440 crank into a 400 block question

[angry_bear_md]

Hi all,

I just purchased a 400 long block that's been bored over .060, the pistons are KB performance hyper pistons for a 4.402 bore size. I am intending to mate a 4 speed to this engine, but the crank isnt drilled for a pilot bearing. Since the crank would have to come out for that, I am considering replacing it with a 440 crank. My question is is it plug/play or would I also need to replace pistons and other supporting components for the 440 crank to fit?

 

[GTX JOHN]

Yep, replace the pistons or they
will stick WAY OUT of your block.

Custom pistons are pricy!

Easy to machine crank after it is out
of the engine.

 

[angry_bear_md]

Yep, replace the pistons or they
will stick WAY OUT of your block.

Custom pistons are pricy!

Easy to machine crank after it is out
of the engine.

So just have a shop put the pilot bearing in the current crank, gotcha. Thank you!

 

[MOPARMITCH]

So just have a shop put the pilot bearing in the current crank, gotcha. Thank you!

I'm pretty sure that there is an adaptive pilot bearing that can be used in a crankshaft that has the much larger register on it....Has a larger outer diameter and a needle roller bearing for the transmission...

 

[Chryco Psycho]

Well I will buck the trend , I am not a fan of Hyper pistons at all , so the mains will have to be cut down to install a 440 crank as the journal size is smaller on the B blocks but I would do the stroker & use better pistons , probably cheaper to order a 451 CI stroker kit overall .
Yes the Dakota roller bag will fit in the rear of the crank But you still need a hole big enough to clear the nose of the input shaft or cut off the input shaft to clear , I would hate to cut down the input shaft As usually they are difficult to replace .

 

[GTX JOHN]

To cut down the Mains to 2.625 from 2.750
would be much more expensive in machine work
than to cut the crank for the bushing.

I assume that the gentleman is working on a budget and
already has the pistons for the 060 400 engine.

 

[Chryco Psycho]

Agreed so drill a larger hole in the rear of the crank & use the Dakota bag or do the stroker properly with a stroker kits , new crank & better pistons .

 

[540HemiCuda]

Here is some good information on this subject. The thread is old and the part numbers and sources may have changed, but the information is dead on. https://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/728752/pilot-bushing-install.html