What kind of budget do you have ??, that will be a very large factor... How much engine building experience do you have ??, do you want a bolt on, using std. style parts with stock style valve train components, out of the box type set-up ??, or do you want to piece meal a build ??, do you want a complete kit or piece it together yourself ??, Do you want Aluminum or Cast Iron ??, Do you want the most HP/TQ ??, or the best bang for the buck ??, what is the intended purpose/usage ??, do you want stock appearing or do you care ??, do you want angle plug heads or straight plug heads ??, is it just a street/strip car/build ??, or an all out race car or something in-between ??, what other improvements/modifications have been done to your 440 ??, what type of camshaft do you plan on running ??, do you want to reduce the overall weight ?? "to help with overall performance & handling", do you want better weight distribution ??, if you answer "yes" on the last couple of questions, you should go with alum. heads & build around them, match the HP/TQ needs compression style of pistons/compression, valve springs, retainers, locks, lash-caps, push-rods style/length, rockers styles ratios/shafts etc... There are many, many threads already on this subject,
on here & other forums like
www.MoparMuscleMagazine.com ,
www.DodgeCharger.com , the dreaded
www.Moparts.com , Also there are many companies, making decent head products for BB/RB-Mopars now... Edelbrock has 3 diff. affordable alum. versions, Mopar Performance has many types/styles & materials in many price ranges, Stealth has 2 different alum. versions, Brodix has several diff. versions from mild to wild, Indy Cylinder Head Service has a handful of diff. versions in many diff. forms, even the old Bull Dog heads are out there still, if you look hard enough... There are many factors, compression, combustion chamber size, materials cast iron or aluminum, raised exhaust ports or std. ports, Max Wedge ports or std. intake ports, raised intake ports with long valves, special Hemi Conversion heads like
www.StageV.com, some need pricey special rockers & valve train components, some use stock style valve train components, some have external oil systems, some have std. oil thru the rocker shafts oiling, some have oil thru the push-rod oiling, some require special pistons or minimum 13:1 compression for optimum performance, some can use stock type flat tops, some require a different quench area, some need to need specific style of domes for high compression & or valve reliefs, some require special Intakes &/or Exhaust Headers/manifolds, some will accept std. style intakes &/or exhaust manifolds, some are very pricey, some are very affordable... As you can see there is large a gamut of choices & decisions to make, it's hard to make a recommendation with out allot more information, good luck & do you research/due diligence, be honest & very specific on your wants/needs/budget, when talking to the experts like, a guy from here
HeyOldGuy or
IQ52 on some other forums also,
LaRoy Engines in Challis Idaho ask for Jim LaRoy, he's a great professional MOPAR engine builder & great head porter, Ray Barton Racing Engines,
Mancini Racing, Indy Cylinder Heads or Brodix, it will help to narrow down the choices very quickly... I can tell you I prefer Edelbrocks or Brodix, but if my combo is completely diff. than yours, that won't do you much good, they all have some redeeming qualities... The most affordable versions are good bang for the buck are
Edelbrocks new E-Street alum. heads $780 pair, Edelbrock Performer RPM alum. heads $1580 pair, Edelbrock Victor either in Max Wedge or std. port configuration all 100% American Made,
Stealths std. port or Super Stealths
starting at $790 {both foreign made/castings},
Indy EZ or SR kits
$2000+ also American Made, they are far more money than the Edelbrocks or Stealths but some think they are better even after porting... Once you port any of the many makes/brands of heads mentioned here, it completely changes the flow capabilities, they need to be matched to your specific combination & needs, with what ever modifications you need to make them work...
