360 or 440?

[josehf34]

Hi guys.

Now I have the chance to buy a recently rebuilt 440 for 650 bucks plus crate and shipping (something like 500 bucks extra), the engine has a 0.02" bored over block, stock camshaft, stock pistons, stock heads, stock 4bbl iron intake manifold and only 200 miles on it since rebuilt. But I'm not 100% sure if the swap worth the extra expense.

My 360 is recently rebuilt too, has aluminum intake, HEI ignition system and a 4BBL 625 CFM Carter AFB and 300 miles on it but sometimes, I wish to have "more power", not a racing car but just more power especially at low revs. I was thinking in upgrade heads on my 360, raise up the compression to 10.6:1 and install headers but now I have the chance to own this Big Block. If I own this Big Block I would put a 800 CFM thermoquad on it, headers, HEI ignition system, edelbrock performer RPM aluminum intake, aluminum water pump, raise up compression to 10.6:1 and maybe aluminum heads to make it lighter and the 360 will be stored for other project. Regardless of what engine I choose, I'm going to swap my TF727 to a lock up A518.

But here's the big deal on this decision: The engine will be on my daily driver so MPG in town and highway is important. I've read in some forums that the 360 must work harder to move my land yacht so will use more fuel than the 440 (especially in a city with hills like where I live). Take in count that I can be very happy with almost 12MPG in town and 14 -15 in Highway

So what do the experts think? worth the extra expense the Big Block? if worth the extra expense, what kind of MPG town/highway should I expect with this 440, A518 and driving like a old man (Yes, I drive slow in town but I love to feel that torque just pushing a bit the throttle)?

 

[Stormer]

So what do the experts think?

You might as well just PM Mr. C. Other than that, you're fishing in the wrong pond... ;)

 

[1978 NYB]

Don Garlits told me decades ago........

No replacement for displacement.

Go with the 440.

 

[josehf34]

You might as well just PM Mr. C. Other than that, you're fishing in the wrong pond... ;)

Sorry, not only the experts I just want to read some opinions to make a good decision and then not have to say "damn, I should have bought that 440" or "Why I put this gas guzzler on my daily driver, it eats 1 gallon per each 10minutes idling"

 

[1978 NYB]

You might as well just PM Mr. C. Other than that, you're fishing in the wrong pond... ;)

Speak for yourself.......

Some of us can actually do some wrenching!:laughing4:

 

[monaco75]

For daily driving, I'd stick with the 360..

 

[josehf34]

For daily driving, I'd stick with the 360..

Why? the 440 will always be a gas guzzler and have less MPG than the 360 even with headers, thermoquad and good compression ratio?

 

[monaco75]

I love the 360 in my car. She is all stock, and gets me around 20mpgs on the highway. When convoying with other buddies in the same car with 440s, they always give me grief about not having the power they do.. But guess who's laughing when we have to stop at all the gas stations??

I really can't talk though. I have a 440 on the stand waiting to go in... LOL!!

However the 360 has been the most dependable engine I've owned. Never left me stranded, and gets decent mpgs. If I were still planning to run my car daily as I was before then the 360 would probably be staying in. But she is becoming more of a fun car. Just my $.02

 

[josehf34]

I love the 360 in my car. She is all stock, and gets me around 20mpgs on the highway. When convoying with other buddies in the same car with 440s, they always give me grief about not having the power they do.. But guess who's laughing when we have to stop at all the gas stations??

I really can't talk though. I have a 440 on the stand waiting to go in... LOL!!

However the 360 has been the most dependable engine I've owned. Never left me stranded, and gets decent mpgs. If I were still planning to run my car daily as I was before then the 360 would probably be staying in. But she is becoming more of a fun car. Just my $.02

My Fury is my Daily driver but I don't want a bored daily driver, If I wanted to drive something boring that I would buy a Honda :frog:. Currently is not boring but not so funy because is a bit sad floor the throttle and not feel the secondaries, just listen it or have to push a bit hard on a hilly highway.

My dream engine must be like this: Smooth idle, gorgeous torque at low RPM, "good" MPG city/town driving keeping my foot out of the secondaries, and when I floor it, I just want to feel power and say "good bye" to the MPG

Not being serious... Really the 440 is sooo bad on MPG also without aggressive modifications?

 

[polara66hardtop]

What type of car is it?
if you want something not boring, then disregard the mileage issue. I found a compromise, where I put a bone stock 69 440 None HP engine in a 67 B body, leaving the stock cam and stock torque converter, and adding the HP Exhaust system. Power comes on early, and ends earlier than an HP engine. I left 2:76 ratio in the car, and it was a blast at a stop light, as well as 80 mph. My mileage was 12/city VS 9 mpg that I got with my 440 HP GTX. Highway was around 16-17, as long as I controlled my right foot. At 70 mph, the car seemed like it was Idling along. it is a lot like my Cummins truck. LoL

Just a suggestion.

 

[josehf34]

What type of car is it?
if you want something not boring, then disregard the mileage issue. I found a compromise, where I put a bone stock 69 440 None HP engine in a 67 B body, leaving the stock cam and stock torque converter, and adding the HP Exhaust system. Power comes on early, and ends earlier than an HP engine. I left 2:76 ratio in the car, and it was a blast at a stop light, as well as 80 mph. My mileage was 12/city VS 9 mpg that I got with my 440 HP GTX. Highway was around 16-17, as long as I controlled my right foot. At 70 mph, the car seemed like it was Idling along. it is a lot like my Cummins truck. LoL

Just a suggestion.

