Anyone ever done it or heard of it done?? I have a 79 RV with a 440 4 barrell in it with an automatic transmission. I would like to put a 4 speed manual transmission with the 440 in my CJ-7 but not sure if it would work. If anyone has any suggestions let me know. You can email at langmc@siu.edu  

I've heard of it.  

langmc:
Anyone ever done it or heard of it done?? I have a 79 RV with a 440 4 barrell in it with an automatic transmission. I would like to put a 4 speed manual transmission with the 440 in my CJ-7 but not sure if it would work. If anyone has any suggestions let me know. You can email at <A href="mailto:langmc@siu.edu">langmc@siu.edu</A>

You will need the special flywheel for the Cast crank in that year 440.The trans and transfercase from a 70s BB Dodge truck should get you headed in the right direction.By the way that 440 only has about 250 hp but lots of torque. Hope this helps.  

440 in a CJ-7??    
langmc (0.0.0.0)
New User | Posts: 1 | Joined: 08/06 Posted: 08/27/06
07:58 AM

good info for someone..  

u cant use a small block bellhousing you have to use a big block bell housing the bb has a perfectly round belhousing and the SB have a flat spot on one of the sides. we got our 440 out of a motorhome too but instead of putting it in a cj-7 we put it in a 75 powerwagon were a 318 was  

I've seen one or two in my travels.  It's an okay fit - front mounted distributor, rear sump pan, etc.  There may be steering shaft interference issues on the oil pump/filter area in the driver-front side of the engine, but there are a lot of different adapters and remote kits to cure this.

Look into Bouchillon Performance, www.bouchillonperformance.com for some parts and pieces to make the swap happen.  The big block truck bellhousings are sort of rare, but you can use a Lakewood scattershield for an NV4500, PN 15335.  He's right in needing a cast crank, externally balanced flywheel. The older forged crank ones are netrually balanced and won't work on the '73/'74-up engines.

Use a Dodge version of the NP435 since it's got the same 1x23-spline output shaft as the Jeep Dana 300/NP231/NP241, etc.

That engine is a beast waiting to be unleashed. For a couple grand you can replace the heads with some Edelbrock RPM aluminum units to bump up the compression and free up the ports. An Edelbrock RPM dual plane manifold is really the best one out there. Swap the cam out to an Edelbrock RPM or Mopar .509 (or slightly larger) and you're looking at nearly 500 honest hp.  

all the big block dodges have a different bell housing than small block and both BB and SB use the 727. just they have a different bell housing. so in order to put in a manual behind your 440 you will need a big block bellhousing. i didnt really belive it but when i looked at the BB bell and the SB bell the small block has a flat side unlike the 440 round. also somthing else you need to do is get a jegs catalog it will be your best friend. since we got our 440 out of a 73 motor home and it was 2wd like most we had to buy a rear sump oil pan. due to the motor home ones are front sump. a 4wd has a cross member in the way. also you will need to get a new oil pickup tube jegs also sells. basicaly once you take the pan off unscrew the pickup tube. and screw in your new one and put on your new rear sum oil pan. the pan we got is a milodon and also you will need to get a new dipstick and tube. and last but not least if ya havent gotten rid of the thermoquad please do cause they are JUNK!!!!  

Since the last time I shot off my mouth it has come to my attention the the cast crank may not be drilled for a pilot bearing.FYI  

cannonfodder? 13B?  

Has anyone ever put an NV4500 behind a 440 engine using the bellhousing mentioned above ?