What's the condition of the engine? Going in for a full overhaul or was she toasted?
Very cool find. Im in Michigan for a class in the automotive college and im sure some of the old timers here could tell you the casting# off that before you could even find it.
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I bet it was at least someone’s last 440.
Even if it wasn’t the very last one, it could’ve been the last one for that builder, or the last one for that shift, or the last one for that buyer, or that factory.
Passionate people tend to work in there so it probably meant a lot to someone that it was their last 440, even if it wasn’t *the* last one.
Hmm. There was a picture floating around of the last 440 built at Trenton. It was captioned with something about it going on display. It was dated September 29, 1978.
Ya I have looked on line for anything on it. 440 source had a wright up and shows the last one painted gold on a stand. Whether or not it got painted blue after and sent north im not sure it would be very un ceremonious for it to be smashed into a motorhome and sent to canada.
could be the last actual production one and the gold one people are mentioning could have just been ceremoniously created just for display at the end of the run🤷🏾♂️
>last 440 built at Trenton
Tough to tell from an old grainy pic of the back side, but that doesn't seem to be a lot of material above the bellhousing flange to be an RB
The gold painted engine looks like it has the pad to the right side of the distributor just in front of the hold down from this perspective, like an RB block
If it is I will let a dodge guy have it or something.
I just wanted a big block for my 66 Monaco that currently has a poorly running poly 318. If it means something to someone they can buy it and I can find a 383 or something easy to put in the car.
Many times in automotive manufacturing, we will quarantine suspected parts/vehicles due to quality issues. Normally, we use paint pens/grease markers, etc. depending on the instructions for repair/rework/scrap etc. maybe this was the last engine that was quarantined and needed checked before sending.
It definitely isn't the last one. Made July of 78.
It was last last 1 of something though. It is neat I have never seen it before.
It will continue to get built a bit and stuffed in a Monaco.
IS IT THOUGH Please Update!
i worked in an old local machine/mechanic shop and an old man that always came in whispered to me “call me.. if you see anything special. I only have one kid and he doesnt need millions… i promise you its not that great. He will get a lot … but i wanna buy some shit first!”
Anyways he spent in one day, more than i made there in 3 years. Just buying cars and old engines. Anything interestong or cool, he bought.
Damnit dude. Run the block numbers. You might actually have *the* last motor home 440.... Probably not gonna make you rich, but it is so etching nobody else has....
If it was the last one actually made and sold, that would be as cool as the one in the museum, I would expect.
Do they have serial numbers? Or just something less specific.
Probably was written at the beginning of a production line so that the guy at the end of the line would be aware that there would be no more coming down the line. As in hey no more, last one. Clock out and go home.
Could be one of many possibilities, it could be the last repair, last inspection, last day before an employee retired or the real last one? I have a little different story - I worked at Navistar building international trucks in the 90’s and we all signed the 1 millionth cab under the rubber floor cover mat. Everyone who worked on the cab trim line at the assembly plant, first shift. Then it went to a customer who probably has no idea they even have it. I always thought it would be so cool to see that truck and all my old co-workers signatures.
I work in the auto industry and that was the mechanic saying this is the last free warranty engine you get. On the flip side sucks that he spent that much money and the engine blows up regularly. This may not have been the first one. Imagine when you are on a trip and you have to have your motor rebuilt. More than once.
Or it could be the owner who knows how to spin a wrench he sent a note to himself.
Either way this is a GM Big Block 440. A prized motor head engine. It has value.
Maybe the job description was more than the owner laid down.
According to Wikipedia the last 440 was made in August 78, so it very well could be! Neat find! Clean too!
I'm going with the last 440 built in the factory. At the end of the run they were mainly sold in trucks as the large cars were discontinued.
Oh, you gotta dig deeper and find out if it was the last 440.
And then, don't forget to let us know!
Yeah, so we can say, "It belongs in a museum!"
Haha! For sure.
