How would YOU build a 440?

[Dave-R]

Pointless getting Iron heads ported these days unless you want the engine to look stock. Edelbrocks cost only slightly more than ported iron heads but support more power with just a clean up.

H-beam rods and light pistons. Zero deck height if you can get good fuel. Mechanical cam if you can be bothered to adjust lash once or twice a year. Either way a cam with duration in the high 230s and a lot of lift for the duration so you know it is opening fast.

Roller rockers with banana groove shafts. Don't use any that use springs to keep the rockers apart. If quality parts you can use 1.6:1 ratio for more lift (more average power) and still get good valvetrain geometry.

Performer RPM intake will fit under a stock hood and is dual plane. In fact it is very like the six pack manifold. The M1 will give a suprising amount of torque for a single plane but is too high for most factory hoods.

Any carb you want but it must flow at least 830cfm the way holley rates them or 750 the way Barry Grant does so they look as if they work better. Plus if you buy a Holley you don't have to take the swarf out first.

Ceramic coated headers. 1 7/8ths or 2" primary tubes. 3-inch exhaust system.

You should make at least 550hp like this.

[tactransman]

From what I heard and read,the Eddy Heads need to be "rebuilt" out of the box due to poor machine work.

[Dave-R]

They can be improved and support up to 650hp with that and a little bowl work. But even as they are they are still as good as well ported 906 heads for example.

[tactransman]

One problem I have heard is BAD rocker arm geometry,where you have to machine the shaft mounts down or shim them up to get them even close to correct.Another thing is port alignment,I have heard so much bad stuff I have decided not to buy them.

[Dave-R]

I wonder if that is a new thing because they have sold thousands of them. I personally know at least a dozen people using them with no problems and running very good times too.

[Dave-R]

One problem I have heard is BAD rocker arm geometry,where you have to machine the shaft mounts down or shim them up to get them even close to correct.Another thing is port alignment,I have heard so much bad stuff I have decided not to buy them.

Well you get that with the stock iron heads!!

I should add that the one bad thing i have heard about Eddie heads is that the valve seats are not good as they come. But that is easily sorted.

[tactransman]

Well you get that with the stock iron heads!!

That's why I won't buy them, if they aren't much better than what I already have.

[Dave-R]

How fast does your car go then?

If you don't like the Eddies how about the Indy 440 EZ heads? They are supposed to be better than the Eddies anyway but non of my friends are using them yet so I can't comment from personal experience.

Well the head has to match the cam (or the other way around) at the end of the day. No good having big flowing ports if the cam is opening the valves less than 0.500 and it is not revved over 5500rpm.

[Chryco Psycho]

I prefer the EZ heads , better combustion chamber & rocker alignment etc

[moper]

I havent had any issues with Indy's geometry, or Edelbrock's. Both have the same "mass production line" assembly problems. Geometry is a result of a bunch of variables that get put together. And adjusting it is common. If you didnt with iron heads, it's because you're not looking, or overlooking something...lol. I dont think the vast majority of car owners need or really want 550hp and the associated issues and compromises that come with it. The question of "375" plus bolt ons is very valid. A performance rebuilt 440, on pump gas, iron heads, stamped rockers, and up to date cam and intake will make more than 450 with stock exh manifolds if parts are chosen properly. Not hard, very reliable, hydraulic cams, etc. Headers on that same engine would add another 20-30hp without loss of drivability. That's honest low 12/high 11s in a typical E body and a suspension/tire to drag race. High 12s on radials. That's why I tend to say budget and et/goals first..Then worry about the parts choosing. Now there are better options than factory stuff, for slightly more $$. But many guys don't need to spend the coin on roller rockers, coated headers, X pipes, H beams, etc to run as fast as they ever would want to.

[JS29U]

Mopar Muscle 4-2001  Steve Dulchich 

   He rebuilt a 69 440 375 hp to as close to stock as possible
   never cut 906 , did a stock valve job
   stock intake with stock 440 avs 
   hp manifolds with headpipes, no mufflers
   every thing as close to stock

    357 hp 4900    463 tq  3300

 

    366 5100          474     3300    850 holley vac. sec. 


    367                  481                extrude hp ex man.

    391 4800            501               hooker 1 7/8

    420  5000          502  3700        holley sd int
   
    415                   499                plastic 1 inch spacer

    464  5400           523  3800        swap factory mag. cam for comp xe 274h, 1321rocker, 5/16 pushrod

    500 5400             538  4000        mp stage 5 v heads ported


                           
 A 383 put out 335 hp i think. He did same tests but not the heads if u want results i will post them.

  The edelbrock heads also have sometimes too tight valve guides.

  The 528 is an excellent cam, but im not sure about 550 hp. Andy f got 550 with his and 470 rw hp, but one guy on moparts got 368 rw with e heads= around 470 crank and he had headers annd a holley, andy didnt. Andy ran 114? mph and the other 12.4 114? I have a hot rod 440 build up 20 years ago and the 528 only had 440 hp, but i am considering a 528 or something real close for less chance of wiping the cheap mopar quality lobe out. Harold ( ultradyne) said he can do alot better than 528. He compares the .200 lifts (528 is 152 degrees)


   Also, dulchich uses westechs dyno which is famous for adding hp. sorry so long.