First BB build in decades. A friend contacted me with a finished short block with TRW 2355 flattops .033" in the hole, the ones with 4 shallow valve notches. With .048" Felpro blue head gaskets and 346's (93CC's) it came to a measured 8.57 CR . He's considering a set of stealths to raise it. My Question is what cam would you guys recommend that would likely have enough VP clearance? I will clay or dial indicator check what I pick. It's going onto a ~3800lb 4 sp belvedere weekend street brawler with 3.91 gears. No drag strip and he's willing to run however much race gas would be required and he wants a healthy lope & probably a hyd but that's not set in stone. Thank you for your time and recommendations. #1 is the VP issue as the short block is already built

Why assume interference?

Get the heads, install them and see what happens.

Did he measure those 346 heads as 93CCs?

I did. Couldn't believe they were that much so I CC'd that chamber again (93CC). The short block was assembled when he got it as were the heads. He's turned everything over to me so I'm measureing everything to get started & we're not liking the 8.571 CR so he's about ready to spring for some Stealths & is pressing me for a cam recommendation

Well I ran some big cams with 6 pack pistons 0 decked and .075 off 906 heads with a .039 gasket 263/271 @ .050 .597/.620 lift.

after that had to deepen the valve notches as we ended up with .110 off the heads 62.5 cc closed chamber is what they became. 12.2 to 1 needed 50% 110 and 50% 94.

so you have .033 extra to start and heads that could use a good milling.

I would look at the Edelbrock E 75 cc head!

Steel shim head gaskets should put you right around 9.0 to 1.
Most older style ( non fast rate of lift) hydraulic cams should clear. Some newer designs will too..
I am putting a 440 together for a customer currently too.
His shortblock was built by the car's previous owner with .040 over 2266 pistons.
I will be putting it together either his Hughes Whiplash cam and RPM heads. Should be on the dyno for break in and tuning next week.
Keith

For a big lopey hyrdaulic, there is comp cam's version of the 509, called the PP509. It has more exhaust duration than intake.

292/299 247/254 @ .050, .509 lift, 108 LC.

I have a 440 with edelbrock 84cc heads, trw 2266 pistons, way down in the hole maybe .110, no valve reliefs. Fairly certain I'm quite a ways from 9:1. Anyways I did a check with playdo and a welded hydraulic lifter.. ended up with 0.120 / 0.127 clearance after adding in for preload.

I have it in my 67 Dart, minitubbed with drag radials, 3.91s, and 3000 stall converter. No ETs just yet but it pulls pretty hard.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOQDQCJlDhs

It was welded all the way up. But it was also a different lifter body size and seat height than the lifter I ended up using. Since I knew the height of the welded lifter, and the height of the real lifter and the amount of preload I had (around .050" IIRC), multiplied by the rocker arm ratio to get the effect at the valve, I was able to get at what I think is pretty close to the true PV clearance #.