I want more power!!!

[73BB440]

here's the deal. I have a very mild build 440 in my car right now. As soon as i say 440 people assume it's a 10 second car. It's not.

I wanna do some "simple" stuff to it for the spring. I currently have a Demon 850 carb, Edie brock high rise dual plane, ported/polished heads 2.20 1.84 valves,1.5 steal rockers, 484/484 cam with a 115? centerline and i think a 259? duration ( i didn't install came with car) TRW flat top pistons. being pushed trough a 2000 stall TCI race trans and 4:10 posi.

I wanna explore some different options. If i was to go with a bigger cam i know i'd have to change the stall to match it. But what would i ahve to change in the valvetrain if anything. What gains would 1.6 or even 1.7 rockers give and what else would need to be changed? i'm welcom to all suggestions.

The car moves good right now it is no sloutch by any means but i wanna go faster. It is a street car light to light occasional track no highway. i want it to be streetable just faster. I already ahve a 125 shot so don't suggest nitrous.

[MEK-Dangerfield]

The thing that sticks out about your current setup is the 2000 RPM stall converter matched to the 4:10 gears. That should be larger. Yes, you can go bigger with the cam too. The carb looks right, that's about all I can help with now.

   Mike

[Oldschool]

Sounds like you are on the right track with the converter and cam. Is there any unneccesary weight in your car that you can reduce. I know that you want to remain streetable, but there may be some stuff you can delete at times, then return them to your car when you want. I'm thinking aluminum engine components and possible fiberglass body panels. Remove unused trunk items, move the battery to the trunk. Reduce unsprung weight--lighter front wheels/tires. Have you tried drag racing front shocks for quick weight transfer?  The cheapest way to go fast is by removing weight. Back in the day, it used to work out roughly to this: for every 100 pounds you remove from the car, it was worth about a tenth on the strip. It would be relatively cheap/easy to remove or relocate enough weight in your car to cut 1/2 second off of your track times.  Just my 0.02..........Oldschool

[73BB440]

biggest problem in my car as far as weight is me LOL I have a full fiberglass front end, full interior, battery is still under hood i don't wanna drill any hole in the car for a shut off. i could loose a little weight here and there but i wanna make more power. Still look totally streetable full interior yada yada just some more nut.

thanks for the tips

[MEK-Dangerfield]

OK,
  If you stick to the 4:10's, and don't care about the hiway... Definitely a bigger converter. Definitely a bigger cam. And since you will be wanting more power above 2500 RPM, I would suggest a single plane intake manifold.

  Mike

[73BB440]

what size cam do you guy recommend and what manufacturer? I'd like to do it fairly cheaply the engine is close to new. If i did swap in a bigger cam how big could i go with my current valvetrain? If i put a new cam in what do i need to change in the valve train?
I can do the work that's not the problem but honestly when it comes to cams i'm kind of in the dark.

I have the redline in the car set at 5500 it could rev higher but i'm playing it safe. I don't want to mismatch a cam that makes power from 4-8k when that's where i'm redlining. Looking at different cam set ups it seems the cam i have is the best bet as far as power band in concerned and it matches the stall converter. If i was to do with a higher RPM cam I probalby should get a lighter valvetrain but i don't wanna spend all that money

Basically what i'm saying is i wanna add the most HP for the cheapest money. What would be the best way about doing that.

Cam, stall, intake i'm looking at a grand or more i wanna keep it under 500. What about 1.6 rockers? what power could be gained from them?

sorry it's long i'm just inquisitive and wanna make the best power i can on a dollar

[MEK-Dangerfield]

I understand. It all adds up quickly. Basically, you can be as fast as your wallet allows you. I'm sure Chryco will be along to give you more advice.

  Mike

[Chryco Psycho]

what do you have for exhaust ?
 1.6 rockrs may gain some power depending on how well the ported heads work some combos do not gain with faster or higher lift
 I would look at a solid grind cam , generally they will make mnore power than an equal hyd cam but it is not cheap with having to buy adjustable rockers & new pushrods 

[73BB440]

i have headers into 3" pipe with Dynomax mufflers.

[kudakidd]

Based on a very similar combo, your car should be solidly in the mid 12's, That being said, a bump in compression and a big diet are the ways to go faster

[EVIL72]

 I know your on a budget, but here are some things that could help ya (not in any order).
1. I see on one of your other posts you have 8-8.5 compression, is it still at that? If so bump it up to 9.5-10 to 1, If new pistons are out of the question, you could always try thinner head gaskets, and milling the heads a little. If it wasn't for all that head work you have done to yours, you could of swapped on a set of 915 closed chamber heads and got a bit more compression.

2. From your pic, it looks like your running a Mopar distributor with the orange box but it's hard to tell??? If it is get the Chrome box and toss that orange box into the trash can. Also check the advance curve on your distributor and recurve if needed.

3. If your running a stock steel fan, either get a clutch fan, or better yet an electric fan(get one that will keep that big block cool)

4. Run a K&N filter and K&N Xstream top.

5. If your still running that snorkle hood scoop, seal the carb to the scoop.

6.Get a Holley Street Dominator single plane intake, (port match it).

7. Are those Cragar wheels your running, you could save weight by getting some light weight
aluminum ones like Weld Prostars etc.

8.I'd put in the 528 MP solid cam.
 You'd probably need to replace your valve springs though depending on what you have now, and add adjustable rockers(Roller if you got the extra cash) and new pushrods.

9.Add a windage tray to your oil pan if you don't have one.

10.Make sure your fuel system is up to par.
 Good Luck with it.