How to shave a second? 440

[boxfox]

I have a 72 Challenger with a 77 440 engine, 727 3 speed transmission, 2.76 gears currently and thinking about moving up to 3.23, want to retain highway driveability. How fast can I get with the 3.23? can I make it into the low 13's with that?

I assume I'm running a high 14 by now...I'd like to make it into the 13's, what do I need to do?
The only thing I haven't really worked on on the car is the engine...

I'm still fairly new to the motor world so if you say stroking the engine would be good, I have no idea what that is...I'd rather not cut a hole through the hood yet so supercharge might be out of the question..might not be...

I'm mostly looking for suggestions..

[Topcat]

Here's a helpful tool to help self educate yourself what changes will create what kind of results. Look thru it all and plug in different factors and after a while you will be able to get a better idea on what results will occur by what changes if you added.

http://www.golenengineservice.com/html/calculators.html

[boxfox]

Thanks Topcat

[mojavered]

Thanks for the link Topcat.  I had seen it before but could not find it a while back when I wanted it.

[boxfox]

So how far would I be able to take a 3.23 sure grip on the 1/4 mile?

[Topcat]

So how far would I be able to take a 3.23 sure grip on the 1/4 mile?

Well that all depends. If you had 900 HP and 800 Ft lb Torque and you were running tires on a 14 x 6" you would be pretty fun to watch.  j/k.

  I would at least start at 3:55 with some decent tire width and up if you plan track times.

[Topcat]

I hear stories of bracket racers that drive their Mopar to the track with a 8 3/4, 3.23, then switch to a 3.91 at the track, make a few passes. Then switch it back to 3.23 then go back home.

[boxfox]

Sounds abit extreme, I'm mostly wondering if 3.23 could get me into the low to mid 13's

[Cooter]

You didn't mention if you had rebuilt that '77 440 or not..I'm gonna assume not really...You could shave 1 full second off your ET just by rebuilding it with good parts like 10.0:1 piston's and a camshaft upgrade...A stock '77 440, is only around 250 HP at best...Being your running 14's now, I'd think it has at least 9.0:1 compression..3.55 Gear will also improve ET as well...

[boxfox]

Negative on that rebuild, I have not touched the engine.  How much do you think parts like that might cost me. And whats good to buy?

[burdar]

I used to drag race an 82 Cordoba.  It was 3600 lbs but I can't remember if that was with me in it or not.  It was completely stripped and that was as light as I could get it.   I ran a very mild 360, 904 with a 10" 3500 stall convertor, 4.10's and 29" slicks.  I ran a best of 12.71 @ 106mph.

Before I added the 4.10's and slicks, I was running 3.23's and 235-60-15 BFG drag radials.  My best time was  13.55 @ 89mph.  That was with a mild 360.  You should be able to run mid 13's with a 440 no problem.  With the same mods to your 440 that I did to the 360...and the 3.23 gears...you should be in the very low 13's or on a good day, possiblly high 12's.

[The Cuda Guy]

Negative on that rebuild, I have not touched the engine.  How much do you think parts like that might cost me. And whats good to buy?

I think that the late 70's 440's were about 8.5:1 comp.  If you switched to a thin shim type head gasket you might get to 9.0:1 which is still good for pump gas and iron heads.

Gasket Match Porting of your heads and intake will improve flow.

Get a larger cam
http://www.lunatipower.com/Product.aspx?id=1579&gid=287

Intake Manifold
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/EDL-7193/

New Carb
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/PRO-67201/

Id say this set of parts should shave a second of your time slip. 

Also look at removing weight to help get the car moving faster.

Disclaimer: I by no means am a engine expert, these recommendations are the things I have picked up here reading similar posts, I have no metric to base these parts off of. 

Don

[Cooter]

The '77 "HP" "Cop" motors were close to 8.5:1..The everyday 440 was closer to around 7.7:1 in '77-'78 thanks to the ever popular EPA...

[MEK-Dangerfield]

Yep, the late 70's 440's were rated at 245 HP.   

[boxfox]

I've already got that eldebrock performer RPM intake actually, engine sounds like it might have a cam already. Running on a 670 CFM carburetor, I know I need atleast a 750 CFM, should I get a double pumper or is vacuum secondary going to be any different?

What do I need to do to up the compression, and where do I want it to be?

And you said that the thin shim type head gasket would help? Does Summit racing offer those and how do they increase compression exactly?