440 that is streetable but has more power then my 383 does

[mosley69]

My 69 Roadrunner currently has a 383 that runs 11.5 in the quarter. But it has 13 to 1 compression, no vacuum and is just not streetable. I have a 440 block and would like to build something
that can run on pump gas and still run the same times. I would like to reuse the 906 heads as i have spent a lot of money on them (big valves & ported), and maybe purchase a 500 stroker kit
from 440source. but i am open to options. please help, thank you

[Kern Dog]

A stroked 400/440 with fairly mild cam and compression isn't hard to do. I have a 10.0 to 1 440/493. Mopar Performance 528 solid cam and it delivers 16" of vacuum at idle. MORE than enough for power brakes. Nice idle with a slight lope I used an 11" converter and the car drives great. No slop, just tight response. 3.55 gears and a 28" tire. Great for street fun, cruising and some highway drives too.

[c00nhunterjoe]

Do you have flow numbers for the 906s? That will help determine what to do next.

[PRH]

Keep in mind that no matter how well ported an iron head is, it will not flow enough air to support 550 HP. It will not flow enough to make HP past 5700 rpms.
If you are looking to get to those levels, you will need aftermarket heads.

That's some pretty funny stuff.

I'm not saying aftermarket aluminum heads wouldn't be a better option, but they absolutely aren't necessary to build either a stock or stroked 440 that would be a much more street and user friendly package than the current 383.

The only hurdle to doing the stroker/pump gas/906 head situation is you'll need to have some quench dome pistons made to allow you to build the motor with decent quench.

KB makes quench dome pistons for the stock stroke, but nothing like that for a tall deck stroker.

Aside from that, it wouldn't really be any harder to build than a stock stroke 440...... Except for some pretty minor notching at the bottoms of the bores for rod bolt clearance.

It will be a completely different animal than the 383 in the car now.

[Laowho]

So does this mean that our 906-headed mild build will be able to use a supercharger? Only expecting 5-6 lbs boost, enuf to lift our 435 hp closer to 500, no more. Hope I'm not hijacking here, but I hadn't considered our heads.

[mosley69]

So can i just use the kit from 440source? will those pistons work with 906's?

[PRH]

can you use a 440 source kit with your heads?
Absolutely.

Will it have quench?
Unless they now offer quench dome pistons...... No.

[BSB67]

My 69 Roadrunner currently has a 383 that runs 11.5 in the quarter. But it has 13 to 1 compression, no vacuum and is just not streetable. I have a 440 block and would like to build something
that can run on pump gas and still run the same times. I would like to reuse the 906 heads as i have spent a lot of money on them (big valves & ported), and maybe purchase a 500 stroker kit
from 440source. but i am open to options. please help, thank you

It would be helpful if you expanded exactly how you want to achieve that 11.5.  If you plan on putting it in a 3200 lb car, with good tire and suspension, running at sea level, you need maybe 450 hp.  If it weighs 4000 lbs, stock suspension, street tire, street gear and at 3000 ft elevation, will need maybe 575 hp.

What does the car weigh, and what is the car's current track mph.  Will you be keeping the same gear/tire/suspension?

[heyoldguy]

Keep in mind that no matter how well ported an iron head is, it will not flow enough air to support 550 HP. It will not flow enough to make HP past 5700 rpms.
If you are looking to get to those levels, you will need aftermarket heads.

That's some pretty funny stuff.

I'm not saying aftermarket aluminum heads wouldn't be a better option, but they absolutely aren't necessary to build either a stock or stroked 440 that would be a much more street and user friendly package than the current 383.

The only hurdle to doing the stroker/pump gas/906 head situation is you'll need to have some quench dome pistons made to allow you to build the motor with decent quench.

KB makes quench dome pistons for the stock stroke, but nothing like that for a tall deck stroker.

Aside from that, it wouldn't really be any harder to build than a stock stroke 440...... Except for some pretty minor notching at the bottoms of the bores for rod bolt clearance.

It will be a completely different animal than the 383 in the car now.

Damn funny stuff. I know PRH has done at least as well with 906 heads, but we only made 730 HP with the 906 heads after Comp Cams forgot to turn the water into our engine while it was on their dyno. It was with 15 bent valves and as much as 56% leakdown but at least it did make the 730 HP the following day.

