Please help with my 440 rebuild

My motor is getting very tired and I want to freshen it up a bit. I'd like to run it on pump gas, '71 RoadRunner, 3:23 rear, 4 speed w/ an upgrade to OD in the future. I want to do this once and replace everything I need to. I don't race the car, but I don't want it to be a dog. When I go to shows out if town, I drive it there. I'm looking into the possibility of some new heads and a stroker option as well. I know I can't have it both ways, but I'd also like to limit my spending.
Thanks,
Jim

depends on the budget and what it looks like when you tear it down. If budget is an issue I'd probably give Summit a call and buy their rebuild kit w/ cast pistons that should give you 9:1, I'd also order their cam/lifter kit (224-234, 465-488) If you don't have one look on e-bay for a used dual plane intake, anything other than a Performer will work fine. Mani's or headers? Depending on how much you can do and how much machine work this could be a cheap rebuild that will give you plenty of tire burning power. Of course if you wallet is open....

I would keep it a stock stroke 440 rather than stroking if budget is an issue. IMO your money is better spent on aftermarket heads like 440source stealth or edelbrock RPM than buying a stroker kit and dumping money into rebuilding stock heads.

For pistons, if you're on a budget you could go with stock cast pistons like was suggested or a set of TRW 2355's would work great and give you 10-10.5 compression w/ either of the heads I mentioned. The summit cam swingin72 mentioned would leave power on the table no matter which pistons you go with, but it would work well with your stock rockers/pushrods as well as the valve springs that come with the stealth or e-heads. However there are better cams that will work with a stock valvetrain than the summit. Comp's XE line has some nice offerings for about an extra 100 bucks over the summit bumpstick. For intake a performer RPM and a drop base air cleaner would work well for you or a holley SD would also work great and both of those intakes flow enough to keep up with your heads.

I'm thinking about the 440source heads as it seems to be a close trade off after getting my iron heads reworked. I was considering the stroker kit only because it may be a less expensive way to get all new internal parts. Of course, I won't know what's inside until the motor is torn down. As for the intake, I have to be careful of the height with my air grabber hood.
Jim

For myself, I budgeted it out and could not justify the additional cost of a stroker. After running the numbers, I figured a 440source stroker kit would cost me about a grand more than what I could rebuild a stock stroke 440 for. Granted, their stuff would have a higher hp potential for that price, but even for a 500hp street/strip 440, stock crank/rods will do. To some people, that 1 grand is not a big deal, to me 1k makes my wallet a lot lighter.

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For myself, I budgeted it out and could not justify the additional cost of a stroker. After running the numbers, I figured a 440source stroker kit would cost me about a grand more than what I could rebuild a stock stroke 440 for. Granted, their stuff would have a higher hp potential for that price, but even for a 500hp street/strip 440, stock crank/rods will do. To some people, that 1 grand is not a big deal, to me 1k makes my wallet a lot lighter.

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I would rather spend the $$ on the heads myself instead of gaining cubes