Feel like my 440 should be faster

Just did a 360la to 440 swap and honestly thought the 440 was going to be quicker.

Had to cancel my dyno tune appointment tomorrow due to snow. Was wondering if you all see anything that stands out as a weak spot in the build that could be hindering power?

Running 19 initial, 37 total, vac advance, have the curve setup how I want it.

Haven’t touched the carb, Quick fuel said go down 1 jet size (I believe) for every 1,000’ of altitude and I’m at 5,400’ but the plugs look good to me, medium tan color

Everything is brand new:

9.38.1 compression (calculated)
Bored .030 over with Speed Pro forged pistons and moly rings
Completely balanced
Cam and crank tunnels align honed
452 heads stock unported with Howard’s springs specs for the cam
New cam bearings
Howard’s Roller .530 lift, 235/243 dur, 103 CL
Howard’s roller lifters
440 Source roller rockers
Custom Smith Bros push rods
Aluminum 440 source water pump housing and pump
Carter street super m6903 fuel pump
Melling standard oil pump
Edelbrock Performer RPM intake
Quick Fuel Slayer 750cfm carb, vac secondaries, 1” spacer
Lokar stainless braided throttle cable
K&N air cleaner
CVF serpentine system
Stock ignition box and ballast
MSD coil
MSD spark plug wires
Schumacher Tri Y headers
Schumacher engine mounts
Pypes 2.5” stainless exhaust with Street Pro mufflers
Hughes 2500 stall converter
3.23 gears
727 reverse manual valve body


I’ll start off with two simple things.

You say the timing curve is where you want it. Is that what the engine wants? I doubt that.

To that end, it’s more difficult to get the correct timing curve on a wheel dyno. If it is just an inertia dyno it’s very hard. If it’s an eddy current dyno then you can load the engine down properly and set the curve.

It’s like sausage making but it’s how you get the curve dialed in.

The other is plug color. If it’s medium tan it’s medium rich at least.

If you have enough ignition the plugs should be dull white with an .080-.120 wide ring around the bottom of the porcelain where it meets the shell of the plug.

I didn’t read any further than that.

Edit: your converter is at least 1000 rpm too tight. At least.