Re: to Poly, or not to Poly.......

["Gary Pavlovich" <glpavlovich@xxxxxxx>]

Jack,

OK; opinions and facts mixed together may help you decide what to do. 
Fact(?) a 1978 Dodge 440 would be an anemic engine without more compression, 
cam and the one you have is probably around 230HP....
318 Poly 2-bbl 3.91 x 3.31 bore & stroke, 9.0:1 comp. 230HP @ 4400, 340 
torque @ 2400
1974+ 440 w/four barrel carb - depending on chassis install:
V8-440 4-bbl 4.32 x 3.75 bore & stroke 8.2:1 comp. 230HP @ 3600 350 torque @ 
3200 45-65
V8-440 (Calif.) 4-bbl 4.32 x 3.75 bore & stroke 8.2:1 comp.220HP @ 3600 345 
torque @ 3200 45-65
V8-440 4-bbl 4.32 x 3.75bore & stroke 8.2:1comp. 275HP @ 4400 375 torque @ 
3200 45-65

I suspect your Poly "as is" would run much better than your free 440 "as is" 
and your Poly with a four barrel intake & carb alone would far outperform it 
and get 30% better mileage.  Fact; a "built" 440 will always be more 
powerful than any Mopar small block and a "built" 318 Poly can easily make 
425HP & 440ft. lbs. of torque but you did not say what your intentions for 
the truck are so I will make assumptions and give you "my" opinion to weigh 
w/the other opinions you gather.

I don't think you will gain any appreciation/improvement in the way the 
truck drives at all by swapping your current Poly for a 1978 440 engine when 
you count the cost of fabbing new motor mounts, clearances fore the engine 
trans, new exhaust hookup/welding, new driveshaft, new alternator/pulley 
brackets, more weight with very little Torque or HP gain for the weight you 
are adding, plus the expense of these modifications.  To make the swap 
worthwhile, in my opinion, you will have to make some internal modifications 
to the 440 such as increased compression, a larger camshaft & lifter 
package, gasket set, and four barrel intake - perhaps a distributor?
My thought is that you want a "good running" truck that is fun and 
dependable to drive and if that is what you are after then stick with your 
Poly for the following reasons;
The Poly is more dependable, less expensive to run, just as easy to acquire 
replacement parts since most of what "breaks" when on the road is the same 
part as an LA 318/340 (water pump, generator, wires, coil, distributor 
parts, carb, freeze plug...), more fun to drive that a smogger 440, unique 
enough to garner tons of attention when you lift the hood, it "belongs" in 
your truck (indigenous powerplant), can easily be modified for more HP & 
Torque (if desired) with a cam/lifter set & larger 2bbl. carb for little 
more money than the equivalent 440 parts (I can make sure of that), and you 
don't have to FABRICATE any parts to make it fit...just turn the key with 
your currently Poly-powered truck and smile.

Lastly, the 440 was "free" and is a valuable core motor to build properly 
for killer HP & Torque...but that is not your goal; is it?

Gary Pavlovich




-----Original Message----- 
From: Jack Balderama
Sent: Saturday, January 05, 2013 2:12 PM
To: 1962to1965mopars@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: to Poly, or not to Poly.......

Hey everybody,
I'd like some opinions from everybody. I have recently acquired a 440 come a 
78 dodge, for free I might add, and I was wondering if it was worth it to 
stick in my 63 D100. Now, the powertrain in it is more then enough to love 
that 1 ton terror I call my truck. It's the 318 poly that has a lot of life 
left in it. Please help me weigh in my options.
Thanks

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Please address private email -- email of interest to only one person -- directly to that person. That is, email your parts/car transactions and negotiations, as well as other personal messages, only to the intended recipient. Do not just press "reply" and send your email to everyone using the general '62-'65 Clubhouse public email address. This practice will protect your privacy, reduce the total volume of mail and fine-tune the content signal to Mopar topic. Thanks!

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