A Mopar 440 Supercharger Is the Best Way to Improve Your Cars Performance
Mopar engines have been around for almost a century, and everyone knows how exceptional they are. But there are a couple of ways to make them run even better. If you are looking for the best way to improve the performance of your 440 Mopar engine, look no further!
We have a few tricks that you need to check out that will transform your car in no time.
Chrysler’s B/RB Engines and Mopar Big Block Superchargers
Before we get into the whole topic about superchargers, let’s take a look at big block B and RB engines designed by Chrysler. Both B and RB models were available on vehicles between 1958 and 1978. These big-block engines were available in many different sizes and with various displacements.
[read more]| 350 cu in | 5.7-liter |
|---|---|
| 361 cu in | 5.9-liter |
| 383 cu in | 6.3-liter |
| 400 cu in | 6.6-liter |
| 413 cu in | 6.8-liter |
| 426 cu in | 7.0-liter |
| 440 cu in | 7.2-liter |
Brands that used B and RB engines were Plymouth, Dodge, Cadillac, Jensen, and of course, Chrysler. The most effective way to increase the performance of a vehicle and boost the horsepower is to install a blower, but more on that in a bit.
Our primary focus here is 440 Mopar, a 7.2-liter engine. It was rather popular in the seventies, and many cars used it.
What Is Mopar?
We already mentioned a couple of Mopar engines, so let’s take a moment to discuss them even further.
First, what is Mopar? Mopar is a company designing parts, and it was a part of Chrysler Corporation for years. Today, Mopar is owned by Stellantis, a Dutch company that owns Dodge, Abarth, Chrysler, Maserati, Fiat, Opel, Peugeot, and many other well-known brands.
Mopar was founded in 1937, and the company designed parts for Chrysler. Mopar stands for motor parts, and the original idea for it was to be used on cans of antifreeze. Over the years, the term Mopar became a synonym for any car manufactured by the Chrysler company. However, that does not include newer models that came out after the company had become a part of Stellantis.
We should also mention that Mopar offered a couple of models on its own, which were customized versions of existing vehicles you could find, from Dodge to Chrysler to Plymouth and others.
Keep in mind that customized Mopar vehicles were not nearly as common as other versions, and the company released a limited number of models every few years.
Evolution of Mopar Engines
One of the most important things to know when getting a supercharger is the type of engine on your vehicle. You will need to find an appropriate blower if you want to fit it in the car. Since superchargers are not universal, each series of engines requires a new version of the blower that can fit the engine.
Over the years, Mopar engines changed a lot. Even if we focus on B and RB engines, we can still notice several differences. Our primary focus here is 440 Mopar engines, which fall in the RB category.
RB or raised block engines were introduced a year after B models, i.e., in 1959. However, 440 Mopar models engines were not introduced until 1965, and they were not available on so many cars until 1978.
| 1967-1971 | 375 horsepower |
|---|---|
| 1969-1971 | 390 horsepower |
| 1972 | 335 horsepower (225) |
| 1972-1974 | 280 horsepower |
| 1978 | 255 horsepower |
It is worth mentioning that models before 1972 used different ratings for horsepower, and companies counted the gross power of the vehicle. This didn’t include an alternator, air cleaner, exhaust, and everything else. In 1972, there was a change to ratings to include every part of the vehicle contributing to net power, which provided more realistic numbers. This is the reason we can notice the difference between 335 hp gross to 225 hp net value on the 1972 model.
However, this doesn’t mean that the engines didn’t change, and we can also notice a constant decrease in hp until the final model in 1978.
Vehicles That Use The 440 Mopar Engine
This leads us to the next subject — cars that used a 440 Mopar engine in the sixties and seventies. If you own one of the models from the list, there is a high chance that this is the engine inside. But, you will need to know the type of engine before you go on searching for a supercharger.
