Recommend me 440 engine rebuild must haves

[NHRoadrunner]

Hi all,

I am having a 440 six pack built for my 1969 roadrunner.

I am looking to have a stock appearing engine. It's non AC.

What are some good parts to ask my rebuilder about? How are the stock looking aluminum heads? Any must have upgrades? Just want a stock sounding and appearing engine with some mild performance mods that's reliable.

It's not going to be judged.

 

[threewood]

440 Source heads are stock appearing once painted. Are you staying with exhaust manifolds?

 

[NHRoadrunner]

I think so, it seems like all headers require the inner fenders to be cut, unless you know of ones that work without cutting?

 

[TorRed]

I think so, it seems like all headers require the inner fenders to be cut, unless you know of ones that work without cutting?

With the possible exception of 'fenderwell' headers I've never seen this issue. TTI, Doug's headers are the preferred brands here it seems, but I'm also considering going with manifolds myself for originality and ease of everything that dealing with headers aren't easy about!

 

[RemCharger]

Hooker competition 1 7/8.

 

[BLK 68 R/T]

If your car has power brakes and if you are staying with manifolds or going with headers. Also aluminum or iron heads. Those 3 things will have the most impact on cam and piston choice.

Ultimately you need to decide how much power you want, budget and the look you want. And build accordingly from that.

 

[gkent]

A bone stock rebuild with bone stock parts and a mild cam would be absolutely fine if done by a good machinist and assembler.

block:
line hone is a good idea
squaring the decks and getting them straight is a must
a .030 overbore and new pistons and rings is almost a must
all new bearings
any builder will likely turn the crank.
have the engine balanced
a mild hydraulic cam will wake things up
a good roller timing chain and sprocket
A new high volume oil pump is a good idea.
A larger volume oil pan is a good idea - a stock style "hemi" pan has more volume than the stock 440 pan and isn't any deeper.
Use the hemi pickup as well - the tube is bigger and flows more.
Windage tray for sure.
heads:
stick with the iron heads with a good valve job.
new valvesprings to match the cam
You could stick with the stock style rockers but use new ones.
You definately want beefier rocker shafts - stockers are junk.
You'll like need new pushrods.
intake:
An aluminum dual-plane will look stock, reduce weight, add performance and allow the use of a stock air cleaner.
Carbuetor:
pretty much up to you
Exhaust:
You could stick with manifolds for this build. Good, well fitting headers aren't cheap. They give off a lot of heat in the engine compartment. The power gains aren't reflective of the cost for a stock or mild rebuild. If you go the header route you definately want ceramic coated or stainless.

You can upgrade many things above. Just keep in mind everything costs money and often the performance gains don't turn out being what you expected.

 

[furious70]

You'll likely have as much into rebuilding your heads as buying stealth heads and have less performance to boot.
IMO and experience a mild cam can just reuse the stock rockers and shafts. If you keep the OEM heads the pushrods should be fine as well.
Mild to me is less than .470 and 230* @ .050

 

[RemCharger]

^^^^

I've run LC 440s with 452s and 280/230 .480 comp cam and mopar 284 hyd, usually a low 13 high 12 type performance