Somebody find the keys to the time machine because this old YearOne 440 Magnum crate engine video takes us back to when a guy could order a serious dose of Mopar muscle without putting his garage up as collateral.
Just check the stat sheet: 420 horses, 470 lb-ft of torque, and a $4,495 price tag. The ingredients were good, honest hot-rod groceries: seasoned iron block, 9.0:1 hypereutectic pistons, ported heads, and a Weiand aluminum intake up top. The cam supplied 0.480” of intake lift and 0.496” on the exhaust, giving those valves something to do other than collect carbon.
YearOne even included a dyno sheet to settle the bench racing, plus a 12-month, 12,000-mile warranty for worry-free stomps on the go pedal. At $4,495, you could practically hear the engine hoist rolling across the floor and your buddies arguing over who got the first ride.
But enough staring in the rearview mirror because YearOne still has plenty to get your big-block back in the passing lane, including reproduction exhaust manifolds, valve covers, and electronic ignition conversions. Fresh iron for the exhaust, a little valve-cover vanity, and fewer points to ponder under the distributor cap are all things you can still do today without breaking the bank.
Go ahead and get misty over yesterday’s prices, then let YearOne help put that Mopar back in circulation. The best time to buy a crate engine might’ve been nineteen years ago, but the best time to build one is now.
