440 in a motorhome

[Bret]

Hello,

A friend is willing to give me the engine and trans out of a 1973
Commander motorhome. He claims that the motor is a 440 and the trans is
a TF-727. In your most honest opinion, would this be worth taking? I
plan to use the block and crank in our bracket car (1967 coronet). The
only thing I don't know yet is if the crank is cast or forged. I seem
to recall that most 440 engines came with cast cranks around 1973. If
this engine has a cast crank then I will most likely pass. If it has a
forged crank then I am thinking about going for it. Is there anything I
should look for specifically to sway my decision? Thanks!

Bret

[Randy Wachlin]

I'd be surprised if it were a 440.Most of the RB engines I've seen in
motorhomes from that era were 413's.Alot of people mistake them for 440's
since they do look the same.The transmissions are usually a funky short
shafted version but not always.Not saying it wouldn't be great for free
though! It more than likely is a forged crank but then again.......it could
be forged! Even if it is a cast crank so what? It's still a big block.And at
that price......take it!
"Bret" <bretb...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:3ECA9BB3...@hotmail.com...

[Joshua Skinner]

If the engine is a 440-3 it will have a forged crank. The 318-3 had a forged
hardened crank, but I'm not sure about the 440-3 crank being hardened. My
Mopar Engine Book states that 440s got cast cranks in 1974 and that the
'72-'73 forged crank has a different part number from the early forged crank
and the 440-6bbl crank. Many class C motorhomes came with the 440-3, but
they also came with the truck torqueflite that has a drum parking brake on
the tailhousing. So I'd say go for the short block, but sell the heads and
trans to someone with a motorhome or medium duty truck.

Joshua Skinner

[Lefty]

Of course you should take it. Even if it is a cast crank engine, it is
stronger than hell, and you'll have no issues especially if you are racing
an automatic.

Here's a couple links to help you I.D. your new find;

http://www.fortunecity.com/silverstone/chrysler/45/bigblock.htm

http://www.yearone.com/updatedsinglepages/Id_info/mopar/mopar%20casting%20nu
mbers/castingnumbers3.html

BTW, you can usually tell the cast crank by the damper. It will either say
"use on cast crank only" or something similar, or it will have an eccentric
look to the inner hub from the front. The standard thin damper for forged
cranks is concentric in every way.
Good Luck!

"Bret" <bretb...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:3ECA9BB3...@hotmail.com...

[Hemi4268]

Hi

I am not sure it makes a difference if the crank is forged or cast except to
get the right torque converter and balance hub.

If it is a 413, it might have the extended flange 8 bolt crank which will NOT
fit any modern TF. Second problem with 413's is only low compression 7:1
pistons are available. Anything else is custom and expensive.

Larry

[Joshua Skinner]

Randy,

I was doing research on Dodge motorhomes a while back and found that the last
model year for the 413 was 1972. I was looking at a Travco Dodge that was being
advertised as a '73 which should have been a 440, but I noticed the engine was a
413 and further investigation showed the Travco to be a '72.

Joshua

[Lefty]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the RV business lends itself to this type of
situation; prior year carryovers titled into the next model year, due to the
fact that it takes extra time to get cut-away chassies and other
necessities, then get them prepped for delivery to RV dealers. I would not
be surprised to see something that the cut-away manufacturer (Dodge, Ford,
etc.) made the previous year, titled for sale by an RV manufacturer in the
current year.

"Joshua Skinner" <joshua...@spammenotattbi.com> wrote in message
news:3ECAC06A...@spammenotattbi.com...

[Russ Lyttle]

Bret wrote:

Check the exhaust system. If they are cast iron, definately take it. I'd
take it anyway.
I just got a 74 Ramcharger with a 440 and there was a Large motor home there
also with a 440.My understanding is that there aren't but about 200-300 of
those particular engines around and they have some "collector" value if you
don't want to rebuild one to a more useful configuration. (I've been
offered $800 for the headers) The cams were stated to be RV cams. which I
will replace ASAP.I haven't checked to see if the cranks are cast or forged
as I don't care. I'll either keep them or replace them during a rebuild.
--
Russ Lyttle
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[elliott dozier]

seems like the cast cranks are rated at 700 HP

[Bret]

elliott dozier wrote:

> seems like the cast cranks are rated at 700 HP

I didn't know this. I was told that they were good for about 400HP and
safe up to about 6000 RPM.

Bret

[dodgeboy]

Actually they are plenty strong to well past 600 HP.
I like my steel though.
In 73 It's most likely a steel. Thin damper steel, thick cast.
Barry a. Lee

[Steve]

Randy Wachlin wrote:
> I'd be surprised if it were a 440.Most of the RB engines I've seen in
> motorhomes from that era were 413's.Alot of people mistake them for 440's
> since they do look the same.

IIRC, 440s started appearing in some smaller motorhomes (like van
chassis motorhomes) around this time. The 413 was still the "industrial"
engine and used in the heavier motorhomes, trucks, and busses through
about 75. After that, the 440 was used in all HD applications until the
end of the big-block era at the end of '78. I've heard that a lot of
motorhomes continued to be available with Dodge 440 engines well into
the 80s because many of the motorhome manufacturers had bought a backlog
of chassis and drivetrains prior to '79.