440 Dyno Results - My $500 Build

I've been seeing a lot of posts on dyno results lately, so I just wanted to throw my dyno session out there for conversation sake.

My approach is a little different, however. Rather than a high dollar build, this old school engine is comprised of used parts that I already had in my possession and an old unwanted shortblock a buddy of mine had in his garage.

Back in late August, the 440 cast crank shortblock in my wife's '70 Barracuda finally let go after many years of hard service. I do not have any discretionary income for cars at this point, so we threw something together to hold me over until I can build a 'proper' engine. (Whenever that may be...)

Here are some quick details:

-'72 440 HP2 shortblock with six pack rods and .030 TRW L2295 pistons. It was rebuilt back in the 90's and has unknown miles. It had been sitting in my buddies garage for a while, but the cylinders looked decent. I pulled the rod and main caps...the bearings looked OK. Rather than tear it down and potentionally open up a can of worms, I just let it go the way it was. Definitely not something I was excited about with the heavy rods and heavy pistons down in the hole, but the price was right @ only $300.

- .590 MP solid cam and lifters...used and showing more wear than I would have liked, but it was free. (Could not use the Ultradyne solid cam from the blown up motor, for it was in 3 pcs.) Installed @ 103.

- 906 heads and single plane M1 from the old engine. Heads flow around 270 @ .600 lift on the intake. I'm having a brain fart on how the exhaust flows, but it is respectable. The heads are 78cc if I remember correctly. Overall, a very nice pair of iron heads that are done right. (I'm fortunate enough to have a brother in that line of work.) The M1 has had some plenum work done to it. A basically stock AED 850 Holley. Also like to add that even though the cam was destroyed in the old engine, there were no bent pushrods or any valvetrain damage other than 1 bent valve. How, I do not know...just got lucky I guess.

-We welded up the 2 holes in the old Moroso pan, beat the Milodon windage tray back into shape, put on some fresh Fel Pro 1009s and had a replacement engine for a total of $500 minus fluids.

My brother had a few favors due to him with a buddy that has a Superflow dyno in his shop, so I was able to have a dyno day on December 1st. (A big thanks to my brother for that...no cost to me other than my time and the only reason this dyno session happened in the first place. Let's face it...I could not warrant spending $$$ on a dyno session for a $500 engine. )

We did 10 pulls before calling it a day. Basically 550hp and 550ft lbs of torque...thankfully all under 6000rpm since the thought of spinning this thing any higher scares me. (Using the Hooker Comps off of the Barracuda, a 6AL box, and spinning a factory water pump.)

The Barracuda previously ran 11.50s @ 118mph in 100% street trim with the old cast crank 440. (3825lbs with me behind the wheel.) This replacement engine feels more powerful on the street than the last, but I'll have to wait till spring to see what kind of numbers it will lay down at the track. Everybody has their own opinion of streetable, but this one drives around town just as nice as the old engine. I will run race gas a little more often due to the compression going up .6 pts from the last combo, but it's not like we drive the car more than 100 miles a weekend as it is.

My 2yr old son colored all over my dyno sheets, but he did spare one. This printout is not the best pull of the day, but it will give you an idea of how the numbers look. I know we left some power on the table, but I was pretty happy with the results.

Again, I just wanted to throw this dyno session out there for the guys that do not have the resources for 'good' stuff. Is it a 'proper' build? Heck No. How long will the engine last? I don't know. For only a $500 investment, I'm not overly concerned.

Nice build, I've had very similar builds since I'm usually on a tight budget as well.
Have fun!

Looks like it wasn't going in the hole full tilt at 6300 RPM @round 1500 RPM spread between peak HP and peak torque ,that old 590 is working good Sometimes it pays to use your old junk I have with similar results

Very respectable. Love those low buck builds. Sometimes its just more satisfying to do more with less. Built a 360 last year for around $700 that made 442 HP. Probably my favorite engine build.

Thanks for sharing. That's a better torque curve than I would have expected from such a big cam. Maybe I WILL try that camshaft.

Nice!! That is almost the same engine like my old 446"...That lasted me 9 or 10 years!

Thanks for sharing! A great low buck combo that shows that some "old school" parts still work just fine.

Did you verify the CR? I am wondering what is was. Also, what's the valve train? Rockers, ratio, springs?

Those heads, "done right" are working well for 906's.

Scott

Cool.... another cheapo engine... I did the same thing
with a small block for my Rampage... its all stuff
I had laying around the shop except I bought pistons....
You were lean on that whole run... hope you fattened it up

That's the way to do it. No need to spend thousands of $$$ on an engine.

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Thanks for sharing! A great low buck combo that shows that some "old school" parts still work just fine.

Did you verify the CR? I am wondering what is was. Also, what's the valve train? Rockers, ratio, springs?

Those heads, "done right" are working well for 906's.

Scott

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10.989:1 compression, so I just call it 11:1.

Simple valvetrain...Crane gold 1.5 rockers with Smith Bros adjusters, Comp dual springs, retainers and Smith Bros pushrods. (All from the old engine.)

I credit my brother for the engine making the power that it does. It would have been a 450hp engine if he was not involved.