440-6 Build: Opinions?

[ramblinn]

Desire to maintain stock appearance with a bit of idle attitude. Engine builder recommends XE268, but the new Hughes Whiplash cam is intriguing for its idle attitude tho I understand it is designed for low CR engines. Also considering the Voodoo 60303. Assuming about 84cc on the heads, target CR at around 10:1. Its going in a 70RR conv with pwr disks.

68 440 block
440source heads, comp 10deg steel retainers
Steel crank (out of 69 Imperial 440)
Comp XE268/Voodoo 60303/Hughes Whiplash
SRP 213455 flat tops
Scat 6760 rods
71 repro 6pak carbs
Stock (MP) rockers/arms
Stock manifolds, exhaust and iron intake
727, rebuilt and tightened up with Transgo kit
3.23 suregrip
2.5" TTI Exhaust
Hughes 2500 Stall TC

What think ye engine gurus?

[Chatt69chgr]

I'm thinking that the big limiting factor on the performance will be the intake and exhaust manifolds.  Sounds like the CR will be between 10 and 10.5 to 1 which would be good for the aluminum heads.  And the flat top pistons and cylinder heads would help achieve quench (assuming you achieve a 40-45 thou piston top to head clearance).  You would need to pay particular attention to the rocker to valve retainer clearance as this has been a problem for some.  Might consider beehive springs from Comp Cams.  Once you have firmly decided on the manifolds, you would need to consult the experts on choice of a cam.  Since the choice of a cam is dependent on how the engine breaths, the one change you might consider making would be a set of headers.  Then find out if the aluminum intake from Edelbrock breathes better than the iron one you have---if so then get one of those.  I do understand that you may have reasons that you want to keep the original manifolds.  I don't know about stall converter rpm choices.  I'm no expert so will be interested in what the real guru's have to say.

[ramblinn]

Thx for reply.  Yup, I realize the downside of stock manifolds but want to maintain stock appearance.