Need opinions on rebuilding 440
 

I'm planning on rebuilding my 440 6pack motor this winter and need some opinions.

My goal is to have around 500-550 hp and would like to be able to run the 1/4 mile in upper 11's. It's not going to be a track car, just an couple of passes a year.

I'm been considering doing a stroker kit either to a 496 or 500ci, but I'm still undecided. I would like to go with an aluminium heads either edelbrock or Indy Ez's. I'm setting my budget to $5000 on parts. I would like to hear some feedback on the best combo to reach my goals.

Thanks for the help,

Jeremy

RE: Need opinions on rebuilding 440
 

is your car numbers matching?

what is already done to the car?

are you keeping the 6-pack setup?

i am not all that familiar with big block builds (especially six packs), but i do know that indy cylinder heads are "the name" in performance heads. once we eventually go to aluminum heads, we will almost surely go with indy for both of the 340s.

if the engine is currently stock, i would start with headers, cam, heads, and i would go away from the 6 pack, as the 4 bbl is easier to tune, and i also know more about the aftermarket for the 4bbl. if you are keeping the 6-pack, youll have to check around on things like performance intakes, carbs, etc. i know that indy makes great top end kits for big blocks, but im not sure about 6 packs.

to get from 390hp to your goal of 500-550, i dont think that a stroke change is needed. my 340 4bbl is making around 500hp with the stock stroke.

what transmission are you running, and is it stock?

RE: Need opinions on rebuilding 440
 

I need to be alittle more specfic on this.

I want to keep the 6 pack intake, I know it will effect which heads to get. That's why I want to use a smaller flowing al head. I've found a company that specializes in 6 packs so tuning will be a lot easier, once I get the kit for promax carbs.

Everything on the engine now is pretty much stock and no it's not a #'s matching car. I will need heads, some type of engine kit (pistons, crank and such) and a cam.

I have a 4 speed tranny currently. After the engine rebuild, I will be looking at purchasing the 5 speed conversion.

RE: Need opinions on rebuilding 440
 

ok..i understand the allure of the 6 pack, as it certain adds some "wow" to the car...

what year 440 is it? is it a stock 390hp engine, similar to those found in the RTs? i really think that you should be able to reach your horsepower goal without the bottom end change, as keep the stock bottom end (provided that it is in good shape) will help keep costs down, but going to the larger displacement would make 500-550 a much safer bet. however, you get into alot of issues when stroking a motor such as clearances and machine work..etc.

i honestly think that the 500-550hp is "easily" attainable for you, but with a manual trans, the 11s is going to be tricky without alot of practice. there is such a fine line for the launch window to get a manual trans car down the track, and while ive not tracked an 833 car, ive heard that they are NOT friendly for power shifting.

RE: Need opinions on rebuilding 440
 

My main goal is the horsepower, than I'll work on the track times.

I would think I could keep the crank the same, which isn't out of the question. I don't think this should be to hard to accomplish, but who knows. I wish i had a mopar muscle from a couple years back that had a 70 superbird that had a 6pack setup making 550hp. Thats what I want to do with my car

It's definitely very tricky powershifting it, I haven't had much practice recently. The last time I took my car to the track was 5 years ago, man I feel like I'm getting old. That's pretty much the last time is been driven hard. It's been sitting at my dad house for 4 years, while I was going to college. I've been slowly rebuilding each part of the car every year. Obviously this and next year is the engine.

RE: Need opinions on rebuilding 440
 

I wish I could be of more help, but my 6-pack motor is stock except for the cam, headers and oil pump and pan. I think that the purple shaft 509 is about max on the cam if you plan for any street use. I have heard the heads from any 440 flow real well with a good decking and a clean up. The cam is pretty important. Also match valve springs with cam. Your exhaust should be no problem with what you have now. That exhaust you have is awsome. 10to1 Forged pistons and 30 over to round it out. That should put you at over 500 at the crank. Also a 7-8 quart oil pan and a melling high vol. pump. Tune that 6-pack and let her rip. Good luck and let us know how its going.