[Challenger340]

My 69 Roadrunner currently has a 383 that runs 11.5 in the quarter. But it has 13 to 1 compression, no vacuum and is just not streetable. I have a 440 block and would like to build something
that can run on pump gas and still run the same times. I would like to reuse the 906 heads as i have spent a lot of money on them (big valves & ported), and maybe purchase a 500 stroker kit
from 440source. but i am open to options. please help, thank you

Check the "proven engine combo's" section for ideas in general ?

But here are some stock stroke 440's we played with, and still utilize from time to time(doing another one now).
Pump Gas, Flat Tappet Hydraulic Cams, Dual Plane Intake Manifold, pretty basic builds that are very reliable, and about as cheap as it gets.

It's a long read....
but the 284H cammed version on Pg #3 @ 545Hp /562 Trq, with the right Gearing/Tire/Convertor combo can dip 11's in a b-body. 
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,106687.50.html
I would highly suggest, that if contemplating substituting "Ported Iron 906's" onto this type of shortblock build ? (instead of the Stealth's we used ?)
That you get them FLOWED and then select a Camshaft accordingly !
   

[ACUDANUT]

Keep in mind that no matter how well ported an iron head is, it will not flow enough air to support 550 HP. It will not flow enough to make HP past 5700 rpms.
If you are looking to get to those levels, you will need aftermarket heads.

That's some pretty funny stuff.

I'm not saying aftermarket aluminum heads wouldn't be a better option, but they absolutely aren't necessary to build either a stock or stroked 440 that would be a much more street and user friendly package than the current 383.

The only hurdle to doing the stroker/pump gas/906 head situation is you'll need to have some quench dome pistons made to allow you to build the motor with decent quench.

KB makes quench dome pistons for the stock stroke, but nothing like that for a tall deck stroker.

Aside from that, it wouldn't really be any harder to build than a stock stroke 440...... Except for some pretty minor notching at the bottoms of the bores for rod bolt clearance.

It will be a completely different animal than the 383 in the car now.

Wait a minute. Are you saying Porn Dog is wrong ? 

[ACUDANUT]

.

[PRH]

Keep in mind that no matter how well ported an iron head is, it will not flow enough air to support 550 HP. It will not flow enough to make HP past 5700 rpms.
If you are looking to get to those levels, you will need aftermarket heads.

That's some pretty funny stuff.

I'm not saying aftermarket aluminum heads wouldn't be a better option, but they absolutely aren't necessary to build either a stock or stroked 440 that would be a much more street and user friendly package than the current 383.

The only hurdle to doing the stroker/pump gas/906 head situation is you'll need to have some quench dome pistons made to allow you to build the motor with decent quench.

KB makes quench dome pistons for the stock stroke, but nothing like that for a tall deck stroker.

Aside from that, it wouldn't really be any harder to build than a stock stroke 440...... Except for some pretty minor notching at the bottoms of the bores for rod bolt clearance.

It will be a completely different animal than the 383 in the car now.

Damn funny stuff. I know PRH has done at least as well with 906 heads, but we only made 730 HP with the 906 heads after Comp Cams forgot to turn the water into our engine while it was on their dyno. It was with 15 bent valves and as much as 56% leakdown but at least it did make the 730 HP the following day.

Jim, I've never made even close to that power with 906's, but still quite few combos that were well above the 550hp number(10-20% higher), but that build you guys did for that magazine contest, dynoed on "neutral ground" was also one that popped into my head while I was thinking through the ones I knew of that made enough more than 550hp to show there was no question it can be(and has been, many times) done.

The first one I did was in 1990........ Made like 595hp...... 11:1, flat tappet cam, ported 346's.

[PRH]

Keep in mind that no matter how well ported an iron head is, it will not flow enough air to support 550 HP. It will not flow enough to make HP past 5700 rpms.
If you are looking to get to those levels, you will need aftermarket heads.

That's some pretty funny stuff.

I'm not saying aftermarket aluminum heads wouldn't be a better option, but they absolutely aren't necessary to build either a stock or stroked 440 that would be a much more street and user friendly package than the current 383.

