ENGINE ID QUESTION

[MJD]

THERE ARE TWO QUESTIONS I NEED HELP WITH.
FIRST, I AM LOOKING FOR SOME INFO ON THE ID OF A MOTOR I RECENTLY PICKED UP AT A GARAGE SALE. IT HAS THE # 51426C STAMPED ON THE PAD AT THE FRONT OF THE BLOCK. I READ THIS AS MEANING IT IS A 426 (I HOPE). ANYONE ABLE TO CONFIRM THIS?
SECOND, I AM LOOKING FOR A 440 BLOCK AND I AM ABLE TO BUY A NEW YORKER FOR CHEAP. THIS CAR HAS 72 ON THE TAIL LIGHTS, BUT A STICKER UNDER THE HOOD SAYS IT MEETS 73 EPA STANDARDS SO I AM UNSURE WHAT YEAR IT IS. THE SERIAL NUMBER IS CS41T3C232720. ANOTHER CONCERN IS THAT I WILL BE BORING THE MOTOR 60 OVER. IS THIS BLOCK GOING TO TAKE IT? I REMEMBER HEARING THAT SOME OF THE BLOCKS HAVE THIN CASTINGS AND I HAVE A GUY TELLING ME THAT THE THIN WALL BLOCKS ARE THE 72'S AND NEWER. I CAN'T REMEMBER IF THIS IS THE CASE OR NOT, I THOUGHT THE THIN WALL BLOCKS DIDN'T START UNTIL 74 OR 75.
PLEASE POST YOUR ANSWER HERE OR E-MAIL ME DIRECT, ANY COMMENTS AND ALL HELP IS APPRECIATED.
THANKS.

[Mopar1970440]

I have a 73 440 in my car and its bored 60 over and it is fine. I heard 73 was the last of the good 440 blocks. But as for that a 73 440 will take a 60 over bore.. if the motor is stock bore and needs bored.. id just do it 30 over and save some meat in the walls for the future. Mine was already 40 over so i had to go to 60 over. Hope this helps

[ehostler]

The VIN that you specified for a 1973 Chrysler 4-door with a 440-4bbl 350hp.

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Ed - MoPower

'96 Dodge Ram 1500 SLT CC 360 4X4
'68 Charger 383-4
'69 Coronet 500 Convertible 440-4

[MJD]

FYI, I TOOK THE MOTOR OUT OF THE CAR TONIGHT AND THE BLOCK IS DATED 72 WHICH IS OK FOR THE 60 OVER.
I WAS SURPRISED TO FIND A CAST CRANK THOUGH, I THOUGHT THE 440'S HAS STEEL UP TO AND INCLUDING 73.
ANYWAYS, THANKS FOR THE INPUT, IT IS APPRECIATED.
I AM STILL LOOKING FOR INFO ON THE NUMBER I PULLED OFF THE PAD OF THE OTHER BLOCK, ANYONE HAVE AN IDEA AS TO WHERE I CAN LOOK?

[Chargerchuck]

ehostler- you are right on the cubes per the VIN, but the highest rated 440 in '73 put out 280 hp; The last year the 440 saw 300+ was '71. I have a '72 Charger with a 440 Magnum and it was rated at only 285 Net HP when it was stock. Even if you went by the older methodology to calculate HP, a stock '73 440 still doesn't put out anywhere near 350 horses. Based on the serial number you have a stock 440 out of a 4 door sedan. By the way, a great source of info is put out by HP Books called Big Block Mopar Performance by Chuck Senatore. Regarding blocks, all blocks from 68-75 are the same. In 76 they went to a thinner wall design. They're good for about .030" and that's about it.

[Chargerchuck]

MJD-reread your most recent message- the stock 440s beginning in '72 used cast cranks; only the magnum and the couple of six packs that managed to sneak through tht year came with a forged crank. At least now you know what you have, which isn't too shabby!