RE: Need opinions on rebuilding 440
 

i run the next bigger cam from mopar in my 340..its the 528, and it saw plenty of street use...the only downfall is that the vacuum is a bit low, but other than that, i didnt have any problems...

RE: Need opinions on rebuilding 440
 

The cam I'm running in my 440 is the 484 purple shaft. It is a real good choice for an automatic with a stall of 2000 or less. I have heard that the 509 is a good choice for street duty but if the 528 is streetable then I'd go that route. The fact that he has a 4-speed lets him be a little more liberal with the cam selection. Any help to make the 550 hp goal is good. I don't think he will have a problem making over 550 hp.

RE: Need opinions on rebuilding 440
 

good point about the manual trans..im running a 3500 stall with my 528.

RE: Need opinions on rebuilding 440
 

I thinking going with Ross forged pistons and H-beam rods, I've been told they work best with the stock crank. If I want to go with Eddie heads, I have to have zero deck clearance.

Is there a benefit to stroking the motor? If I don't have to and i'm still able to obtain 500hp, that would be able to save a good amount of money on machine work.

You guys know your cams apparently, I do appericate all of the help. I would like to know what parts to get and have it order by fall. So hopefuly I can have it done and on the road by next spring

RE: Need opinions on rebuilding 440
 

i would like to add a sort of disclaimer, that ive only built small blocks and imports...never a big block, but ill lend as much advice as i can...:)

the benefit to stroking the motor is that by altering the travel distance of the pistons in the cylinders, you increase the engine volume.

for instance, i am currently running a 340 30 over, which comes to 346 cubic inches with a stroke of 3.58 inches, and a bore of 4.070. i have acquired a 360 crankshaft cut to fit a 340 block, and with the 360 rods (that are 6.123 inches, like the 340), and with the 3.31 inch stroke, it makes the 340 come out to something like 378, i believe. the newest mopar performance catalog has a full list of various outcomes for every engine, with different strokes. i believe that the 360 crank in a 340 comes to 372, and with the 30 over, its 378, but i may be off by a few cubic inches on that...and i dont have my book here.

the downfall to stroking is that you have to often have the bottom of the cylinders machined or "notched" to have clearance for the extra movement of the rods. also, with a shortened stroke, you turn more RPMs, so you will want a better set of rods, if youre going to twist the motor hard.

RE: Need opinions on rebuilding 440
 

Good example and explanation. I believe Mopar Performance has stroker kits. That makes it so much easier. Stroker engines do run good, but remember... you have 440 cubes now. You will have to see if its an investment you want to make. Us 340 guys feel a little slighted so we stroke our motors to get close to 400 cubes. Most guys who stroke a motor are small block guys, because they have a weight advantage of a small block and the cubes of a big block. Also it cool to out run a big block and say.... its a 318.:D

RE: Need opinions on rebuilding 440
 

This is from speedomotive website. It might be alittle out of my price range, but it's still pretty bad.
http://videos.streetfire.net/video/0328c063-54df-454f-9eea-997c00fa5be5.htm

RE: Need opinions on rebuilding 440
 

I think I finally know what I want to do. I talked with Hughes engines and they gave me a little insight. I'm only going to do the top end first. I think my first thing to do is buy buy eddie heads and have them prepped minor porting and polishing, then have them pick me a cam to match. I'll probably get new headers from TTI as well. Then do the promax overhaul for the carbs. This should put me around 450-475hp
From there, I'll see how I like the performance, and if I want more, then I do the bottom end.

RE: Need opinions on rebuilding 440
 

Another site you can check out for big block stroker kits is "www.440source.com"

They have a pretty good selection with specs and explanations.

RE: Need opinions on rebuilding 440
 

Again, my apologies if going fast for cheap offends anyone but here's what I would do with $5k.

Get the stroker from 440source.com for $1299

Get a set of nice 915 heads off of Ebay for about $500

Get Summit Headers for $99 and a summit 292 dur cam for $89.

Spend the $3k I just saved you at my resto shop!



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