- Chrysler 300 series
- Chrysler New Yorker
- Chrysler Newport
- Dodge Charger
- Dodge Challenger (1970 and 1971)
- Dodge Monaco
- Dodge Coronet
- Plymouth Barracuda (1969 to 1971)
- Plymouth Belvedere
- Plymouth Fury
- Plymouth Superbird
These are just some of the examples or rather most popular vehicles that used 440 cu in engine by Chrysler. If you own one of these or plan on buying one, it will make it simpler for you to find a blower since you know the type of engine.
Mopar 440 Blower
The idea behind superchargers is quite simple. Since an engine needs a mixture of air and fuel to work, the only way to add boost to it is to provide more air in the combustion chamber. More air means that the engine is able to burn more fuel, which will result in desired boost levels. Now, blowers or superchargers are used to add compressed air to the mixture since it is not possible to change the dimensions of the engine, without a complete tear down and rebuild.
There are many different types of blowers you can find on the market, and 440 engines are no different. Of course, the majority of models you will find will be either Roots-type or centrifugal.
440 Procharger Kit and Different Versions of Mopar Superchargers
The most important thing when choosing a blower for your car is what you’re trying to achieve with it. Each type of supercharger has its own pros and cons, and they offer different improvements.
For example, a superturbocharger works great, but it is powered by exhaust fumes and won’t work well on low RPM. So, start thinking about the increase in power and what you’re trying to achieve.
Roots-type blowers are also an excellent option, and they are quite popular for Chargers and Challengers. You probably remember the Dodge Charger from the “Fast and Furious franchise.” It has a Roots-type blower sticking out of the hood. At least in theory. The supercharger on the car is fake, but it’s designed to look like a Roots supercharger.
Regardless of the model you pick, you will still upgrade the performance of your car, and the difference will be more than noticeable. In general, a supercharger can give over a 60% increase in horsepower, which will completely transform your vehicle.
Our recommendation would be to always go for a complete Mopar 440 supercharger kit since it arrives with all the necessary parts to complete the installation. A complete kit with extras would include fuel pumps, intercoolers, couplers, air filters, clamps, and everything else you will need to replace for the blower to run as intended.
While it is possible to find a blower on its own, you will still need additional parts for it to work properly, and it will only complicate the process. So, try to find a supercharger kit that you like and avoid any additional problems with the installation. There are some details you need to know before buying a supercharger kit for your big block Mopar. See the article here for more info.
Installing Mopar Procharger Kits
The process of installation is quite simple, and you don’t need to do anything except to buy the kit. When you find the model you like, all you need to do is take your car to your preferred mechanic/shop, and they will be able to finish the installation for you.
Since you won’t need any additional parts for the installation, the shop will be able to complete it in no time. It usually takes around ten hours to install a blower, but it mostly depends on the type of engine, model of car, and the supercharger you pick.
Of course, you will need to account for the installation price for the total cost of the blower, which is why you might want to inform yourself as soon as possible. The last thing you need is to get a receipt for a sum that’s too high for you to pay.
Can You Install It by Yourself?
In theory, yes. All you need for the process of installation, besides the kit, are tools to connect everything to the engine. Keep in mind that installing a blower does not require welding, cutting, or any other permanent modification. That also means you can remove it at any point if you feel like it. And that’s it. You only need tools and time.
But the main question here is how experienced you are with installations and cars in general. If you feel comfortable playing with the engine or replacing parts, this can be a nice project for you. Furthermore, you will save some money because you won’t need to pay for the installation, and it can be relaxing and rewarding.
The process of installation is not complex, and usually, manufacturers will provide the instruction manual. Some companies go as far as giving a full step-by-step guide you can follow, which will make the installation even simpler.
Naturally, it all comes to your personal preference and what you feel comfortable doing. If you don’t mind trying it out yourself, you can always give it a try. Otherwise, paying for the installation is a lot simpler, and it will reduce the possibility of something going wrong during the process.
What Will You Get From a Blower?
The most obvious thing you will get from a supercharger is a significant increase in horsepower. Since we are talking about superchargers that are directly connected to the engine, the increase can be between 50% and 100% based on the type of blower you buy.
