440 Camshaft recommendations for up to 6-6,500 rpm?

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BullyDodge

BullyDodge

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Purchased this Dart with a 440 with a Mopar purple for idle to 5,800 (as per the engine shop). Was thinking of going with something to get me into the 6-6,500 range. I know that will sacrifice a smooth idle and depends on heads and valve train. Specs on head and valve-train when I bought them are:
915 heads port and polished,
105# at installed height 1.80
300# at 1.25 .550 lift
coil bind 1.10
good to .600 lift
I an not an expert on these calculations. Any suggestions as to what would work best to get me into a higher rpm zone? Purpose = street and informal timing at airport strip.
 
I'm not a big block specialist but a couple questions come to mind first off, what is your rear end ratio, #2 automatic or 4-speed,#3 carburation and manifold setup #4 will it be Street driven and what type of Cam flat tap it roller?
 
.550 lift will get you well past 6500. What duration figures?
 
BullyDodge said:
Purchased this Dart with a 440 with a Mopar purple for idle to 5,800 (as per the engine shop). Was thinking of going with something to get me into the 6-6,500 range. I know that will sacrifice a smooth idle and depends on heads and valve train. Specs on head and valve-train when I bought them are:
915 heads port and polished,
105# at installed height 1.80
300# at 1.25 .550 lift
coil bind 1.10
good to .600 lift
I an not an expert on these calculations. Any suggestions as to what would work best to get me into a higher rpm zone? Purpose = street and informal timing at airport strip.
Click to expand...


I'll give you 2 cams i've run in my 440's that have mild idles and peak at 5,800 and 5,900 respectively on the same dyno.

[email protected], .557 lift, 112LSA Mild idle. Made peak power at 5,800RPM 467hp, 514ft. lbs.

[email protected], .650 lift, 112LSA Medium idle. Peak power at 5,900RPM 602HP, 575ft/lbs
 
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roccodart440 said:
I'll give you 2 cams i've run in my 440's that have mild idles and peak at 5,800 and 5,900 respectively on the same dyno.

[email protected], .557 lift, 112LSA Mild idle. Made peak power at 5,800RPM 467hp, 514ft. lbs.

[email protected], .650 lift, 112LSA Medium idle. Peak power at 5,900RPM 602HP, 575ft/lbs
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That second cam is definitely making the engine happy. Same approx. peak RPM, but almost 130 more HP & 60 more torque.
 
the 590 purple or something similar .
557 could be all the head would make use of.
it takes good heads and a big cam to make power with a 440 @ 6500.
6500 would be a good shift point with the right cam.
 
fishmens67 said:
the 590 purple or something similar .
557 could be all the head would make use of.
it takes good heads and a big cam to make power with a 440 @ 6500.
6500 would be a good shift point with the right cam.
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The thing about an RB engine is you don't need to spin it to the moon to make good power. I prefer to keep the R's at 6K or below. With the longer stroke, just think how fast that piston is moving & the stress. Just my opinion, of course!
 
Ricks70Duster340 said:
The thing about an RB engine is you don't need to spin it to the moon to make good power. I prefer to keep the R's at 6K or below. With the longer stroke, just think how fast that piston is moving & the stress. Just my opinion, of course!
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I know, I'm just replying to the OP . I don't believe he can make power at 6000-6500 with a ported 915. BTDT
 
The whole combo determines where the peak power will occur.
If you’re looking for peak power in the 6000+ range....... you need all the important items capable of supporting it.
For example, a big cam in an otherwise stock 440 isn’t going to peak at a really high rpm.
 
Don't forget too, you should be looking at net lift (minus lash) if you are really looking to be accurate.
 
33IMP said:
Ive got a .557 purple shaft solid in my 440. It will rev to
6500, no problem .



It's a bunch faster, shifted at 5900.
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revving to 6500 isn't a problem. making power at is .
If I was making peak power at 6000, I'd shift at 6500
 
It seems to me that people forget that a 440 is a big block with a small block cylinder head on it. 440 magnum was rated at 375 hp at 4400 rpm. The six packs were rated 390 at only 4700! Without SERIOUS cylinder head improvement, it wont matter what cam you put in it, it wont make power at 6500, maybe not even at 6000.
 
33IMP said:
It seems to me that people forget that a 440 is a big block with a small block cylinder head on it. 440 magnum was rated at 37t hp at 4400 rpm. The six packs were rated 390 at only 4700! Without SERIOUS cylinder head improvement, it wont matter what cam you put in it, it wont make power at 6500, maybe not even at 6000.
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The factory rating was quite underrated. The stock 440 HP made closer to 425, and the 6 pack 450. Any engine can benefit from breathing improvements!
 
My stock bottom end 440-6pack motor, Team G, 850DP, ported BV 906's, approx 260cfm .650"/.650"[email protected] sft cam, made 527fwhp and pulled 6700 in the traps with slip still pulling with 4.88's/14x32's back in 1990.
 
Ricks70Duster340 said:
The factory rating was quite underrated. The stock 440 HP made closer to 425, and the 6 pack 450. Any engine can benefit from breathing improvements!
Click to expand...

I've not seen unbiased dyno numbers on the big blocks, but there have been plenty on the 340 and they were pretty close to their advertised power.
 
Ricks70Duster340 said:
The factory rating was quite underrated. The stock 440 HP made closer to 425, and the 6 pack 450. Any engine can benefit from breathing improvements!
Click to expand...
The evidence I've seen points to the 4v motor making close to the rated hp. The 6 Pack maaaybe? slightly underrated. 340 and Hemi probably underrated. 318 at 230 hp is overrated.
 
K.O. SWINGER said:
I'm not a big block specialist but a couple questions come to mind first off, what is your rear end ratio, #2 automatic or 4-speed,#3 carburation and manifold setup #4 will it be Street driven and what type of Cam flat tap it roller?
Click to expand...
3.23 rear diff, auto 727, edelbrock AVS2 800 cfm, edelbrock performer RPM, flat tappet.
 
Off subject but any well tuned 68 through 71 340 was good for 300 horses with factory exhaust manifolds with headers 325 easy. six pack and get another 20 horses some tests show even more.
 
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