The only hurdle to doing the stroker/pump gas/906 head situation is you'll need to have some quench dome pistons made to allow you to build the motor with decent quench.

KB makes quench dome pistons for the stock stroke, but nothing like that for a tall deck stroker.

Aside from that, it wouldn't really be any harder to build than a stock stroke 440...... Except for some pretty minor notching at the bottoms of the bores for rod bolt clearance.

It will be a completely different animal than the 383 in the car now.

Wait a minute. Are you saying Porn Dog is wrong ? 

Actually, what I was thinking when I read that was: "where do they come up with this stuff?"

[PRH]

As for something more pertinent to the OP's quest, I think in the long run you'd be money ahead to sell the ported 906's and buy some aftermarket aluminum heads.

The $$$ saved by not having to buy custom pistons, along with whatever you got for the iron heads would probably pay for the new heads...... And even if it didn't cover 100% of the cost of the new heads, you'd have a better motor in the end.

[Challenger340]

As for something more pertinent to the OP's quest, I think in the long run you'd be money ahead to sell the ported 906's and buy some aftermarket aluminum heads.

The $$$ saved by not having to buy custom pistons, along with whatever you got for the iron heads would probably pay for the new heads...... And even if it didn't cover 100% of the cost of the new heads, you'd have a better motor in the end.

Pay attention OP, very sound advice.

Ditch the 906's, go aluminum 

[c00nhunterjoe]

As for something more pertinent to the OP's quest, I think in the long run you'd be money ahead to sell the ported 906's and buy some aftermarket aluminum heads.

The $$$ saved by not having to buy custom pistons, along with whatever you got for the iron heads would probably pay for the new heads...... And even if it didn't cover 100% of the cost of the new heads, you'd have a better motor in the end.

Pay attention OP, very sound advice.

Ditch the 906's, go aluminum 

Agreed. The only time iron should be considered is in 3 scenarios.

1: nhra stock
2:nhra super stock.
3: 100 point show car.

[PRH]

I guess I feel like the iron heads have merit in a few other situations.....

-You have some that are already done and ready to go(like the OP)
-you can do them yourself
-FAST
-Super Car series
-PSMCDR series

[Challenger340]

 There are places, and people, who still want Iron Heads even today.... but it seems fewer every year ?
all the aforementioned.... and ad in
* resto guys ?

[birdsandbees]

There are places, and people, who still want Iron Heads even today.... but it seems fewer every year ?
all the aforementioned.... and ad in
* resto guys ?

... and if it ain't broke, don't fix it! 

[Lennard]

Keep in mind that no matter how well ported an iron head is, it will not flow enough air to support 550 HP. It will not flow enough to make HP past 5700 rpms.
If you are looking to get to those levels, you will need aftermarket heads.

That's some pretty funny stuff.

I'm not saying aftermarket aluminum heads wouldn't be a better option, but they absolutely aren't  to build either a stock or stroked 440 that would be a much more street and user friendly package than the current 383.

The only hurdle to doing the stroker/pump gas/906 head situation is you'll need to have some quench dome pistons made to allow you to build the motor with decent quench.

KB makes quench dome pistons for the stock stroke, but nothing like that for a tall deck stroker.

Aside from that, it wouldn't really be any harder to build than a stock stroke 440...... Except for some pretty minor notching at the bottoms of the bores for rod bolt clearance.

It will be a completely different animal than the 383 in the car now.

Wait a minute. Are you saying Porn Dog is wrong ? 

Impossible!  You must all be wrong! 

[heyoldguy]

There are places, and people, who still want Iron Heads even today.... but it seems fewer every year ?
all the aforementioned.... and ad in
* resto guys ?

And then there are the guys who have sons that say, "I don't care if everybody runs aluminum heads. Iron heads are allowed! I want them to see what we can do with ported factory 906 iron heads."

They saw.

[PRH]

Jim, what year was that contest?
Was it Mopar Muscle?
What were the criteria for the builds that year?

[PRH]

Perhaps we have scared the OP off

[funknut]

Jim, what year was that contest?
Was it Mopar Muscle?
What were the criteria for the builds that year?

Can't help with the rules, but here's Hot Rod's coverage:

http://www.hotrod.com/articles/mopp-1203-the-amsoil-mopar-muscle-engine-challenge/