RE: 440 help

[SB <polecat2@xxxxxxxx>]

I have disassembled, and rebuilt, a number of 1970's vintage 440 
motorhome engines, and can attest to the following (based on my personal 
experience, which doesn't make the following absolute):

1.  They all use the same pistons as the same year 440 car engines.  413 
motorhome engines use unique, dished pistons in the 7.0:1 compression 
range, but not the 440 motorhome engines.
2.  The blocks on these engines are machined slightly differently, and 
hold more anti-freeze than the same year 440 car engines.
3.  These engines seem to be devoid of most polution controls.  For 
example, I had an intake manifold and carb from a 1978 version that was 
clean.  No EGR, no air pump nonsense, etc.  The Thermoquad carbs are 
free of polution controls and Lean Burn nonsense, and even have a ported 
vacuum advance line.  If you know Thermoquads, that is pretty rare.
4.  Now, the best part.  440 motorhome engines use the best factory 
heads you could ask for, save the Max Wedge heads.  If your engine is a 
1973, it probably has 213 heads on it (if I remember the casting number 
correctly), which are motorhome versions of the 346 head.  They flow at 
least on par with the car heads, and run cooler.  Later 452 motorhome 
heads are, in my opinion, the gold standard of big block heads.  Fastest 
way to check if you've got real good ones--if the heads use "peanut" 
style, little spark plugs, you've got a real winner.  RV12YC, I think.

Bottom line: Your 1973 motorhome 440 is superior to a 1973 440 car 
engine in many respects, and equal to it in all the rest.  My friends 
and I hunt these things down.


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