Quote: If he's giving you horsepower at the wheels, thats not a horrible number. Probobly represents around 365 - 375 crank horsepower. If its a low compression 440, with stock heads and a few bolt ons, I'd say thats a real world number.
Assuming he gave you rear wheel hp figures, 280hp/358tq and a 20% loss through the drivetrain = about 350hp/450ft-lbs. And that would be NET hp/torq not the GROSS rating the 71 and earlier motors were rated as. Which is probably worth another 20% or so. For a 440 with unknown compression ratio(only real way to know is to pull a head and measure), unknown cam and unknown cylinder head job, I don't think your #'s are terrible. Yes you can get 500hp out of a 440, but it has to be a properly thought out combo, not just random parts thrown together.
Assuming he gave you rear wheel hp figures, 280hp/358tq and a 20% loss through the drivetrain = about 350hp/450ft-lbs. And that would be NET hp/torq not the GROSS rating the 71 and earlier motors were rated as. Which is probably worth another 20% or so. For a 440 with unknown compression ratio(only real way to know is to pull a head and measure), unknown cam and unknown cylinder head job, I don't think your #'s are terrible. Yes you can get 500hp out of a 440, but it has to be a properly thought out combo, not just random parts thrown together.
