Posting for an older friend who doesn't use a computer.
He traded for an '80s Dodge 2wd shortbed pickup and a 440 motor. He is going to put the 440 in the truck. It was partially dissassembled to check the timing chain when he got it.
So, he's thinking he may put a little hotter cam in it while it's down that far. The motor is a '77 or '78 model so it's low compression. He's thinking of using one of the Summit cam and lifter kits since they seem to be the most economical. Not sure on the intake but he got an Edelbrock carb with it. He may have a cheap set of headers found for it also. It will have a stock 727 trans.
So what cam do you guys recommend for this application?
TIA,
Dallas

do a compression and leak down test before he soaks any money into it

small Summit cam , advance it 4 deg with the multiple keyway timing gear set, spend ALOT of time dialing in the dizzy

I vote for the small one. It should have more low end grunt. It should work better with the low, low compression. The stock cam may work better than both.

Is he building this truck as a puller or as a street machine type cruiser? I put a mild cam in a 76 smogger 440 like your friend's and with those smogger 70's low compression pistons, you can't put in much of a cam without also at a minimum doing a high stall torq converter and having numerically high rear gears.

If its not a crop-duster like most used 440's, then i'd say he'd be better off just zipping it back up with the stock cam and spending that money on a used Holley Street Dominator or RPM intake and Holley 750 (if thats not the mystery intake he already has, then sell what he has to make up some money). With just that, a really good tune in the electronic distributor and headers into a GOOD dual exhaust he should be looking at a very nice gain in power and torque. As for cams, i'd wait until he could just scrounge up a bit more money and buy a better cam... I'm not a huge Comp fan, but the sheer volume they sell can mean some pretty damn good prices on shelf cams like the newer high-lift 275. I personally wouldn't go with a generic cam just to save some money.

Maybe while its still down he can pull the heads and clean 'em up with a die-grinder? if he has some decent 516's or 915's kicking around maybe shave 'em and swap them on to make up at least some compression?

The compression on that motor is in the mid to high 7's-1. I milled a set of 516 closed chamber heads until they were at 65cc's and used a steel shim head gasket and got my compression up to 9.2-1. If he isn't going to change pistons or mill heads as stated above a very small cam will help.Dave

order the small summit cam and t-chain set. Try and find a CH4B intake or any old dual plane intake (except Performer), add a 4 hole 1/2" spacer under the carb, and use the headers. I'd think if his heads are ok have them milled .030 and by all means use the steel shim gaskets. That should get him up to 8:1. If the heads look like junk find a set of 516's or any closed chamber head. I'd set the initial timing at 16* and full at 38* in by 2400. Should run fine.

That is what is in my 72 Satellite no budget beater. Drove home a 75 D200 from the crusher. Motor ran great with no smoke. Come to find out it has a fairly fresh re-build on it. So took it down to the long block, putting all the car stuff on it. New main seals and such. Use a Comp 454 lift cam that I had laying around with lifters and matching springs. Pretty close to what came in a 68-70 440HP motor.
Had a old Weiand manifold and Holley 3310 that I used. Bought a new set of shorty headers from a friend. 727 w/ stock convertor. 355 S/G.
Runs great for what it is. Will smokem' through 2nd. Runs on mid-grade.

Thanks for the replies. I relayed all the info to him so he can decide what to do.
The motor ran fine and isn't sludged up inside so it seems to be in good condition. It has the plastic coated timing gear so that may be original. The teeth look fine but the chain has a little stretch to it so he is definately going to change the chain and gear.
The truck is just going to be a budget cruiser/toy but he can't put a lot of money into it.
Thanks for the help,
Dallas

Then it sounds like he should leave it all stock, do the timing chain and maybe a cheap set of headers with a dual exhaust. Put the rest of the money towards the odds and ends that pop up to get it finished.