Re: IML: '65 engine choice - economics likely to decide?

[Kenyon Wills <imperialist1960@xxxxxxxxx>]

If you are going to build an engine, with all of the
expense and work related to that avenue, and are
trying to decide between a 413 and a 440, the main
difference in cost will be pistons - most of the other
stuff is common.  You'll be doing the heads while in
there, and getting the seats hardened while you're at
it is a good idea.

If you must replace 413 pistons (some people re-use
under some circumstances), they are increasingly
scarce and consequently a bit more costly.

The 440 has a habit of burning up valve cover gaskets
due to the closer proximity of such to the exhaust
manifolds, or at least that's so with most of the
tired, old 440's that I've had.  An aluminum MOPAR
PERFORMANCE valve cover is much more rigid and may go
a long ways to curing that problem.  That and cork
gaskets with sealant goo instead of rubber ones....

I have driven both and prefer the 413.  It feels
better to me, but I can't give you numbers to explain
why.  Seat of the pants calibration is a personal
thing.

Your 1965 was special because it had so many unique
things about it, including the grille, headlight
covers, 1yr only transmission linkage (lever operating
cables to shift), and other things.  Is being
practical and functional significantly more important
than staying stock?  Do you have a line on a 440
that's a deal and no 413's in sight?

I've sold through a batch of 75 used 440's and 413's. 


The 440's sold like crazy for all of the "project
cars" of the muscle variety.  440's are highly prized
in the marketplace and I was getting $500 for a really
slammed, but rebuildable core.  Can't give the 413's
away, and its a magnificent engine too.  If you're
buying a replacement engine, and get an instant
discount for a 413, that pays for the pistons right
there.

64 & 65 are the most similar.  60-63 are slightly
different, says interchange manual.  They'll
interchange, but I'd skip finding out the differences
if you can get a 64/65.

I encourage you to make the extra effort to put the
car right.  Nobody else will know, so it doesn't
really matter one way or the other at all, but what's
original is original, and this is a historic car that
will only get older, more unusual, and (hopefully)
more desireable as time progresses.  Keeping it stock
means no explanations or concerns later, but it's
really not a big deal.   

I wrote you off list regarding the 413 that you can
have for free from the west coast.

-Kenyon


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