Heads question.....need input

[challenger71]

I have a 440 that I bought that was completely rebuilt prior to me buying it (I have the paperwork from the engine shop) and the heads were ported and polished but they are 352's I think. My question is, I have a set of 906 heads that have less than 1000 miles after a rebuild that I am considering to put on. Is it worth it to switch to these or just sell them and either keep the heads that are already on the motor or go with a set of aluminum ones. I am on a tight budget as well. I believe the engine is from 72 along with the heads.

[Cooter]

Missing ALOT of info in order to offer any real help here....What was done to the "452" heads?
What was done to the "906" heads?

What brand aluminum heads are you looking at, and how much is/was done to them?
What kind of Compression does your 440 have now?

Remember, adding aluminum heads will usually require raising the compression about 1 point higher..

[challenger71]

The 452 heads were ported and polished. The 906 heads I have no idea. Right now the engine supposedly has 10.5 to 1 compression. I haven't really looked into the aluminum heads yet.

[mopar12372]

make sure you have at least a .025 deck height (flat top pist)  before even considering a aluminum head . enen with tha in mind make sure you have at least a 80cc combustion chamber to keep the 10.5 comp.
if the pistons are in the stock .075 down in the hole keep the steel on the top you will make more power .  (keep the 452 heads and sell the open chamber 906 heads) 906 heads will lower comp and youll loose power) myop

[Cooter]

Pics of the 440's piston tops would be good here. BOTH "452" and "906" are OPEN chamber heads and IF the bottom end of that 440 is STOCK (.075-.120 in the hole pistons), it will be a low comp pig...

You will need a closed chamber head to even see 9.0:1 compression without a piston swap...IF that bottom end has "4 Eyebrow/SIX PACK" pistons, then the closed chamber head will put it around 11.0:1 and the open chamber head will put it round 10.0:1...

[challenger71]

I found the bill for the rebuild and it only states that the heads were resurfaced, port/polish, 3 angle valve job. The crank was grinded and polished. The pistons were replaced with .030 over ones, but not sure which were used. The motor is completely assembled right now.  It also has a comp cam 480/280 in it, part number 21-237-4. I found the number to the previous owner as well. I will be giving him a call.

[The Cuda Guy]

The ported 452's are your best performace bet.  Same type of head casting and they flow dang near identical numbers from the factory.  452's were designed for unledaded fuel.  So your best bet is the ported 452's.  Good luck.

Don