A friend of mine is looking at an 89 TA that supposedly has a 440 big block, the thing that doesn't add up is it's not inspected and the guy only wants $1,200 for the car....i know a BB's intake is wider than a SB but what ways can u tell for sure other than the size

 

Block casting number

 

440??? Huh? How did the come up with this displacement? As far as I know, they did a 396, 402, 427, and 454 in big blocks. Did someone mix and match parts to come up with the odd number? Or do they think they put a chrysler engine in there? I would be somewhat suspect.

 

Was there ever a Olds, Pontiac or Buick 440ci? I know there was a Chrysler......hmm....

You will know if its a SBC or sometype of bigblock when you see it.

If the body is a complete pile I'd say 1,200 is about right.

 

If it is indeed a mopar 440, it will be easy to tell. Look for the distributor to be at the front, pointing at the passenger side. I had a 440 in my last project, a 68' Polara 2 dr hardtop. It is a huge engine. Someone is blowing smoke up your proctological orifice, I think.

Not the best of pic attached, I'll try to find a better one of the engine.

 

the beast

 

A .060"-over 427 (or .060"-over 454 block with 396/427 crank) will be about 440 cid.

Regardless, caution is in order here. Valve covers is a big give-away, as is exhaust. SBC's have center two exhaust ports together, BBC has evenly spaced exhaust ports.

 

Where abouts in southern Saskatchewan do you live?

 

Gravelbourg. An hour and fifteen minutes south of Moose Jaw, and 30 minutes from Assiniboia.

 

Hah, you must be French then, eh?

I grew up in Regina.

 

Nope!! I moved here a little over seven years ago. I'm a Crazy-Caper, Nova Scotia.

 

Then what are you doing in totally French Gravelbourg???

 

Yeah, it is pretty french here. I moved out here for a job. They needed some real talent.