, a good running good compression 340 or any big block should be fun enough for most IF it has the right gear and convertor if auto.
I have had a ton of BB B bodies over the decades and some stock 340, 318 cars. Never had any stroker of any flavor.
I always loved the torque of a good 383 Roadrunner with a stick and 3:55'
I had a 67 Cuda 383 4 speed car once, with a big aftermarket front sway bar. It cornered very well! ONly BB A body I ever had.
I still say, a good running good compression 340 or any big block should be fun enough for most IF it has the right gear and convertor if auto.
ir3333
Well-Known Member
Now here's a thought. We all decide we'll never sell our projects...but eventually do.
Would an A body with a warm small block be easier to sell or more desirable than an A body with a big block. And
which would you take the biggest loss on?
Would an A body with a warm small block be easier to sell or more desirable than an A body with a big block. And
which would you take the biggest loss on?
While you at it pick up a 589 stroker kit for 3500
Turbo440Dart
crank runner over-er
I went 440. Definitely wish I did a stout small block and a stick in the car instead.
I'm sure once I get mine ironed out it'll fly going straight but its useless for any kind of turning.
I'm sure once I get mine ironed out it'll fly going straight but its useless for any kind of turning.
abodyjoe
Well-Known Member
what did you do for springs, torsion bars and sway bars?
Turbo440Dart
crank runner over-er
Front of the car is still the factory v8 bars that were in it (273 car) tubular uppers, small drop spindle and some calvert front drag shocks.
Rear is split monos and double adjustable viking shocks.
abodyjoe
Well-Known Member
the car is set up for a straight line. no wonder why it sucks in turns..lol
a set of large torsion bars, correct springs, good shocks and some sway bars and you would be surprised as to how well it can do in turns.
a set of large torsion bars, correct springs, good shocks and some sway bars and you would be surprised as to how well it can do in turns.
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Oversize sway bars and good shocks maybe??
HankRearden
Well-Known Member
I put a 440 in a 74. I did the DC k member conversion detailed by Jim Lusk on the old bigblockdart forum.
I built my own power steering pump bracket and modified a blower motor to fit.
It was great for smoke shows.
Previous to that I ran a 360 that was a exact copy of the little red Express engine. The car was fun but not super impressive.
I've never tried a 408. Never been in the budget.
The only way I'll ever do another RB in an a body is if the Schumacher headers are available again.
The header clearance is the real downfall of an RB in an a body. Everything else is just nuts and bolts.
I would be more inclined to do a 400 over either a 408 or 440. Futs better than the 440 but heads flow better than factory LA or magnum heads.
Easier to fit exhaust on the b engine also.
But I do everything as cheap and budget friendly as possible so aftermarket heads and such are rarely on my radar.
I built my own power steering pump bracket and modified a blower motor to fit.
It was great for smoke shows.
Previous to that I ran a 360 that was a exact copy of the little red Express engine. The car was fun but not super impressive.
I've never tried a 408. Never been in the budget.
The only way I'll ever do another RB in an a body is if the Schumacher headers are available again.
The header clearance is the real downfall of an RB in an a body. Everything else is just nuts and bolts.
I would be more inclined to do a 400 over either a 408 or 440. Futs better than the 440 but heads flow better than factory LA or magnum heads.
Easier to fit exhaust on the b engine also.
But I do everything as cheap and budget friendly as possible so aftermarket heads and such are rarely on my radar.
My '67 Fastback Cuda with 440 is way more fun to cruise around in than my '70 340 dart. Both cars are awesome - but the Cuda is way more fun. It handles fine - not sure about the "nose heavy" comments in previous replies.
Are you saying that factory 400 heads flow more than Magnums ?
HankRearden
Well-Known Member
unless Im mistaken the vast majority B/RB heads outflow magnums.
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