Joined: Sun Feb 26 2006, 08:46PM
Location: Kingston,Ontario
Posts: 5622
Before you plant flowers in that block,save those nice KB pistons!.Pistons can be the most expensive thing to replace during a rebuild.That and rebuilding the heads are the two most expensive costs. I have 2,500.00 total tied up in my '68 440.I reused my pistons,save the money on getting my 452's done...well.I spent just under $800.00 on the heads-but well worth it.RB bearing sets are not cheap-but do get the best.Cheap insurance in the long run.
Joined: Mon Feb 13 2006, 12:39AM
Location: Fresno, CA
Posts: 516
Hey TNT, what happened to that other "Tin Indian" car you had in the garage when I brought the front bumper to ya?
Sounds like all the advice given so far is good: save the pistons if ya can, spend the $$ on getting that block (if it's salvagable) decked, trued, and get those cylinders round AND straight.
Joined: Thu Nov 24 2005, 07:29PM
Location: So Cal.
Posts: 1111
C-barge: I kept the pistons and crank, they're all still good. Eventually that block will be taken somewhere else for a second opinion, when I have time.
Moe, I still have that car. ('65 Bonneville 2-dr HT) She's my baby and is never leaving me! I hope to get some traction under her and dip her into the 12's as soon as I finish the disk brake conversion and replace all the suspension bushings.
What, doesn't everyone else have four project cars? !crazy !stars !drive
Joined: Mon Oct 31 2005, 12:48PM
Location: Bakersfield, California
Posts: 1755
TNT440_Cbody wrote ...
Snotty, the Firebird already runs 13's and the (Chevy- blah at least parts are cheap) 355 in it already makes more power to the wheels than any stock 440 I've ever had dynoed. !crazy Better MPG too!
Everyone should have a solid representation of a car from the year they were born!
I will try to forgive your blasphemy in the first comment.
As for the second, I if were to buy a car of the eyar I was born, I'd own a '58 Edsel!
YUCK!!! !nervous
(Actually, I have always liked them - don't tell anyone!)
Joined: Thu Nov 24 2005, 07:29PM
Location: So Cal.
Posts: 1111
Ok, back on topic here, people.... !whip
I started pulling apart the "CURSED" 440 that I rebuilt back in '98. It's been in three cars untouched with probably 7000 miles on it total. It looks pretty good but probably should be honed and re-ringed. What do you all think? I'd actually rather not take the bottom end apart but may as well do it right, huh?
Joined: Thu Nov 24 2005, 07:29PM
Location: So Cal.
Posts: 1111
The heads were rebuilt with hardened seats in '01 but the valves would float above 5500 RPM so I've pulled some springs off another set of heads that have seen 7000 RPM a couple times. They'll be tested and installed if they're good, along with new valve seals.
Seeing you are that far,i would at least rering it.If the bearings look good,just throw em back in.If you're not gonna see upwards of 6000 rpm too much,you can leave the oiling system alone too.Since you said you are putting on new springs,i would have those valves backcut if they are the stock valves.This really wakes up the bottom end cfm on those heads.Of course,i personally would spend about 4-6 hrs on the bowls and gasket matching with a good carbide bit. !whip Glen
Joined: Wed Feb 22 2006, 07:03PM
Location: bakersfield ca
Posts: 855
"440 Mopar rebuild by the Pros"......Hemmings Muscle Machines, October 2006, Issue 37........there's a yellow GTO on the front cover <span class='smallblacktext'>[ Edited Fri Nov 03 2006, 08:13PM ]</span>