I'm trying to cheap out on a motor for my 73 Roadrunner. I'm not trying to build a monster horsepower motor the car is just going to be a cruiser . I have a 77 Motor home 440 that has 48,000 miles on it that I opened up. The motor is super clean inside and seams to have been well taken car of. I can't feel a ridge at the top of the cylinders. The questions I have are;

1. The cylinders got water in them most likely from when I cleaned the outside of the motor. A couple cylinders have what looks like calcium ( water spots ) on them I can feel a bump when I run my fingers across them. Should I tear the motor the rest of the way down and hone the cylinders ?

2. should I tear the motor down hone the cylinders and do a rings bearings gaskets rebuild on it ?

3. The heads on the motor are 452's with peanut plugs and the heads are super clean. Should I leave them alone and re-use them and are they good heads ?

4. The motor had steel shim head gaskets on it. My pistons are .150 in the hole if I use a composite head gasket how much will it change my compression ?

5. With My pistons .150 in the hole and using a 452 head what will my compression be ?

6. Can anybody recommend a cam for this motor the way it is that will work good with these parts ? Edelbroch Torker 440 intake a Holley 800 DP carb auto trans with 2,000 stall and 3:55 gears and probably a set of headers (if I don't have to completely rebuild this motor) ?

A few water spots on the cylinders? Not a big deal.
The steel shim gaskets were .020 thick. The composites are double that. Most motorhome engines were in the 7.5 compression ratio range. Adding a thicker gasket will only worsen your squeeze. Consider milling the heads .040 and using a steel shim gasket again. This will put you closer to 8.0 to 1. Still not that great, but without replacing pistons, you are limited. If you are really only interested in a cruiser, forget any type of single plane intake. They need RPM to make any power. Same with the gas sucking double pumper carb. A standard Edelbrock performer (NOT Performer RPM) with a 440 spec ThermoQuad will make more power with better mileage. Definitely use headers with a good 2 1/2" dual exhaust system.
I have a motorhome 440 in my '74 Dodge truck. I had the heads milled .050 but left the 58,000 mile bottom end alone: Its factory stock EXCEPT: I overcammed it with a MP 284/484 stick. I was trying to save a few coins and I already HAD the cam and lifters. the motor would probably be faster with a stock 440 magnum cam, since they were designed for an rpm range of 1500-5000. The stock heads begin to choke at 4500 .... right where the 284 cam is supposed to be in its power band. Its a classic mismatch of components. I want to swap in the stock cam when funds allow it. If you are truly looking for advice, MINE is to stay conservative on the cam and induction with a low compression mill.

I already have the intake and carb they came off another motor. I'm not really too worried about fuel mileage I don't drive my cars much except for an occasional weekend cruise. I'm just trying to build a car that looks good and sounds healthy ( but it doesn't need to back it up). although the market is getting better on these 73 -74 Roadrunners I have about 7K in bodywork, paint, interior, trans, rearend and misc parts in a car that might be worth 10k on a good day. I already have a couple cars with too much motor for the street and I want this car to just be a mello cruiser that's fun to drive

the Hughes whiplash cam is for a low comp engine that will build cyl pressure and works well in the lopo engines.

great cruzing cam,funnycar idle smoothes out about 1800 rpms and has great off the line torque.

To CHEAP OUT ..and still have a decent performing car? ... get a set of small chambered heads(516, 915) and cut-em 30 or so ....and that will help.

But a 452 head on a shortblock with pistons 150 down ....

As Sir Charles would say ... that us TERRRRible !

I looked at the whiplash cams and that looks like what I'm after. Like I said above I'm not after a monster horsepower motor (I already have one of those) This car will just be a mild cruiser if it looks good and drives good I'll be happy. Having it sound good will be an added bonus. I have a 67 440 with 915 heads that I'm sure will need completely rebuilt that I'm going to keep around in case this motor just doesn't make me happy. I'll build that one if I need more out of the fun pedal.

You don't have to put a ton of $$$ in those 915's to make them work. You will be MUCHO happier with them over the 452's in any type of HP project.

Doc, I understand where your coming from completely I normally think the same way. Normally I want the biggest baddest loudest coolest and fastest But I'm trying to contain myself on this project. I already have a 512 72 Challenger that's plenty fast for the street and fun as f**k to drive but it lacks street manors to say the least. I also have 92 Vette with a 402 miniram motor in it it's fast and fun to drive but like the Challenger I think I spend more time under it then I do in it. I have an 80 vette that I built 6 years ago with a 260 hp GM crate motor in it. The 80 Vette isn't fast or loud but it's the best running car I've built besides maintenance I haven't had to work on it at all in 6 years. I would jump in this car tomorrow and drive across country. I'm just trying to build a cool clean car that I can just jump in and drive.

You wont be hearing from Doc for a few days. He got slapped for something he posted elsewhere.