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440 rebuild #2114927
07/21/16 04:53 PM
07/21/16 04:53 PM
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 382
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71ragtop Online content OP
enthusiast
71ragtop  Online Content OP
enthusiast
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 382
I'm getting ready to rebuild a 1978 440 motor,it's standard bore,I'd like to go 30 over,I'm looking to get 400hp from it when I'm done,any ideas or suggestions on how to obtain 400hp would be appreciated,thanks in advance.

Re: 440 rebuild [Re: 71ragtop] #2114935
07/21/16 05:00 PM
07/21/16 05:00 PM
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,322
Michigan
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crlush Offline
pro stock
crlush  Offline
pro stock
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,322
Michigan
Shouldn't be hard, pretty modest goal, as long as you buy a good set of pistons, tad bigger cam, good valve job, maybe a new edelbrock dual plane intake, and you should be there.

Re: 440 rebuild [Re: 71ragtop] #2114944
07/21/16 05:04 PM
07/21/16 05:04 PM
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,154
bethlehem pa
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mikemee1331 Offline
master
mikemee1331  Offline
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Posts: 4,154
bethlehem pa
did you mean to say 400hp? without any machining and simple bolt ons 400 is easily achieved. decent idling cam, good breathing intake and 650-700 cfm carb will get you in the ballpark. i'll let way more knowledgeable folks speak up as i only have my build under my belt.

Re: 440 rebuild [Re: 71ragtop] #2114988
07/21/16 06:07 PM
07/21/16 06:07 PM
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 21,318
Manitoba, Canada
DaytonaTurbo Offline
Too Many Posts
DaytonaTurbo  Offline
Too Many Posts

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Posts: 21,318
Manitoba, Canada
A stock type rebuild with some decent compression pistons (9:1 if iron heads, 10:1 if aluminum) and a mild cam will get you there. You'll have a responsive street engine.

First thing you should really do is take a look at your heads. Decide if you will be rebuilding the stock heads or doing some of the cheaper aftermarket heads like 440 source. Your cylinder head choice will dictate your piston selection, camshaft and machining choices to some extent.

Re: 440 rebuild [Re: 71ragtop] #2115147
07/21/16 10:07 PM
07/21/16 10:07 PM
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,040
Lincoln Nebraska
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RapidRobert Offline
Circle Track
RapidRobert  Offline
Circle Track
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,040
Lincoln Nebraska
stealth heads. 9.5 CR. .030 quench. recurve stock dist. FREE FLOWING exhaust. one of the newer carbs that lets you adj all of the systems. get an LM2 & dial it in. plasma moly rings. proper breakin procedure. good torque converter


live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
Re: 440 rebuild [Re: 71ragtop] #2115150
07/21/16 10:12 PM
07/21/16 10:12 PM
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 407
NE Indiana
momopar Offline
mopar
momopar  Offline
mopar

Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 407
NE Indiana
.509 cam?

Re: 440 rebuild [Re: momopar] #2115161
07/21/16 10:21 PM
07/21/16 10:21 PM
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 407
NE Indiana
momopar Offline
mopar
momopar  Offline
mopar

Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 407
NE Indiana
Originally Posted By momopar
.509 cam?


Seriously,

A stroker kit may not cost a lot more than pistons and their accompany list.

Cast crank and 40+ years old? Why not ?

y'know what they said? "takes cubic DOLLARS to replace cubic INCHES"

Re: 440 rebuild [Re: crlush] #2115240
07/22/16 12:13 AM
07/22/16 12:13 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,193
Omaha Ne
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TJP Offline
I Live Here
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,193
Omaha Ne
Originally Posted By crlush
Shouldn't be hard, pretty modest goal, as long as you buy a good set of pistons, tad bigger cam, good valve job, maybe a new edelbrock dual plane intake, and you should be there.


I have followed the factory recipe for a stock 68-9 375HP motor with vey good results,
IE: 10;1 compression, factory 375 HP cam, Dual plane intake, decent carb (440 AVS), good free flowing exhaust with manifolds (HP again), set up the timing, fuel system and mixture with a factory performance (1800 or so) converter, 3;23 or 3;55 gears and have FUN !!
Not to say it couldn't be improved upon with heads etc. But the combo works very well for a well mannered street car that will smoke the tires at will and peg you in the seat in 3rd

twocents

Re: 440 rebuild [Re: 71ragtop] #2115356
07/22/16 09:59 AM
07/22/16 09:59 AM
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,309
Prospect, PA
BSB67 Offline
master
BSB67  Offline
master

Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,309
Prospect, PA
What is your budget?

Zero deck flat top pistons and after market aluminum heads (Stealth/Sidewinder..) stockish aftermarket hydraulic FT cam (Crower 271 possibly), and a good factory exhaust system. Add 750+ CFM carb on any hp aftermarket duel plane intake. This should put you solidly in the 400 to 425 hp range with no fuss or muss.

You can get there with factory heads, it will just be more effort and cost IMO.

Re: 440 rebuild [Re: 71ragtop] #2115366
07/22/16 10:31 AM
07/22/16 10:31 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 24,562
Brookeville, Md
Mr.Yuck Offline
Not enough dumb comments...yet
Mr.Yuck  Offline
Not enough dumb comments...yet

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 24,562
Brookeville, Md
here's a good and cheap build. Call Summit, grab a decent engine kit, specify you want a decent piston. If you are going to use your heads, have them milled, clean up the ports, gasket match the intake and exhaust (but probably easier and cheaper to order stealth heads), pick up the Summit 488 cam, headers, Used CH4B intake, 1/2 spacer and 750 DP carb. You should have an easy 400hp that doesn't break the bank and it will be completely drivable and reliable. I had this set-up in a 67 Coronet with unported 906 heads cast speed pro pistons (maybe 9:1) and the car went 12.90's all day.

Re: 440 rebuild [Re: 71ragtop] #2115379
07/22/16 10:54 AM
07/22/16 10:54 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,643
A certified culture free zone.
74RALLYE Offline
top fuel
74RALLYE  Offline
top fuel

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,643
A certified culture free zone.
440 with a little bit of cam - Nothing says "stay away from an Edelbrock carb" like a 440 with a bigger cam. Edelbrock carbs are excellent in most applications, but the 750 and 800 cfm models don't cut it on 440s with a little extra cam unless you like an off idle dead spot.

Re: 440 rebuild [Re: 74RALLYE] #2115411
07/22/16 11:35 AM
07/22/16 11:35 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 24,562
Brookeville, Md
Mr.Yuck Offline
Not enough dumb comments...yet
Mr.Yuck  Offline
Not enough dumb comments...yet

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 24,562
Brookeville, Md
Originally Posted By 74RALLYE
440 with a little bit of cam - Nothing says "stay away from an Edelbrock carb" like a 440 with a bigger cam. Edelbrock carbs are excellent in most applications, but the 750 and 800 cfm models don't cut it on 440s with a little extra cam unless you like an off idle dead spot.


I couldn't get below a 13.11 w/ a eddy 750. I rebuilt and dropped a 25 y/o 750DP on it and the car went 12.90 and only would hit 13.0's if it was HOT out. I'd never run a Eddy on another BBM.







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