440ci Magnum Build

[Carlwalski]

Hi guys,


I've owned my 70 Challenger R/T for around 7 years now. It's engine was built to run smooth and cruise without effort and remain basically stock, almost lower performance than stock? Anyhow, over time and having owned high hp cars, I'm getting bored with the lack of grunt. 7 years stock, now's the time to spice it up. It's currently around 390hp at the flywheel. I'd like to be around 550hp to 600hp+ (400rwhp+) after this build. Around a 150-200hp increase. What's a safe street hp limit for 69/70 HP 440 blocks? The current engine set up is below, unfortunately, the shop I had my work done at didn't provide much paper work or all the tech info. I want the engine 100% streetable with a nice mild/moderate lumpy cam and a good streetable compression.

I've done research on this site and will do more once I've posted this. Stroker kits are a possibility and 440 Source $1,900 kits keep coming up as being a good option. Maybe a 512, 528 or 543 Stroker kit with a new cam? My 440 had a 0.30" so it's ready to go in those regards. I've only put low miles on the car since the rebuild, around 5,000 miles so the bore is still as fresh as the day it was done. As you can see below, the main killer is the cam, it's shlt and makes the car fall on it's face lol. I'll look at a new intake and set up as well, etc. Any input or combos to achieve the hp good I am after would be appreciated. Any questions or info needed, just ask.



Thanks,
Carl





Current Engine Setup:


Refaced Block
Crank Grind
New Billet Camshaft
Hydraulic Lifters
Gasket Set
New Pistons ("030")
Big End Bearing Set ("020")
Main Bearing Set ("020")
Camshaft Bearings
Timing Gear Kit
Oil Pump
Con Rod Bolt Kit
Piston Rings
Crank Damper
Strip, Clean & De-choke Head
Crack tested excellent
Reface Seats
Valve Inlet
Valve Exhaust
Valve Guide "K" Liner
Valve Springs
Valve Keeper Set
Spring Retainers
Valve Stem Seal
Reface Head
CC Head
Vac test Valves, Assemble Head
Assemble Engine Long
750cfm Edelbrock
tti headers 1-7/8" primaries to 2" collectors.
tti exhaust system 2-1/2" with X-Pipe.
Dynomax super turbo muffler system with 2-1/2" stock appearing tips.
Viscus fan package.
70watt power-master amp
Estimated 390hp and 500lbs of torque.
TF727 with 3.91:1 Gears

[moparmaniac59]

Hey Carl,
Good to hear from you. If you look in the "proven engine combo's" section I made a post on my 543 stroker build. I think I have all the engine specs. We set it up on an engine dyno and tuned it in. It made I think 615 horsepower (at the crank) at 5400 rpm. Not bad. I think the entire build (complete running engine less the tranny) was about 8K. Most of the money went into the heads. Not too bad considering a crate motor in the 600 plus HP range would be in the 15K range or higher!! Good luck with your build!!

                                                              Matt B.

[Carlwalski]

Hey Carl,
Good to hear from you. If you look in the "proven engine combo's" section I made a post on my 543 stroker build. I think I have all the engine specs. We set it up on an engine dyno and tuned it in. It made I think 615 horsepower (at the crank) at 5400 rpm. Not bad. I think the entire build (complete running engine less the tranny) was about 8K. Most of the money went into the heads. Not too bad considering a crate motor in the 600 plus HP range would be in the 15K range or higher!! Good luck with your build!!

                                                              Matt B.

Thanks Matt, likewise bud. Good to see all the old faces.


Sounds nice, what comp are you running (I'll check the thread out after posting this but still...) and how do you find the power delivery? My Challenger is currently delivering most of it's power WAY up in the rpm range, it's a good highway cruiser but by the time I start enjoying the power I'm literally up around 90mph. Have you run your beast down the 1/4 yet? What's your engine like on the street, pump gas, cam? Thanks bud!

[brads70]

  I'm just at the collecting parts stage now,400 block and Mopar stage 6 head castings so far... plus a 440 in the car. 600HP sounds pretty good, just wondering how steetable that would be for long trips etc...?

[Carlwalski]

Good call, after doing more research, I'm wondering if a 500ci kit is the way to go? For me, it'd be anywhere from 500-528ci, nothing wilder than that. I still want my car 100% streetable. 550-600hp is the goal, that'd be sweet!


 

[moparmaniac59]

The car is running about 11:1 compression, so I can run pump gas. It is very street friendly, but not as good as it used to be on hwy trips as it has a 3.91:1 rearend gear  (about 2800 rpm @ 55 mph). It's (as my engine builder calls it) basically a "grunt" motor. TONs of torque and doesn't require high rpms to develop power. I've got the rev limiter set @ 6,000 rpm. I do need some sticky tires. I currently have 295/50/15's BFG's which are a very hard compound and stomping the gas, it will just roast the tires while the car just sits there . Even going 40-45 mph it can get away from me if I nail the gas. I don't do a lot of hwy driving, usually not more than 50-100 miles tops one way, so I absolutely love it. I had a pretty stout Mustang roll up next to me on the interstate this past summer and wanted to go, so I didn't even downshift, just stomped the pedal and left him like he was sitting still. The power & throttle response is absolutely incredible and I credit it all to Kurt Bosh at Magnum Machine (owner/operator) who built the motor and is a Mopar guy himself and races a 7 second Daytona. It has a 3800 rpm stall converter, so I have plenty of power from a stop thru cruising speed & yet very street friendly. It has a hydraulic roller cam. I have yet to take it to the track as I still need to install subframe connectors, tires and cal-trac's. It should have NO problem rolling out a 10 second 1/4 mile!! Oh, and it will need a roll cage too for bracket racing in that time range.
                                                             
                                                                   Matt B.

