My truck has under 80k hopefully original miles. Runs great but it came with under 200HP.
Do I dear do a head shave to up compression to about 10-1 and do a CNC port job on the heads I have and
a mild/medium CAM to get around 400 or do a total rebuild? My normal normal is to over do everything
I like the sound of a forged crank and rods balanced etc.
Not looking to make a 500HP motor because I want normal reliability with reasonable HP.
What would you do?
Also anyone in North Texas that is the go to Mopar engine builder?
Thanks PG

 

That engine most likely has a deck height of .090"+. That would require too much milling to get the 10:1 cr you're looking for. You would need to deck the block to get rid of most of the deck height or buy a piston with a greater compression distance. Instead of cnc porting, I would put the money in set of aluminum heads.

 

Ok so it sounds like I need to do the full deal which I am fine with.
Is there a known very good Mopar engine builder in North Texas?
Who makes the best or close forged Crank shafts, Rods and pistons?
Are the Indy heads way better then Edelbrock?
Would something like this be a good choice?

Edelbrock 2087 Power Package Top End Engine Kit, Mopar 440 482HP

Thanks sorry for all the newby **** questions I just want to do it right one time. PG

 

That's a good place to start but I didn't look at the cam spec, with a truck like yours bottom end torque is going to be number 1! A 500 inch stroker kits that makes 500 and 600 foot pounds of torque as low as possible for as soon as possible it's going to be what makes your truck move.
I personally like trick flow 240 heads even for an application like yours, a 4.15 crank and lightweight custom forged Pistons, 700 grams or so, a mec flat tapet of 255 duration @ .050 or a roller with 245 duration @ .050 with .550 lift. Look under the hood you should have 3.55 gears or better. If you don't I will back off on the cam.
reason recommend custom pistons is all stock rebuild kits no matter if it's a 76 or a 69 come with the low compression 76-78 Pistons, forged or cast. 8 to 1 or less!!!! Plus most perf pistons come in 200 grams less than stock.
I have built 440s all over the place Klaze to boredom, hope to here more about what you want to do.
lowan

 

Nickens Brothers Racing..... Awesome Folks....
You can get a awesome build...

https://www.google.com/search?q=Nickens+Brothers+Racing&oq=Nickens+Brothe rs+Racing&aqs=chrome..69i57.9256j0j8&sourceid=chro me&ie=UTF-8

 

Thank you all for the info.
It will be a hard time waiting to get it the way I want it... PG

 

Sounds like a fun build... Keep us posted...

 

Just build for torque!!!!

 

If you don't howl all fore tires your going to pull the front end a foot off the ground! All you need is 500 to 600 ft lbds of torque download.

 

OK what are the tips for building torque? I understand stroking it out to 500 cubic inches might be the main way.
What are other suggestions?
Thanks for the help. PG