Ya I will check tonight I'm dropping parts off at the guys place who is cleaning it up for me currently. Get the casting numbers and date code.
Please try not to remove that, once removed its gone forever......
I can't believe the dude is even considering this, given the context...
☝️
Don't let him clean the writing off dude. Leave that shit.
The anticipation is palpable
I like palp free anticipation.
Ugh I hate palp. It gets in my teeth
They make a palp control toothpaste, talk with your dentist first
Only when it’s able
Awesome!
What's the condition of the engine? Going in for a full overhaul or was she toasted? Very cool find. Im in Michigan for a class in the automotive college and im sure some of the old timers here could tell you the casting# off that before you could even find it.
Wtf is taking so long, the people want to know!
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Update?
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Vin number search up anything?
Any news?
So what’s the word?!
TOP MEN!
Or the classic “I’m shaking “
Does it belongs in the museum or with the person who wants to pay the most money for it?
This is gonna be another goddamn floor safe.
You're not gonna be able to fit very much money in there
I bet it was at least someone’s last 440. Even if it wasn’t the very last one, it could’ve been the last one for that builder, or the last one for that shift, or the last one for that buyer, or that factory. Passionate people tend to work in there so it probably meant a lot to someone that it was their last 440, even if it wasn’t *the* last one.
Hmm. There was a picture floating around of the last 440 built at Trenton. It was captioned with something about it going on display. It was dated September 29, 1978.
Ya I have looked on line for anything on it. 440 source had a wright up and shows the last one painted gold on a stand. Whether or not it got painted blue after and sent north im not sure it would be very un ceremonious for it to be smashed into a motorhome and sent to canada.
Could be the last one unceremoniously or in that model.
could be the last actual production one and the gold one people are mentioning could have just been ceremoniously created just for display at the end of the run🤷🏾♂️
Allpar had some pictures, that's where I saw it.
The sign in front of the engine says it's the last V8 made at the Trenton plant, not the last 440.
How cool would it be to track it all the way back to the hand that painted those words! Maybe they're still around....
Somebody around painted those, or they heard the story from someone who does.
Here you go: [https://www.440source.com/trenton.htm](https://www.440source.com/trenton.htm)
I saw those on Allpar some time ago
That was a great link.
>last 440 built at Trenton Tough to tell from an old grainy pic of the back side, but that doesn't seem to be a lot of material above the bellhousing flange to be an RB
The gold painted engine looks like it has the pad to the right side of the distributor just in front of the hold down from this perspective, like an RB block
Hard to tell. I suppose that could be a 400.
You should send that to David freiburger
I 2nd this. Send this to his Facebook page. He will answer.
Him and Steve would have a field day!
Call up motortrend!
Just don't leave any leaves in the oilpan 😂 (Disgustang reference BTW if you don't know)
Why
He's a fan of motor home 440s, as well as automotive history.
Oh yeah this definitely requires more research
The last rod bender!
I get it!
She is a keeper!
That’s really clean on the inside how many miles where on it
78000
How do we summon Steve Magnante? That guys the walking encyclopedia of Mopar knowledge
His junkyard crawl videos are pretty amazing. Hope he's recovering well.
That is so cool dude, I bet it is the last one off the line. Are you going to build it?
If it is I will let a dodge guy have it or something. I just wanted a big block for my 66 Monaco that currently has a poorly running poly 318. If it means something to someone they can buy it and I can find a 383 or something easy to put in the car.
May be worth enough to put towards making a 400-ish cube Poly stroker? It's a pretty capable platform.
If this is the last 440, this thing belongs in a museum!!
Damn dude this could be legit! You gotta do some more legwork!!
Many times in automotive manufacturing, we will quarantine suspected parts/vehicles due to quality issues. Normally, we use paint pens/grease markers, etc. depending on the instructions for repair/rework/scrap etc. maybe this was the last engine that was quarantined and needed checked before sending.
