How Much HP/Torque for decent street charger

[myk]

A nice rebuild on the 440 to 1969 specs with a little more compression, Edelbrock heads and a slightly better cam will give you more than enough happy.

just for informational purposes....

There is NO stock "CAST" Piston availability anywhere in the marketplace, OEM or aftermarket..... to rebuild the 440 short block to "1969 specs", using an 84 CC Eddy Head, little-lown any open chamber cast iron head.... NOT even close
To attain "69 specs" with any Cast Rebuilder Piston is impossible..... without/requires substantial Block and Head Milling..... that then requires an adjustable Valvetrain to compensate for the bottomed out lifters.

If you have a "stock" Valvetrain and Rocker Arms, and CAST Pistons, and it RUNS.... you are an 8's:1 Engine (although you may believe whatever you want).

The only/first and cheapest viable Piston option available....  targeting the mid 9's:1 or better "1969 440 Magnum spec" with open chamber "906" or other iron heads is the L2355 FORGED Piston from speed pro if you are planning stock valvetrain on '69 spec to keep costs down.

Wow.  That's quite the bombshell.  Explains a lot about my rebuilt "stock spec" block...

[redmist]

These are the pistons you will want to use...  They are much lighter than the L2355 offering, and will get you the compression you want.

http://www.jepistons.com/Products/213455.aspx

Bore Size:    4.350
Oversize:    0.030
Dome Volume:    -6cc
Weight:    690

Compression ratio

11.4 on a 72cc -    10.5 on a 80cc-    10.1 on a 84cc-


I used these on my build and made 513 HP and 542 Ft-Lbs on a 446 motor with 84cc Edelbrock heads.

[Challenger340]

These are the pistons you will want to use...  They are much lighter than the L2355 offering, and will get you the compression you want.

http://www.jepistons.com/Products/213455.aspx

Bore Size:    4.350
Oversize:    0.030
Dome Volume:    -6cc
Weight:    690

Compression ratio

11.4 on a 72cc -    10.5 on a 80cc-    10.1 on a 84cc-


I used these on my build and made 513 HP and 542 Ft-Lbs on a 446 motor with 84cc Edelbrock heads.

Yep, Those will work, as will many other FORGED Piston offerings, usually accompanied by FORGED Piston prices, with the added costs associated with Engine Rotating Assembly BALANCING as well.

Hence our discussion relative to an inexpensive CAST Piston O.E.M. type replacement, in the CORRECT Compression Distance to replicate the Torque capabilities of the original "stock" 1968-1970 440 Magnum Engines, that could be used without re-balancing in "stock" 440 type builds.
Very simply.... they are NOT made.

You will notice that the JE/SRP "forged" offering you listed, is built on a 2.062" C.D. approx .020" down hole, which at 2.4 CC's per .010" = 4.8 CC's
plus,
the 6 CC Flycut.... "divided by" the same 2.4 CC per .010" would equal another .025" of deck height..
so,
the .020" + .025" would equal the C.R. of about a straight Flat-Top Piston(without Flycuts) built on a 2.040" Compression Distance.
Interesting to Note....
the original '68-70 440 magnum "stock" cast pistons were a 2.030" to 2.035" Compression Distance, which when used Today on most '906 Cast Iron Heads up around 86 CC's and a composition style Head gasket, would equal a 9.46:1 Compression Ratio

[redmist]

Meh... big deal, they are only $120 more ($15 a piston) more for the SRP set over the L2355 set. I figured I would just throw them out there, as they are in my mind THE best PISTON on the market right now for a somewhat decent build....  These days anyhow. 

Weight savings, and a proper balance should be on the build schedule anyhow.