Chrysler RB engine

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The RB engine is a big-block V8 engine from Chrysler. It first appeared in 1959 and was a raised-deck (taller) version of the Chrysler B engine. The big-block RB lasted until 1978. All RB engines have a 3.75 in (95 mm) stroke, with the bore being the defining factor in engine size. Bore center distance is 4.84". All RBs are oversquare, but the sheer size of the engines means that torque is not lacking.

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[edit] 383

This engine was only produced from 1958 to 1960 with a 4.031 in (102 mm) bore and 3.75 inch stroke. The 383 RB engine is often confused with the 383 B engine. This engine was also used in Fargo military trucks in Canada until 1961.

[edit] 413

The 413 RB had a 4.1875 in (106 mm) bore and was used from 1959 to 1965 in cars. During that period, it powered almost all Chrysler and Imperial models, and was also available on the Dodge Polara, Dodge Monaco, and Plymouth Fury as an alternative to the 383-cubic-inch B series engine. With a compression ratio of 10:1 it developed 340 brake horsepower.

In the Chrysler 300E the 413 was fitted with long ram induction with dual 4 barrel carburetors. In the 300E it was factory rated as having 380 horsepower at 5000 RPM and 450 ft pds of torque at 3600 RPM[1]. The 413 remained in use in medium and heavy duty trucks until 1973.

[edit] 426

Not to be confused with the famous 426 Hemi, the 426 RB Wedge was a wedge-head RB big-block with a 4.25 inch (108 mm) bore and 3.75 inch stroke. Produced from 1963 to 1966, the 426 wedge served as Chrysler's main performance engine until the introduction of the 426 Hemi. The 426 wedge was known as the Max Wedge, the Golden Commando in Plymouth's, and the Ramcharger in Dodges. All these versions are the same engine, only different names used for branding.

The Max Wedge in its most potent form was a race only engine offered from the factory. The Max wedge featured high flow cylinder heads developed through state of the art( at the time) airflow testing.[2] They had 1 7/8 inch exhaust valves that required the cylinder bores be notched for clearance. The Blocks were a special severe duty casting with larger oil feed passages than other RB engines and the blocks were stress relieved by the factory. Induction came by the means of cross ram intake manifold tuned for peak power above 4000 RPM and two Carter AFB-3447SA 4 barrel carburetors. The Max Wedge also included cast iron exhaust manifolds that resembles steel tube headers. So equipped the Max Wedge was factory rated at 425 hp, the same as the Hemi, and 480 pds of torque at 4400 RPM.

Before the end of the '63 model year Chrysler introduced the Stage II Max Wedge with improved combustion chamber design and an improved camshaft. The last performance year for the Max Wedge came in '64 with the Stage III. The factory power rating never changed despite the Stage II and III improvements.

[edit] 440

440 RB V8 in a 1971 Plymouth 'Cuda
440 RB V8 in a 1971 Plymouth 'Cuda
Modified 440 Magnum in a Dodge D100 truck
Modified 440 Magnum in a Dodge D100 truck

The 440 was produced from 1967 until 1978, making it the last of the Chrysler big-blocks. It had a cast-iron block with iron heads. It had a bore of 4.32 inches (109.73mm).

From 1966 to 1971, the high output version was rated at 375 SAE gross  bhp (280 kW)at 4400 rpm with a single four barrel carburetor, and from 1969 to 1971, 390 hp (291 kW) with three two barrel carburetors.

From 1972 onwards the motor was equipped according to the new Clean-Air Act, which muffled the output to a rated 335 bhp (250 kW) SAE gross at 4400 rpm. Also in 1972, the U.S. industry switched to SAE net ratings, that is, with alternator, air cleaner, mufflers, and other real-world, power-consuming equipment attached, which resulted in a more realistically rated 225 bhp (168 kW) SAE net at 4400 rpm, which very closely coincided with period German DIN ratings and TUV measurements.

Until 1971, the high output 440 was marketed as the Magnum in Dodges, the Super Commando in Plymouths, and briefly as the TNT in Chryslers.

The 440 was used in the following vehicles:

[edit] See also