What is the horsepower rating of a 1976 Dodge powerwagon 440-1 V8?

Answer 1

230hp and 360 ft lbs of torque. its a good question. with the "muscle car" era over with by '76 and the gas crunch in full swing, horsepower for almost all production engines were probably modest. efficiency was engine economy by design, not what it is today- i mean you can get 500+ horsepower out of a 4 cyl front wheel drive these days. now, our technology has advanced where you can get V-8 power with the gas consumption of a 4 popper. i would venture to say that your 440 in your power wagon is likely in the 300 hp range. being a heavy truck and a 4x4 at that your engine produces alot of low end torque. high hp is something that impresses people who dont have a complete understanding of how an engine makes power. its torque that makes the car/truck haul a**. your 440 may make 400+ horsepower at the flywheel, but by the time the power reaches the rear wheels, that 400 figure is down to 300 because of power loss when power is transfered through the transmission. you can change components to help minimize power loss- changing gear ratio in your trucks rear end, using different size tires, changing your torque converter to a higher stall. these are some ways that will improve the output your engine produces. the most accurate way to determine your 440's hp is to have the engine tested on a dynamometer. the dyno will measure your 440 hp output in rpm's as well as torque in ft.lb.'s its is measured incrimentally at specific rpms so your engine's peak hp level can be determined and peak torque can be determined. your engine may acheive 300 hp at say 5500 rpm and peak torque of 280 ft.lbs at 4500 rpm. its really cool, have your engine tested. i hope i have helped.