Not really sure if this is a stupid question or not but I have been wondering. I tried the search function to no avail.

Simple question really. How high of rpm's can a mostly stock 440 be safely brought up to when really getting on it?

1968 block, forged flat top pistons, maybe 9:1 and a "whimpy cam" as Mr Yuck put it.

hyd. cam or solid ???

hyd. and stock heads you are wasting gas spinning it over 5500 ...

How fast you can spin it boils down to the cam and valve springs. I wouldn't want to spin a stock untouched bottom end over 6k though.

5500 max and call it good

stock springs will start to float a little past 4900-5000...my stock 440 springs do anyways.

but my SB with comp 901-16 springs spins right up to 6200 and no valve float..but the cam has done nosed over at 5200 rpm

but I had to see if it would float the valves with the heavy roller lifters

so I shift it at a 4900-5000 rpms and call it good,been pretty consistant with it

dial down the redline a tad for engine longevity unless you feel lucky