[SuperBurban]

I copied the first few posts from another thread, so as not to hijack the prior good discussions.

Contrary to your opinion, you can still find 440s for a reasonable price. You just have to look. The fact they were also available in RVs simply adds another source for these engines.

Well, I was not looking much until this thread, and ran across a guy selling a 77 440 for $350 on Craigs list. He had the add up for over a month and kept refreshing it. No pics. E-mailing him, was just about as bad, but Sunday we finally got a chance to go look. I asked him what his lowest price is, and he came back with the make an offer. I was getting ready to say $250 (would even have gone with the $350 if he held firm). but my Wife spoke out with $150. I said no, maybe $250 would be fair. Then the seller came back with how about split it at $200. I tried not to smile too much when I said ok. Went back today and picked it up.

Out of a 77 Motor home, so it has the heads with extra cooling holes, and the RV water pump that Sam had the issues with.

This was on the air cleaner, might have helped Sam.

View attachment 636061

View attachment 636062

Has a drivers side truck manifold

View attachment 636064

But the passenger side has the outlet to the rear.

View attachment 636065

And an adapter for an external oil cooler.

View attachment 636066

And a aftermarket mount for a York style compressor.

View attachment 636067

Also came with an Edlebrock 1406, and a holley chock block.


Now I just need to figure out what trans I want to go with, and of course find one.

 

[SuperBurban]

Damm you guys, I was fine with Small blocks.

 

[neil4224]

Just as a mention on the RV water pump housing and thermostat issue. Milodon appears to no longer offer the RV style thermostat that Sam had put in his. Him and I conversed about this just the other day. I wanted the milodon version but it is currently not known if they will get any more/manufacture anymore from what I found out. I ended up going with an EMP high performance one made by Robert Shaw. Took me about an hour of digging to find the right part number and style needed as their website is not the greatest. Mr. Gasket still offers theirs, but per reviews they are not to great in the quality department as has been mentioned on this site for a while now.

Neil

 

[440 4spd Power Ram]

Damm you guys, I was fine with Small blocks.

Don't forget the oil pan/pickup and motor mount brackets as the RV 440s still used the '71-back mounts and pan.

On the transmission of course a 727 would be the simplest route unless you want to swap out for a manual or a AOD, either of those options gets expensive or time consuming trying to find all the stuff required for the conversion.

I'd go with a non lockup A518 and a conversion bellhousing so you can use a standard cast crank 440 torque converter and a toggle switch for OD, a lockup trans would require a balanced flexplate or a custom TC.

 

[SuperBurban]

Just as a mention on the RV water pump housing and thermostat issue. Milodon appears to no longer offer the RV style thermostat that Sam had put in his. Him and I conversed about this just the other day. I wanted the milodon version but it is currently not known if they will get any more/manufacture

Well, that is not good. The water pump housing is a reason I like this engine. Thanks, I will start looking for one and a spare now. I see having the mopar part number does not help any either.

I'd go with a non lockup A518 and a conversion bellhousing so you can use a standard cast crank 440 torque converter and a toggle switch for OD, a lockup trans would require a balanced flexplate or a custom TC.

Yea. I would prefer a Lockup, I think they are better for cruising. I do have a 46RH, I might use. I might even try making my own adapter. There is no rush, and I do have more too-doos that have a higher priority.

 

[Mopar572]

Just as a mention on the RV water pump housing and thermostat issue. Milodon appears to no longer offer the RV style thermostat that Sam had put in his. Him and I conversed about this just the other day. I wanted the milodon version but it is currently not known if they will get any more/manufacture anymore from what I found out. I ended up going with an EMP high performance one made by Robert Shaw. Took me about an hour of digging to find the right part number and style needed as their website is not the greatest. Mr. Gasket still offers theirs, but per reviews they are not to great in the quality department as has been mentioned on this site for a while now.

Neil

This gradual phase out of parts is annoying, I swear everyday something I looked at the day before is no longer available....

 

[SuperBurban]

Looks like the factory water pump. I have never seen these bolts used on a water pump though.

 

[SuperBurban]

A little gunk inside the housing, but otherwise the inside looks damm clean

 

[Barend]

Just got mine finished a few weeks ago. All the exterior will go on when its in something. Dont know what yet. Well i do actually. A tin grille ramcharger if i can gety hands on a nice one. Was a 78 motorhome engine but not so much a motorhome engine lol. I got the 440 source aluminum waterpump housing by the way. Bought one barely used for 40 bucks. Looks brand new

 

[Mad Max]

nice score George. If you need a stat I wouldn't worry much about the Mr. Gasket stat, especially if the Moroso ones have dried up. Then again...if the one in there now is intact, drop it in a sonic cleaner and I bet it would go another 50k miles...

 

[HOBO]

Damn lucked out there for $200 bucks!

 

[neil4224]

So George what's your plans for your newly acquired taste in Big Blocks? Great score btw!

Neil

 

[SuperBurban]

I ended up going with an EMP high performance one made by Robert Shaw.

Do you have a part number. Searching by Mopars part number, keeps going back to a standard style.

nice score George. If you need a stat I wouldn't worry much about the Mr. Gasket stat, especially if the Moroso ones have dried up. Then again...if the one in there now is intact, drop it in a sonic cleaner and I bet it would go another 50k miles...

I am hoping the one in it is good, But would like to have a spare, especially since you cannot just run temporarily without one on this housing. I do have a spare housing on a 400 I have stashed away, But like the way these work.

Damn lucked out there for $200 bucks!

Thanks. If it was not for that other thread, I wold not have searched CL for a 440.

So George what's your plans for your newly acquired taste in Big Blocks? Great score btw!

Neil

Right now, just give it a good checkout, and stash it away. Long term, I aqm thinking of adding it in my clubcab project, which will be built for towing.

 

[neil4224]

First link for reading, you have to read it all or you may miss the Stewart info coinciding with the right thermostat.

Loading…

www.classicwinnebagos.com

Summits website has a terrible problem of classifying everything under frequently ordered items and doesn't list motorhomes. Not a shocker there. I guess everyone doesn't wheelie motorhomes like Finnegan does.

Anyway here is the link to the EMP thermostat on summit.

Loading…

www.summitracing.com

The 300 series is the right and correct size for the motorhome water pump/thermostat housing. I test fit it when I received it. They offer 160 180 and 195 thermos.

Neil

 

[neil4224]

Btw you can further search Robert Shaw thermostats and it appears they have stopped making the true original thermostat, but are now just putting a wider flange on a smaller diameter version. Cost cutting at its finest.

Let me know if you find any other sources Super.

Neil

 

[440 4spd Power Ram]

Looks like the factory water pump. I have never seen these bolts used on a water pump though.

View attachment 636103

View attachment 636106
View attachment 636107
View attachment 636104
View attachment 636105

Be sure to go back with either the HD water pump like the one you currently have or one of the modern anti cavitation pumps and not one of the generic ones with six blades, like the thermostat it's a major overheating issue otherwise as I mentioned in my trucks thread.

'85 W350 Crew Cab - Turbocharged 440 4spd

Have a part number handy? For which part? The fuel pump part # is 11569 but far too high pressure for the stock TBI at 14psi Vs 90psi for the pump I'm running for the Sniper.

www.ramchargercentral.com