But that’s not all. You will also get an increase in torque without any lag. The increase in performance is linear, and it can boost the engine even at low RPM. It is one of the most effective ways to boost the power of the engine, and it’s easy to use and maintain.
We already mentioned that the installation is not permanent, so even if you want to remove the blower at one point, you can do so without any issues. Other ways to boost the car are not nearly as efficient as blowers, and they only show impressive results when paired with a supercharger.
Big Block Mopar Supercharger Maintenance
While we are on the subject of installation, we should talk about maintenance and what you need to do to ensure that your supercharger performs as intended. Fortunately, this is nothing to worry about. You won’t need to have complex knowledge of how engines work, and all you need to do is service your car regularly.
It is essential to replace the oil in the supercharger from time to time. Usually, replacing the oil at the same time as the engine oil will be enough. The reason why oil is so important for blowers is that it acts both as a lubricant and as a coolant.
This is one of the main advantages of superchargers, as well as the reason why so many people love them. They don’t require a lot of maintenance, and regular service will do the trick.
Also worth noting is a roots type supercharger doesn’t require oil to cool the supercharger. The roots type relies on fuel entering the top of the supercharger to keep the charge cool, as well as the supercharger itself.
An intercooler can also be fitted between the supercharger and the intake manifold, to cool the incoming air/fuel charge too. The intercooler can take away some of the heat from the supercharger at the same time. This isn’t always necessary.
Other Options to Increase Performance
We mentioned before that superchargers are not the only way to boost performance, and let’s take a closer look at other options you might want to try out.
- Cold air intake
- Reducing weight
- Computer reprogramming (new software)
- New exhaust system
- High flow headers
- Forced induction
- Performance engine build
Of course, none of these options will have as significant an increase as superchargers, and the best possible option is to combine all methods. You can combine the two for the biggest increase possible.
Needless to say, this will require both time and money, and you will need a lot of both to complete the project. But if you are looking for the simplest way with the best results, superchargers are still the best available option, as a simple bolt on part.
Why Is A Mopar 440 Supercharger Such a Good Idea
As we mentioned before, nothing can offer results as impressive as supercharged cars, which is the reason why so many people have been installing blowers in their cars. And the process is quite simple too.
There are no downsides to supercharging a Mopar engine, and the difference in power is significant. Of course, it all comes down to your budget and what you feel comfortable with. If supercharging your car is something you can afford to do, then there is no reason to wait any longer.
It is the most efficient way of transforming your vehicle into something so much better by adding boost to its power. Since 440 Mopar engines are a classic, we can assume that you really care about your car, so why not treat it even better? More info about the roots Mopar 440 supercharger can be found here.
Where to buy B & RB Mopar Superchargers
There are many supercharger kits on the market today for the big block Mopar. From roots type kits, turbo kits and centrifugal kits too. Each application has it’s features and benefits. Keep in mind all kits can be used on pump gas engines as well.
The roots blower is by far the coolest looking. With the blower sticking out of the hood, it simply looks intimidating. It is the most inefficient though. The biggest issue is heat. They do work fine on a street/strip application. As with any boosted application, having plenty of fuel is key to longevity.
Turbos are the most efficient. They spin freely. They don’t rely on any mechanical connection to the engine to work. They are spooled by the engines exhaust gasses. They also make more power too. The biggest challenge is finding a direct bolt on kit. There simply isn’t any on the market. They all need some fabrication/welding to be fitted. While any engineer and most mechanics are capable of installation, this does add to the over all cost of purchase and fitment.
The best bang for the your buck is the centrifugal supercharger. The kits are readily available and bolt right on to the engine. Any mechanically minded person can fit the kit. They don’t rely on intercoolers, unless you’re planning on making large amounts of power on pump gas.
Meth injection is a popular choice for this option too. If you’re only boosting the engine with 10lb boost or less, meth injection isn’t necessary. For further information on B & RB Mopar supercharger kits see this link here.
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