Confirmed - Number matching motor

[43tutor]

I finally confirmed the 400 for my car is truly number matching. I had been originally looking in the wrong spot and didn't find any stamping, so I thought the motor was maybe a warranty replacement motor. After some further research I discovered the numbers should be near the pan rail. Sure enough, under the grime and gunt, there it was the magic number I had been searching for, a perfect match.

My car came with a 76 440 installed and the 400 came with the car.

Now I'm in the process of a complete under hood restoration. My original plan was to rebuild the 440 and install it back into the car. Now I'm wondering if I should rebuild the 400 and install it back into the car or just save it. The 400 turns over easily so I don't anticipate any major issues. I would do a complete tear down and bring it back to original specs. However, I would like to install a 4 barrel in place of the 2 barrel and install a dual snorkel air cleaner.

I'm looking for some feedback from the group. Build the 440 or the 400? The car will only be driven to car shows and events, less then 1000 miles a year.

[JimT1971RR]

Congrats on finding it matched! I wish mine had it's original.

[CtownRunner]

If you are going to rebuild one or the other motor, I would lean toward the original 400. Just save the original intake and air cleaner if you swap for hp parts on the rebuild. Hell go with aluminum heads too. paint to match the motor and have fun!

[71_bronze_gtx]

My vote - if departing from "as built at the factory", use the 440 for the WOW factor. They command respect. Most people around here think the 400 was a slug.

[471Magnum]

Build an upgraded 400... or stroker.

I'm a big fan of sleeper motors. Fill them full of go fast parts, but dress them up stock.

My 69 Charger 383 got a 400 stroked to 471.

My 72 340 Road Runner is packing 410 inches of small block.

In both cases, without looking at the casting numbers you'd never know they weren't stock.... until you hit the GO pedal.

[dangina]

I'm currently building a 470" stroker from the kit from muscle motors! go stroker!

[43tutor]

I like the stroker idea but I do want to keep it driveable. I'm also a big fan of keeping the stock appearance and packing some goodies inside. I want to make sure if some young kid pulls next to me in a rice rocket the old Mopar can still eat some rice for lunch.

If anyone can suggest a stroker kit let me know.

[paladin2511]

Looking at the stoker 500 ci for my 72 from Muscle Motors , any options on the company. Results , customer service, etc??

[43tutor]

I purchased a stroker kit from 440 Source. All items seemed to be top quality. The motor has not been fired yet as of today. It is assembled and ready I'm just running behind the restoration work on the car. I hope to fire it up within a couple of weeks. All items are now completely restored and ready to bolt back together. I ended up taking every nut and bolt apart from bumper to bumper and reconditioning every part or replacing the parts as needed.

I decided to build my 400 into a 470 stroker. The 470 kit has a smaller bore size when compared to the 451 kit. I like the idea of keeping as much material in the block as possible. The 470 kit dropped right into the block without any internal grinding of the block. 444 Source was good to deal with and was quick with the delivery of the kit.

[paladin2511]

440 Source is a great way to go they helped me set up my 512 stoker, originally a 440 in my 1972 Roadrunner. (Sorry no matching number so the game was on) kept it the baby blue with the only change being a MSD ignition and a edelbrock air cleaner to clear the billet distributor. Wow to the rice burner that thinks different.

[dangina]

Looking at the stoker 500 ci for my 72 from Muscle Motors , any options on the company. Results , customer service, etc??

I haven't fired the engine yet but the builder did complain that a few parts in the kit weren't right and ended up not using them. The cranks are chinese like 440 source, so take that for what you will, I like the 451/470 combos as they are proven and bullet proof .