Opinion on turning a 440 wedge into a Hemi

[Hud]

I came across this article and thought it sounded pretty good but was curious if anyone on here had tried it.  If they have tried it; if it was worth it vice just getting a new aluminum crate engine.  If it holds up well...  Any thoughts?  I'm sitting with a bare 440 block stamped 71, and a set of heads.  Looks like a good route but looking for advice from guys who have a bit more experience.

http://www.carcraft.com/techfaq/ccrp_0809_building_hemi_for_less/viewall.html

[aris_unlimited]

Last I heard (and I could be mistaken) the hemi conversion heads were no longer manufactured, and the company was out of business.

[Hud]

It was a little bit of an older article.  Oh well... I suppose the search of what to do to my block shall continue.

[Chryco Psycho]

Stage 5 engineeing made the heads , they had or have some of the best hemi heads available , I would check to be sure , I thought there were still in business .
 It takes a lot of work to convert the block & one of the biggest problems is the oil drains out of the heads + now there are so many options for new blocks available  that are even stronger than the original Hemi or the weaker 440 blocks .

[HP2]

My bro and I did a financial analysis of this a few years back.  The Stage V heads are a great product and will produce more power than an original 426 head will, and you can build a 440 Hemi for about 2-3 grand less than a buying a crate 426. However, with the few grand you save, you have to perform a  number of block mods that are not a lot of fun and if done incorrectly, could eat up that saved $3k quickly if you sub them out. Among those mods are notching the block and welding in a half tube into the lifter valley to provide push rod clearance. With the additional power levels, you also would need to add cross bolted main caps, which is more machining expense as well. You also need to add oil return lines to get the accumulated oil out of the heads and back into the pan because the size of the Hemi head over the 440 head is significant.

[Hud]

Yeah, I suppose with considering all of the mods, in which I would have to shop out it may just be better to simply rebuild the 440, and maybe save for a crate.  I haven't heard very good reviews of any of the shops around me either... I thought it was a pretty cool concept but after your input, I suppose it would be best to not try anything crazy at this point... I'm determined to get this car moving on its own power within this next decade lol.

[GreenFish]

Keep in mind those heads were available back before reproduction stuff got so good.  When you can buy a crate hemi now no one wants fake hemi heads that still require tons of work.

[HP2]

I wouldn't call them fake so much as lacking the pedigree of being original Hemis. Installed in an engine bay, 8 of 10 on lookers won't know the difference. If you have access to cheap machining, they do give you a chance to build a  slightly less expensive Hemi. Stage V makes regular 426 heads too and they are capable of much more power than the factory mopar stuff, so if power is your gig, it is a benefit to use Stage V on even real Hemi blocks.