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Cam Suggestions 69 440 HP Motor

Hammer136

Hammer136

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Hello All, I just located a 69hp 440 motor with 906 heads steel crank. My shop guy will rebuild it for me doing all the machine work professional. Looking at dual plane intake The intake is and edelbrock performer intake. The cam and lifters are Mopar performance purple shaft 484 cam or 509. 69 heads that will get a triple angle valve job, hardened seat, and springs that match to cam. Does anyone have any suggestions on the build or cam. Looking to get close to 500 hp or over 500hp. Any Suggestions. 0.30 should I consider or ask. New Edelbrok 800 CFM carb.
 
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My guess is you would need a little head massaging and port work with the 906's to get over 500hp with a stock stroke 440.
 
I suggest Icon Piston Pt # IC9953.030 If you really need 500 HP don't waste any money on your 906 heads buy aluminum heads...
 
If you're having a "shop guy" rebuild it, then you don't need to worry about boring or honing. He will measure the current cylinder and "tell" you if it needs to be bored or not. Then get the appropriate pistons to keep compression around 9:1 with iron heads. Once he has pistons, he will hone block to match pistons. He should have told you this already. Agree w 1 Wild R/T about aluminum heads. But as for the pistons, your machinist will "tell" you if it needs std, 0.030, 0.060 pistons.
 
Thanks Guys, he has told me a lot he thinks the 906 heads will be fine. Im just inquiring if were on the correct path or if anyone has any new suggestions.Engine rebuild which includes: disassembly, reassembly, gaskets, rings, bearings, pistons, valve job, boring if necessary, hot tanked, freeze plugs, oil pump, cam and lifters, fuel pump, water pump, intake manifold, painted correct 69 orange. Also adding Hedman Headers and mini starter.
 
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Unported 906s wont be "fine" if you want 500hp, and certainly not with an "only" .500 lift cam. 415, maybe. If you really want 500hp, first step is a good set of aftermarket heads.
280cfm aftermarket compared to 220cfm 906, is a potential 120hp difference.
If i had to have 500hp, i wouldnt put 10 cents in a set of 906.
 
The 509 is not a good street cam, bad low end manners and low vacuum. If your looking for a mechanical cam the Mopar .528 works great. If you want a hydraulic I would consider a Comp XE series. Just put a comp XE275HL in my sons 440. Had it hardened first. Makes good power and vacuum .
 
Trickflow or Eddy heads get my vote before you spend $1500 in port work to get what a stock set of aluminum heads will flow.
 
One question for cam selection is do you have power brakes? I run the 509 cam and the vacuum is on the lower side.
 
Agree with everything said above, just finished my 440 build not too long ago. Very similar setup: stock stroke, .030 overbore, using ICON flat top forged pistons making 10.5:1 CR, Trick Flow 240s, Edelbrock Performer 440 intake, 930 CFM Holley double pumper, 1.6 Harland Sharp rockers.
IMG_7635.jpg


My bumpstick is the Comp XR274HR. Makes terrific vacuum and great power up to 5800 RPM. Idle sounds amazing. I would highly recommend this cam.

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I would also agree with the statements above about aftermarket heads. For the cost of fixing your old ones, you can afford new aluminum performance heads that flow WAY more and weigh a lot less than the iron heads. You won't regret it, trust me.

IMG_7074.jpg


Haven't even had it on the dyno yet but I can estimate I am making at least 550 HP and ~600 lb/ft torque on a basic carb tune.
 
Boy everyone goes aftermarket on heads... Me personally recommend calling Bob Karakasin, aka Mr. Six Pack. He has his own cams as well. He is an excellent man to speak with. He will not miss lead you. He is big in the pure stock racing, iron heads usually don’t require as much as you may think as long as the cores are good. Nothing wrong with a good forged set of six pack rods either just use ARP bolts. 440s can and will break 500 with iron heads if built right. I challenge ya! I have one waiting for the Distrubutor to get finished up and it’s got Bobs cam and it’s set up for pure stock.. Carter AVS and all 1970 stuff as much as possible with Bobs guidance . To each their own but I’ve seen others aluminum heads used on buddy’s cars and they haven’t been impressed. When the iron would have need a refresh.. Do what you want it’s yours but I’ll take the 906s out of your pile! Mr Six Pack was Tom Hoover’s neighbor and personal friend and was taught by Tom and grew from there... I’m personally against the aftermarket if they aren’t made here because it’s a loss to this country every time someone buys from China. Best of luck but don’t toss those in the scrap..
 
Thanks for the insight F4R/T interesting comments.
 
Your build is fine, but it won't make 500 hp.

906 heads can make 500 hp, but it will cost about the same to get the 906 heads there as buying aftermarket heads.

Measure the piston to deck height of your current pistons if you plan to use them. A lot may have happened since 1969.

I personally would use a solid lifter cam if you are seriously wanting 500 hp and decent street manners.

Consider the Performer RPM intake.
 
F4rt is building an engine for pure stock. He HAS to use 906s, you dont. New guides, big valves, new springs, new retainers for the larger springs, spring pocket work, valve job, you will have $1000 in the 906s, and they will still flow 225. Then spend another $1000 getting iron heads ported (more difficult and costly than aluminum) and you will have the price of (american made) trick flow 240s, and ill bet the 240s are still better.
I do agree with the recommendation for Bob Karakashian. He can sure make a pure stock (?) sixpack run! I would have no problem at all with a cam recommendation from him.
I would also consult Dwayne Porter, of Porter racing heads, PRH here. He also does camshafts.
 
Looking for confirmation vs looking for information....

 
I had a 509 in my 72 charger...it ran 12.5s at the track with ported 906 heads a 430 gear and holley 800 double pumper with holley sreet dominator intake. It was fun at the track but sucked on the street.. low vacuum hard to jet properly and just a dirty cam(imo). I just switched to an edelbrock cam pn 7194...not sure on the specs but so far it "seems "an improvement .
 
ZR9B said:
I had a 509 in my 72 charger...it ran 12.5s at the track with ported 906 heads a 430 gear and holley 800 double pumper with holley sreet dominator intake. It was fun at the track but sucked on the street.. low vacuum hard to jet properly and just a dirty cam(imo). I just switched to an edelbrock cam pn 7194...not sure on the specs but so far it "seems "an improvement .
Click to expand...

Take away the gear & see how it runs... Like every other Mopar enthusiast I ran a 509... Sounds great, With enough gear & compression it ran decent but there are so many cams that will out perform it and still have better street manners... I did try a set of Rhodes lifters & they made a huge improvement but the noise from the excess lash was unbelievable....
 
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