which 440 head would you buy??

Posted By: ta70mopar

which 440 head would you buy?? - 09/01/08 06:12 PM

which would be a better choice 906 or 915 not trying to make big power putting in a 68 convert dart if I went w/ 915 would I have to worry about getting high enough octane fuel?? also they are rebuilt what would a person exspect to pay thanks

Posted By: DaytonaTurbo

Re: which 440 head would you buy?? - 09/01/08 06:33 PM

I would always go with a closed chamber head and build a quench engine with some flat top pistons and deck milling. Power wise, if they're both stock rebuilt heads they'd both make about the same amount of power. As for value, well 440source's stealth heads are $900, so to buy rebuilt stock heads unported with stock valve size, the price would have to be a heck of a lot lower than that.

Posted By: 1_WILD_RT

Re: which 440 head would you buy?? - 09/01/08 07:44 PM

Quote:

if I went w/ 915 would I have to worry about getting high enough octane fuel??

Is the short block already built? cause 8.7 compression without quench is more likely to detonate than a 10.0 engine with the advantage of quench...

Posted By: Pacnorthcuda

Re: which 440 head would you buy?? - 09/01/08 07:54 PM

Quote:

Quote:

if I went w/ 915 would I have to worry about getting high enough octane fuel??

Is the short block already built? cause 8.7 compression without quench is more likely to detonate than a 10.0 engine with the advantage of quench...

Agreed. To take advantage of the 915's you'll need a decent amount of quench--and that means high compression (at least with flat tops) and MORE power.
I would not go with 906's unless I already have them (and I do) or max power was not a concern.
10:1 on pump gas is easily attainable (and with a decent amount of advance), without the quench is tougher.

Posted By: Anonymous

Re: which 440 head would you buy?? - 09/01/08 08:29 PM

915

Posted By: 68Cbarge

Re: which 440 head would you buy?? - 09/01/08 08:44 PM

If you are not after really big power,I would suggest a worked set of 452 heads.
Back-cut the valves,open up the bowls,do the portmatching.Plane them down 15-20 thou to keep a respectable compression ratio.
They flow better than 906's and already have the hardened valve seats for today's corn swill we call gaz.
They are more plentiful and cheaper compared to the highly desirable 915's
Machine costs would be the same if not cheaper.

Legendary Mopar engine builder Don Dulmage has proven that 452's are the better head. http://www.autohobbydigest.com/dulmage.html#ch10

I am running a set of worked 452's on my 68 New Yorker.They were freebies and I spent under 800.00 getting them redone.The best money I spent,IMO.

Posted By: CH3NO2

Re: which 440 head would you buy?? - 09/01/08 09:30 PM

How far down in the hole is your pistons? If you are going to replace them you could always buy a zero deck piston with a d-cup in the crown to drop your compression ratio to run pump gas.

Posted By: dogdays

Re: which 440 head would you buy?? - 09/02/08 12:17 AM

Putting a 440 in a Dart I'd get an aluminum head as fast as I could. Either of the two lowest cost heads (Edelbrock or 440Source) will save you probably 50 lb high on the front of the vehicle and flow better than any 906 or 915 that hasn't been ported by a pro. Also they aren't 40 years old.

Just from the weight savings I'd go that way.

R.

Posted By: 383man

Re: which 440 head would you buy?? - 09/02/08 02:24 AM

Quote:

I would always go with a closed chamber head and build a quench engine with some flat top pistons and deck milling. Power wise, if they're both stock rebuilt heads they'd both make about the same amount of power. As for value, well 440source's stealth heads are $900, so to buy rebuilt stock heads unported with stock valve size, the price would have to be a heck of a lot lower than that.

Good advise.

Ron

Posted By: dave571

Re: which 440 head would you buy?? - 09/02/08 03:13 AM

I like 915's and agree that with quench, that pump fuel will work up to 10:1 easily....The problem is, getting 10:1.
If the 915's have been cut at all, you'll get more than that.

With stock size manley valves, my 915's cc'd at 78.

With .043 quench, and the valve reliefs in the speed pro's I'm a little over 10.6:1
I find it's a little much on pump gas, when I'm at sea level, but doable where I live (3600 ft)

Camshaft becomes a variable here too, so there is a lot to consider. Run a 915 headed, quench 440, with a stockish cam, and I have no doubt it will ping like crazy.

FWIW, I dismantled a 67HP 440 block, and the pistons were .067 in the hole.(plus .020 gasket and thats .087 quench area

)
Quench wasn't a consideration for them back when they made them.

Posted By: dOc !

Re: which 440 head would you buy?? - 09/02/08 03:20 AM

Quote:

I would always go with a closed chamber head and build a quench engine with some flat top pistons and deck milling. Power wise, if they're both stock rebuilt heads they'd both make about the same amount of power. As for value, well 440source's stealth heads are $900, so to buy rebuilt stock heads unported with stock valve size, the price would have to be a heck of a lot lower than that.

Have you or nayone else actually put some decent amount of "miles" on those 440S heads? Like to find out if the seats fall out or the heads crack or warp etc.

Posted By: ta70mopar

Re: which 440 head would you buy?? - 09/02/08 04:08 AM

no sending the short block out this week it was frooze got it free cylinder walls are kinda rusty i wonder how far they can bore them the engine is a 383 probley should have mentioned that thanks love this sight

Posted By: 1_WILD_RT

Re: which 440 head would you buy?? - 09/02/08 04:26 AM

Quote:

no sending the short block out this week it was frooze got it free cylinder walls are kinda rusty i wonder how far they can bore them the engine is a 383 probley should have mentioned that thanks love this sight

Before you drop the engine off you really should take the time to know what you want before you get a typical generic overhaul treatment...

FWIW to get decent compression & quench with a 383 is gonna take custom pistons & that migt be more then you care to spend but I'll tell you do it right the first time cause you won't wanna go back & a few hundred dollars now won't matter in six months...

Posted By: AndyF

Re: which 440 head would you buy?? - 09/02/08 04:29 AM

If you own the 915 heads then maybe rebuild them but if you're going to buy heads then I really doubt you want to pay swap meet prices for 915 heads. A lot of those 40 year old heads are junk but people are still asking a lot of money for them. Just buy some Edelbrock heads and be done with it.

Posted By: Big-Mike

Re: which 440 head would you buy?? - 09/02/08 05:19 AM

Mike in New Zealand here. I suggest saving your $$'s & buy a set of 440 Source Alloy's. I have some on a 440 Stroker(496)after running Hughes Engines Stage 2s & they run just as hard; ihaven't had them on the 1/4 yet, but my Australian Charger(3960lbs with me in it) does 12:0-12:25@117-118mph & a 60ft of 2:0 something every single run with 2:75 gears.
Also does 17 mpg imperial which is about 19 US to the gallon.
This is a 4-speed New-Process & Dual-Friction Center-Force Clutch.
I have 10-1 comp: & 193 cranking pressure wwith a Comp-Cams 294 Solid.248@050:0.525 lift all on a 650 D/P. Weiand Xcelerator 7512, which is an old manifold & it pulls 6800rpm in 1st & 2nd gear.
Almost 80 mph in 1st gear.
Anyone wanting more info, just ask.

Cheers, Mike

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