Over the last several months I built a new 540 for my father-in-law's Duster. I was going to refrain from posting this until we got the car down the track, but I am bored. I have been laying in bed for 2 days with the flu and need some entertainment.

As far as the build it's pretty straight forward, although not easy. 4.375 bore x 4.5 stroke. Mahle pistons, molnar crank and rods. All machine work was done by BES. The cylinder heads are Victor 440 prepped by me. The valve job was done by BES. The intake is a Super Victor. Not a big fan of the super victor. It was kind of a mess. I probably had 25hrs in the intake. The cam is a Jones roller. Star vacuum pump.

We got it on the dyno at BES Monday. The numbers interesting....

Nice job ! BES is a great place .

Let’s try this

How'd you do that? I'm a dummy sometimes.

I was really humbled at BES. There was huge billet motors everywhere. They had a 600+ cubic inch small block chevy that was 1200+ hp. It looked like a work of art.
Tony and his staff are so friendly and professional. Tony made us feel like we were his most important customer while we were there. I really enjoyed working with them.

All the guys there are great , the work speaks for itself . They do all types of engines . They are definitely one of the best out there to deal with .
What block did you use for this build ?

It’s this damn website. Pictures need resized, post sideways or upside down. And guys wonder why this site is losing posts on tech.

Thanks John!

I'm embarrassed to say. It's an oem 440 block. Although it is a VERY thick block. Aluminum caps, girdle, ect. I am a little concerned about the life expectancy. Tony thinks we should be OK, being a low rpm deal.

You are very welcome

Great job! you were in great hands with Tony.

Looks like Ritchie working on the motor?

Keep it out of detonation and it probably will live . I have a similar engine with stock caps and so far it has lived

Yes. Rich worked with us most of the day. He did an awesome job.

Did you try revving it higher to make sure the motor had reach peak RPM and not started a dip that would go away in another hundred RPM?
What type of cam and lifters and valve spring pressures?

Why push a stock block to the moon. Go out and have fun.

I'm running a Jones solid roller with crower lifter. Springs are 255 on the seat and 660#'s over the nose. I told Rich we were shifting at 6800 before we started, regardless of power curve. It may be flawed thinking on my part, but I believe an oem block has a better chance of living if you don't rev the piss out of it. I sized everything when designing the motor to peak at 65-6600. Heads, cam, intake, headers, ect

i am solidly behind the path you chose here. Knowing my rpm graph shows actual rpm of the 1/2 shift to be higher than the programmed rpm in rhe electronics activated air shifter, if it were mine i would start by shifting by eye at 6400, 6500 if an air or electric shifter is in use. Add a hundred rpm for the 2/3 shift. From my limited experiance those heads are making about the limit of thier hp capability, and then some.

879 HP on a 440 block might not be a lunar landing....But its definitely in orbit.....

I am surprised it managed to make peak HP in the high 6000s range with that 4.5 stroke, small bore and head combo. The Torque was in early as expected.

Those must be some killer Victor heads you have there Mbrown!

Great power out of that build, especially when considering how many struggle with making 750+ with those heads. If you don't mind a couple of questions:

What compression?
What are the rough cam specs?
What were the flow #'s and what did you have to do to get those?

Thanks!

Ok, I'm as mopar as anyone, but please explain the math on a 600'' s. b.c, and how it all " fits"inside the crankcase.