The motor was in a drag truck with full msd ignition. The guy also swapped carbs and intake on me. That is why I suspected the carb at first. I got rid of the edelbrock and bought a race carb built by Mathis racing carbs here locally. I think I am going to just break down and buy a good distributor. I am assuming that I should not have such problems with a mopar performance distributor from jegs or summit.
I really do appreciate all the help. I would have never thought to drill the cap to find that.
Thanks Sam

Mopar engines always overstated compression ratios, it is hard to get them much past their advertised ratios. Even the closed chamber heads are around 84cc unless they are milled excessively.
To get a 440 to 12:1 means a total of 82cc above the piston. A steel shim head gasket is around 5, valve reliefs are another 5, so that means you have a zero deck piston with a 72cc head. Or an 84cc head with a dome that displaces 12cc.
10.7:1 would be the top of my guess range.

R.

I was hoping the compression was closer to 10.1. Either way I will have to pull the motor down next spring as I want to supercharge or turbo it. I guess I will find out then what all I need to change out.
Thanks

You might want to skip getting anything made by MP. That ususally helps a lot.

Back again. Ok I am still having problems with this truck acting up. I pulled the timing cover and the marks are lining up right. I was hoping to find that the guy who installed it had it a tooth off. I was out side playing with it and I have found if I retard the timing considerably it will rev without missing. Of course this makes it rather sluggish and does not like to idle. If I bring the timing up to where it cranks and idles well it starts popping around 4000 rpm. I am hoping the timing issue may help some one out there to help me diagnose this truck.
Thanks in advance.
Sam

10/35 is conservative timing more so the 10 especially with no vacuum advance. Make a mark on your dampener at 2&7/32" clockwise from the TDC slit to verify you are at 35 total. If good there I'd get the TDC tool & install it in the #1 plug hole & verify that the TDC slit is correct but I imagine it will be as dampener slippage is rare. Sure sounds like too much timing though. EDIT I reread the posts & it WAS running OK at one point with this timing correct? I was thinking the cam could be machined wrong but that is rare & I always want to k.i.s.s. but same deal it ran OK prior with this cam/timing. Something ain't adding up

I was told it ran great. I built the bottom end but ended up letting him use it and he installed the cam and heads. He claims it ran in the 7's in the 8th in his truck. I am just confused as to why it revs retarded but not with the timing where it should be. I ran it at the track with the timing set the normal and with having to shift at 4300 rpm it ran a 9 flat. With the timing retarded where it will rev it won't get into the 9's. I was thinking valve springs or cam being off but I would think it would have problems no matter where the timing was set if it was one of these??????????? If all else fails I will breal it down in February and build it myself from the bottom up but would love to be able to enjoy it before then.

did you change the ignition box? I had a pertronix that did that to me. i run msd in everything and can count all the problems on oh wait ive never had a problem with an msd!

Changed complete fuel and ignition system. Now has a msd 6al box on it. It has to be something internal. I am just trying to baby it and drive it as little as possible for now.

I had very similar problem with my old truck. Started with a mild 360 and higher rpm it would pop and studder. Swapped in a mild 400 and did the same thing. Never figured out what the cause was ended up selling truck do to trans issues