It takes about 13-15 HP to gain a tenth on a 3000lb car(at your present ET). You might try 1.6 rockers on the intake side and increase the compression to 11:1. A decent port job should gain 2 tenths. Don't forget the short-turn if you do anything more than unshroud valves.

Of course I'm just a keyboard racer, but I did stay at a Holliday Inn once

Hello,

Low compression and the 509 will cuase a very soft motor on the low end. Been there done that with the 6pak pistons in a .030 over 440 with 906 heads. Getting the comprssion up on that cam is a big help. When I changed cams I needed more p-v clearance. I taped the motor off and greased the heck out of each bore and piston top. Then I hand ground the necessary clearances. Bringing each piston to tdc one at a time to do the work. A good cleaning of course and put it all back together. Did this with the engine in the car. So if you are careful you can get the clearances it needs without pulling the motor.

Damon

Your changes were going to net you nearly a 1.point in comp, not .5 From your ccurrent 9.9 to about 10.9 @ 75cc, more if you used the .020 shim vs the .027 cometic.

You can play with vert changes too, theres more the one way to skin a cat. From experience your 509 cam would love the jump in comp from 9.9.IMO mike

Sorry...I didn't mean any disrespect. Everyone here on Moparts has been more than helpful to me and as a younger guy the information I have learned here has been invaluable. I was just posting another perspective on the subject based on a call I made. Jim Dowell has always been helpful to me and never pushes his cams on me even when I think I need another one.

I can definately speak to the fact that the 440 with the 509 and low compression can be "soft" down low. With the help of Sport440 and Dodgem on this board we solved that problem in a BIG way earlier this year. I found out my cam was in retarded 2*. I advanced it 8* to 102* and it is a beast down low now. First time to the track and I it just kept blowing the tires off of it. Put Caltracs on it and that took care of the traction problem so now we are looking for a little more ET to get to the magic 11.5 mark.

The way I see it I have two things to work on now. I think I will start by reinstalling my 8" vert and then will run the car in the spring and see if there is any improvement. I am wondering if it is possible that I will like the 8" vert on the street now that I have the cam advanced and more bottom end power? I figure its worth a try.

Then after I get the track#'s after the vert change, I can bump up the compression and see how much more that gains me. Sound like a plan?

Quote:

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The other option would be a 9.5". I talked to Shawn at Dynamic and he said putting one of their 9.5" verts in would pick up 2-3 tenths over the 10". He also said the vert change should get me 1.5 60' times.

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I have one of their 9.5" verts and I'm not going 1.5 60s. Then again, I'm still on SS springs. I'm curious, how much did you pick up on your 60s when you went from SS to Caltrac? My best so far is a 1.665. I'd love to see a 1.5.

FWIW, we have similar builds and run similar times. I would like to get down to 11.5 as well and have no intentions of putting a cage in my car.

I have one of their 9.5" verts and I'm not going 1.5 60s. Then again, I'm still on SS springs. I'm curious, how much did you pick up on your 60s when you went from SS to Caltrac? My best so far is a 1.665. I'd love to see a 1.5








me in the car ,bottem hole on the caltracs

just touching drivers side , pass side two flats, rancho 9000 #7 setting

I was 1.49 60 ft

put two flats more both sides

1.42 60 ft

put two more flats on both side again

1.40 60 ft

29.5 10.5 m/t slicks 13 pounds

Before I advanced my cam 8* my previous best 60' was a 1.716 on a 11.834 (with the 10" vert). With the 8" vert it as a 1.657 on a 11.817.

I put the 10" vert back in the car because I didn't like the 8" on the street. Then the following year I advanced the cam 8* and went to the track. Major traction problems and I ran a best of 11.814 and a 1.701 60'.

I put the Caltracs on and had a couple tuning runs and so far ran a best of 11.673 with a 1.663 60'.

Maybe just change your camshaft. Something with a 'tighter'' as in less advertised duration, but, with more lift, on a little wider lobe sep may make the engine 'think' it has more compression. It should have better bottom end and more power throughout its range. Just a thought.

Yeah...I probably will go ahead and mill the heads anyway over the winter just to give me something to do. Soot reduction would also be a plus.

Thanks for the info on the Dynamic converter Ron. I figure I'll throw my 8" ATI back in the car and mess around with it next year to see what happens before I spend the money on a 9.5". I talked to John Lane at ATI this week and he told me I have the tightest 8" vert they make. Based on my numbers and specs he thinks I either have something going on in the transmission or a fuel delivery problem. He said the 727 has a poor convert charge circuit and suggested I check the line pressure to see where it is at. He said it should be 150-185psi...with 115-130psi being low.

The fuel issue could be real I guess? My 60' improved .06 with the 8" vert yet my ET moved .02 at best. I started another thread on here asking what the limit on a mechanical fuel pump is. I am currently running a Carter street/strip mechanical fuel pump with 3/8" line. I wonder now if that is enough?