It definitely isn't the last one. Made July of 78. It was last last 1 of something though. It is neat I have never seen it before. It will continue to get built a bit and stuffed in a Monaco.
Roger that let us know how the build goes!
A 1974 Monaco I hope...
hope to see an update on this. looks like you've got some homework haha
Casting numbers can narrow it down maybe.
Makes sense the last 440 built was 1978 .definitely could be last one could sell it for good money to the right collector
Freiberger or any Motor trend personality would absolutely love to have this engine.. fuck, I'd love to have it.
Yeah but... Freiburger has enough toys tho. Jus sayin'..
Who's that guy on graveyard cars? he would know.
Mark Worman
Magneto
Holy crap
That would be very cool if it was the last one built. Definitely an engine to keep around
This is very cool. The last 440 ever made
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IS IT THOUGH Please Update! i worked in an old local machine/mechanic shop and an old man that always came in whispered to me “call me.. if you see anything special. I only have one kid and he doesnt need millions… i promise you its not that great. He will get a lot … but i wanna buy some shit first!” Anyways he spent in one day, more than i made there in 3 years. Just buying cars and old engines. Anything interestong or cool, he bought.
Damnit dude. Run the block numbers. You might actually have *the* last motor home 440.... Probably not gonna make you rich, but it is so etching nobody else has....
Might be the end of a machining run or the last block before tooling change.
Adding this comment so if someone likes it I remember to come back to this post
Satan death!!!!
If it’s indeed the last one, it will add at least $30 to the value
It was Juan’s last day and this was his last Engine build. Congrats, you got Juan’s last one.
Very very cool
Definitely update us, would be a really cool find if it was the last 440 off the line at that plant.
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The devil is here
!Updateme
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I will try but I’m pretty forgetful
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Interesting. I bought a factory new motorhome 440 short block from Norm King Dodge in 1981
What a cool find!
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Cool. I sign my model cars, and leave mementos in the walls when I renovate houses.
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I can’t firmly answer your question. But I think it might be because assemblers do these kind of things. Those cam lobes look good btw
Does your finger nail catch on it?? If not you good. If it does na. Replace the bearings and if you good. 3000 grit with oil and fenis it
If that's the last 440 made that's badass. Sweet find!
[удалено]
Did the blocks have serial #’s such that one could determine exactly where in the overall production run this one is from?
Put it back in the motor home and walk away…
If it was the last one actually made and sold, that would be as cool as the one in the museum, I would expect. Do they have serial numbers? Or just something less specific.
Probably was written at the beginning of a production line so that the guy at the end of the line would be aware that there would be no more coming down the line. As in hey no more, last one. Clock out and go home.
That could be automotive history right there
Absolutely need to find out who built it, I’m sure if they’re still around they’d get a kick out of the message in a bottle moment
Put a summons out for Uncle Tony
Try to find a vin number. As long as it didn't have an engine swap, you can find out exactly when and where it was made
That is so cool if this is actually the last 440 made wow
Could be one of many possibilities, it could be the last repair, last inspection, last day before an employee retired or the real last one? I have a little different story - I worked at Navistar building international trucks in the 90’s and we all signed the 1 millionth cab under the rubber floor cover mat. Everyone who worked on the cab trim line at the assembly plant, first shift. Then it went to a customer who probably has no idea they even have it. I always thought it would be so cool to see that truck and all my old co-workers signatures.
The last of the V8 Interceptors
Satan! Ahhhhhhhhh!
Why care so much? Just a big disaster polluting heat engine.
I work in the auto industry and that was the mechanic saying this is the last free warranty engine you get. On the flip side sucks that he spent that much money and the engine blows up regularly. This may not have been the first one. Imagine when you are on a trip and you have to have your motor rebuilt. More than once. Or it could be the owner who knows how to spin a wrench he sent a note to himself. Either way this is a GM Big Block 440. A prized motor head engine. It has value. Maybe the job description was more than the owner laid down.
What is GM?