78 440 mopar

jmantle · 01-08-2023, 09:11 PM

are the later 440's competitive in a heavy car? just curious.

Paul Wong · 01-09-2023, 01:49 PM

These vehicles suffer from the arbitrary pencil stroke of NHRA officials before they were put in the book. They had over 100hp added to them and were never competitive.

The low compression and hauling a 4310-4655 pound barge will make this not fun at this HP rating. If it were 50hp over the stock rating it would be worth a try. Much more competitive with the 360s available and a transmission that could be built on a budget.

GTX JOHN · 01-10-2023, 12:47 AM

Same 440 engine in 73/74 is now 325 HP. (Factory 280)
We have a fresh ready to go engine 440/330HP
on engine stand and will be trying it this year if we race.

Basically 40 more CI and 31 more HP rated than our 400 now in
our 73 400 Roadrunner that runs 1.00 + quite a bit more
when we need to. Same Cam and heads etc.

The compression is the problem in both of the combos but
plenty of piston to valve clearance. We raced the 73/440 combo
many years ago.

jmantle · 01-10-2023, 08:27 PM

I saw a 78 New Yorker for sale cheap with a pretty decent body so was curious. I see the factory HP was 195, NHRA factored to 345. I can see 345 being an issue, not much less than the earlier 440's with a decent compression ratio.

GTX JOHN · 01-10-2023, 10:30 PM

Better combo is 73/73 B body440 @ 325 or 400 @ 294.

David Lee · 01-11-2023, 05:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTX JOHN

Better combo is 73/73 B body440 @ 325 or 400 @ 294.

what is your opinion in the 73 coronet?

GTX JOHN · 01-11-2023, 09:30 PM

Coronets are B Bodies.
1973 440 @ 325 would be OK

01-08-2023, 09:11 PM	#1
jmantle Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Black Creek, BC Canada Posts: 325 Likes: 72 Liked 166 Times in 78 Posts	78 440 mopar are the later 440's competitive in a heavy car? just curious. __________________ Jim Mantle V/SA 6632

01-09-2023, 01:49 PM	#2
Paul Wong Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 377 Likes: 98 Liked 400 Times in 79 Posts	Re: 78 440 mopar These vehicles suffer from the arbitrary pencil stroke of NHRA officials before they were put in the book. They had over 100hp added to them and were never competitive. The low compression and hauling a 4310-4655 pound barge will make this not fun at this HP rating. If it were 50hp over the stock rating it would be worth a try. Much more competitive with the 360s available and a transmission that could be built on a budget. Last edited by Paul Wong; 01-09-2023 at 02:22 PM.

01-10-2023, 12:47 AM	#3
GTX JOHN VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Boulder City, Nevada 89005 Posts: 2,708 Likes: 2,732 Liked 2,398 Times in 679 Posts	Re: 78 440 mopar Same 440 engine in 73/74 is now 325 HP. (Factory 280) We have a fresh ready to go engine 440/330HP on engine stand and will be trying it this year if we race. Basically 40 more CI and 31 more HP rated than our 400 now in our 73 400 Roadrunner that runs 1.00 + quite a bit more when we need to. Same Cam and heads etc. The compression is the problem in both of the combos but plenty of piston to valve clearance. We raced the 73/440 combo many years ago. __________________ John Irving 741 Stock 741 Super Stock Last edited by GTX JOHN; 01-10-2023 at 10:28 PM.

01-10-2023, 08:27 PM	#4
jmantle Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Black Creek, BC Canada Posts: 325 Likes: 72 Liked 166 Times in 78 Posts	Re: 78 440 mopar I saw a 78 New Yorker for sale cheap with a pretty decent body so was curious. I see the factory HP was 195, NHRA factored to 345. I can see 345 being an issue, not much less than the earlier 440's with a decent compression ratio. __________________ Jim Mantle V/SA 6632

01-10-2023, 10:30 PM	#5
GTX JOHN VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Boulder City, Nevada 89005 Posts: 2,708 Likes: 2,732 Liked 2,398 Times in 679 Posts	Re: 78 440 mopar Better combo is 73/73 B body440 @ 325 or 400 @ 294. __________________ John Irving 741 Stock 741 Super Stock

01-11-2023, 09:30 PM	#7
GTX JOHN VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Boulder City, Nevada 89005 Posts: 2,708 Likes: 2,732 Liked 2,398 Times in 679 Posts	Re: 78 440 mopar Coronets are B Bodies. 1973 440 @ 325 would be OK __________________ John Irving 741 Stock 741 Super Stock