[Roppa440]

I am making almost 550hp with just the smallest Hughes Engines solid cam, ported iron heads, 1.6:1 rockers, 10.2:1 compression pistons, good induction and exhaust system. I have driven two 500 mile round trips last year and will probably do close to 3000 miles in it this year.
It drives like a dream.

So it is not hard to get that kind of streetable HP. Even easier with a stroker. I would never go back to a hydraulic cam.

[Chryco Psycho]

I have been using the 512" combo with ported Iron heads & some killer solid cam grinds with 250 ish diration @ .050 & close to .600 lift , these engines are extremely drivable & powerful

[Carlwalski]

The car is running about 11:1 compression, so I can run pump gas. It is very street friendly, but not as good as it used to be on hwy trips as it has a 3.91:1 rearend gear  (about 2800 rpm @ 55 mph). It's (as my engine builder calls it) basically a "grunt" motor. TONs of torque and doesn't require high rpms to develop power. I've got the rev limiter set @ 6,000 rpm. I do need some sticky tires. I currently have 295/50/15's BFG's which are a very hard compound and stomping the gas, it will just roast the tires while the car just sits there . Even going 40-45 mph it can get away from me if I nail the gas. I don't do a lot of hwy driving, usually not more than 50-100 miles tops one way, so I absolutely love it. I had a pretty stout Mustang roll up next to me on the interstate this past summer and wanted to go, so I didn't even downshift, just stomped the pedal and left him like he was sitting still. The power & throttle response is absolutely incredible and I credit it all to Kurt Bosh at Magnum Machine (owner/operator) who built the motor and is a Mopar guy himself and races a 7 second Daytona. It has a 3800 rpm stall converter, so I have plenty of power from a stop thru cruising speed & yet very street friendly. It has a hydraulic roller cam. I have yet to take it to the track as I still need to install subframe connectors, tires and cal-trac's. It should have NO problem rolling out a 10 second 1/4 mile!! Oh, and it will need a roll cage too for bracket racing in that time range.
                                                             
                                                                   Matt B.

Thanks Matt, some good reading right there. That's one thing I'm not keen on - lack of traction. Sounds like you are having some issues, but, that's to be expected and it sounds like you have a plan of attack to sort it out. I'm only running 275s and I'm also running 3.91s. Thanks for the input mate.

[Carlwalski]

I am making almost 550hp with just the smallest Hughes Engines solid cam, ported iron heads, 1.6:1 rockers, 10.2:1 compression pistons, good induction and exhaust system. I have driven two 500 mile round trips last year and will probably do close to 3000 miles in it this year.
It drives like a dream.

So it is not hard to get that kind of streetable HP. Even easier with a stroker. I would never go back to a hydraulic cam.

Thanks mate, this sounds pretty nice, sounds like a real "tame" yet grunty street engine, nice compression too.

[Carlwalski]

I have been using the 512" combo with ported Iron heads & some killer solid cam grinds with 250 ish diration @ .050 & close to .600 lift , these engines are extremely drivable & powerful

Thanks Neil, hope all is well. 


What kind of hp/T figures are you making with (I'm guessing 440 Source?) 512 stroker kits?

[The Cuda Guy]

Carl,

Mancini has a good stroke kit for sale, its a 493 ci. 1500 unballanced, Diamond Pistons Eagle Rods (I think), berings and all that too.  Good to see you back on the board bro.

Don

[Carlwalski]

Thanks Don! Good call on Mancini, I totally forgot about their speed shop goods.

[Chryco Psycho]

Thanks Neil, hope all is well. 


What kind of hp/T figures are you making with (I'm guessing 440 Source?) 512 stroker kits?

 the last one I built is in the engine section , 512 R/T , it made 396 HP & 460 ft lbs of tq measured at the tires on a Mustang dyno , it idles at 800 rpm & pulls to 6000 rpm

[73EStroker]

Good cam (Lunati), INDY EZ heads, adjsutable iron rockers, TTI headers, Big Carb (950CFM) Street Dominator manifold, distributor work and you are mostly there. The heads will give you about 11.5 to 1 on the compression alone with flat top pistons at zero deck.  That Super petrol will work better than the stuff here. The Indy heads are a true quench chamber. I run 10.75:1 and no pinging with 91 octane and trust me (from one kiwi to another) I have a dent in the carpet where the throttle pedal goes. The heads are out of the box and bolt on - zero issues. I also used buttons on the top of the valves. Makes the rocker sit at a better angle.
Good luck