My car is a 1974 Plymouth Fury sedan, sorry but how can I identify a 440 HP?. Wait a second, are you talking about 16-17mpg on highway with a 440? that is better that what I got with my 360 (11.8 city / 13.8 highway).

I don't know the engine year but here's a photo, maybe this can help to know If is a 440 HP or not

 

[Catfish]

Go big or go home! I love big blocks myself, but built small blocks hold a special place in my heart.....stock small blocks.....meh.

 

[Fratzog]

As long as you can afford the gas there is no contest. BB all the way.

 

[polara71]

I love the 360 in my car. She is all stock, and gets me around 20mpgs on the highway. When convoying with other buddies in the same car with 440s, they always give me grief about not having the power they do.. But guess who's laughing when we have to stop at all the gas stations??

I really can't talk though. I have a 440 on the stand waiting to go in... LOL!!

However the 360 has been the most dependable engine I've owned. Never left me stranded, and gets decent mpgs. If I were still planning to run my car daily as I was before then the 360 would probably be staying in. But she is becoming more of a fun car. Just my $.02

I had a 360 and a 440, both in the same year and model car... at the same time. The 360 was a screamer, would pull just as hard as the 440, maybe harder. It was the top end that the 360 couldnt keep up with.

I also had a 360 in my 2001 Ram, that truck got better MPG's than my 5.7 05' Ram and my 5.7 13' Ram....... I love the 360!!

 

[polara66hardtop]

Yes, I also put over 80k on a 71 440 new Yorker (1985-89) travelling between Phoenix and Omaha. 16-17 all day long. The Carb on a 71' was smaller, and the engine was lower compression. But that car was a dream to drive, and pulled better fuel mileage than any of my 66-68 models. my Dad always said a big engine loafing will always do better then a little engine working. If that engine is an HP, look first for a stamp on the pad driver side front. HP engines had a higher stall, deeper gears, which = gas consumption. A 440 can get mileage if you match the torque band with the gear ratio of the rear end, The lower the RPM the better. 440's can pull stumps at low rpm's if they are set up to do so. 13.8 sounds low to me, but 74's had a lot of smog controls on them. my 78' magnum got 21 highway regularly, (they were rated 13-21) but that car had a 904B with overdrive.

 

[josehf34]

Go big or go home! I love big blocks myself, but built small blocks hold a special place in my heart.....stock small blocks.....meh.

I've always been with small blocks, I had never play with big blocks but them looks and sounds beautiful!! I think that is time to try with big! I've ever read that a very mild small block will be a very good high rpm engine, more than a big block, but will always eat more gas than a big block

As long as you can afford the gas there is no contest. BB all the way.

I can afford between 10-12 MPG in town so if I get that I would be very very happy

Yes, I also put over 80k on a 71 440 new Yorker (1985-89) travelling between Phoenix and Omaha. 16-17 all day long. The Carb on a 71' was smaller, and the engine was lower compression. But that car was a dream to drive, and pulled better fuel mileage than any of my 66-68 models. my Dad always said a big engine loafing will always do better then a little engine working. If that engine is an HP, look first for a stamp on the pad driver side front. A 440 can get mileage if you match the torque band with the gear ratio of the rear end, The lower the RPM the better. 440's can pull stumps at low rpm's if they are set up to do so.

if I'm right an engine with higher compression ration will have better mpg than the same engine, with the same mods but with lower compression ratio. is it?

Well so the balance began to tilt by the 440 so let's talk about big s_dancing2:

How sounds my idea to build the engine? that manifold/carburetor combo will be right? In other forum I've read that the Indy aluminum non-ported heads can flow better, make more low rpm torque and get a decent gas milleage.

I'm totally open to hear opinions

 

[70NPORT]

I agree. Go big or go home. I've had both small and big block cars....daily driver is a 383 4v. I would rather just pay for the gas.

 

[has2bmopar]

I have the chance to buy a recently rebuilt 440 for 650 bucks plus crate and shipping (something like 500 bucks extra), the engine has a 0.02" bored over block, stock camshaft, stock pistons, stock heads, stock 4bbl iron intake manifold and only 200 miles on it since rebuilt. But I'm not 100% sure if the swap worth the extra expense.

Regardless of what engine I choose, I'm going to swap my TF727 to a lock up A518.

You may put a 518 behind your 360, but the 440 has a different bell housing. There are other overdrive options, but it will involve much larger sums of money.

 

[josehf34]

You may put a 518 behind your 360, but the 440 has a different bell housing. There are other overdrive options, but it will involve much larger sums of money.

I know, but summit sells the ultra bell for big blocks

 

[has2bmopar]

That's the first that I have heard that. I will have to check it out.

I went to a lot of work so I can replace the Chevy 350 with a Chrysler 360 in my boat... Spent the majority of an afternoon on the bell housing combined with my adaptor plate just to get the mesh on the starter drive to fit properly before the housing could be welded.