BB Mopar, rings, compression, cam,ect

[Jaredb1]

I am having my engine freshened up and had a few questions on possibly upgrading some things. My current combo is
500"RB 4.375x4.150. 12-1 compression. Victor Max Wedge heads CNC ported by Hughes. Comp solid roller.
264-272 @ .050" on 110 installed 106. Hxl and hxx lobes.
.445 or .446 lobe lift. 1.6 rockers. Super victor intake, 1060 prosystems carb.
I have not had the heads flowed or measured but hughes advertises around 380@ .700. I will have them flowed and measured when everything is disassembled. I currently run consistent 9.90's @ 134mph. Car is 3460 with driver. 4.10 gear 28" tall tire. 4500 stall. I leave on the brake at 2800 though. That gives me the best 60'. I used to shift at 6000, I picked up a tenth by shifting at 6600. I hit the 7200 Rev limiter with 100 feet to go. Converter probably isn't right. Trap rpm's seem high.
On to the questions.
How much power am I currently making and at what rpm?
Do I have anything to gain with a cam change? I am limited to .750 lift because of short installed height of victor heads.

Would it be worth while to upgrade to je gas ported pistons with .043 rings? I beilieve I have 1/16 now. How much power is that worth? If I did change, should I increase compression? How much?
I would like to get this car into the 9.5 et range. Is that possible with what I have?
Thanks!

[V Remian]

My estimate would be that you have about 650 HP@ 6000-6200 rpm. A good running combination in my view. To get to 9.50 you're going to have to get close to 140 MPH. At the same weight, that means you need about 100 HP.

[Jaredb1]

Thanks for your response. I was guessing I needed a 100 -125 more power. I just got to figure out how to get there. I think I just got lucky on this combo. Lol

[rebelrouser]

I have a very similar combination in a 3200 lb car. I have the victor heads not cnc ported, my cam is .720 lift with 1.6 rockers, duration is about the same with a 108 lobe center installed heads up. total seal 1/16 rings, gas ported piston 12 to 1 compression two 750 AFB carbs and when it was fresh it ran 9.64@140 it is 4 years old now and runs 9.80's at 135mph I ran a 6.20 in the 1/8 109 mpg last weekend in good air. I have a 4.440 bore and 4.150 stroke. The gas ported pistons did not pick this engine up much last refresh. A vacuum pump helped it a little. On my combo the torque converter is really critical to making it run, I tried a couple that just blew the tires off at the starting line, and some that slipped too much at the finish. I was thinking about the Hughes CNC program for my heads this winter, do you have any info on how your heads ran before the cnc job?

[Jaredb1]

Yes. I ran for 4 years before the cnc port job. I ran 10.2's consistent with a best of 10.150. Best 1/8 mile was 6.3. After the head work I ran 10.0's consistently and 6.3's consistently. This was all shifting at 6000. Then I changes my chip to shift at 6600 . Now I run consistent 9.9's with a best of 9.77. 1/8 mile I dial in at 6.20. Usually run 6.22. Best of 6.189.

[PRH]

My suggestion is to have the cnc’d heads flowed locally and see how the numbers compare to the numbers on the website.
It might change your plan of attack.

Depending on where you race and what the typical air quality(da) is, I’d be looking to make about 825 std corrected hp to get to a 9.50@3460lbs.

In a nutshell though........ 14:1, gas ported, .043 top ring, vac pump, 280/288–110 cam, ported manifold, 56-5800 stall.

[V Remian]

Since your doing pistons anyway, I'd be tempted to roll/offset dowel the heads off the cylinder wall.

[gregsdart]

Anything you can do to reduce wieght will pay instant gains, guaranteed, and will last forever, and not stress your motor or driveline more. Compare that to the cost of another 50 to 100 hp.
A bigger cam will require a higher stall, and more compression to best utilize it. Shoot for about 6000 stall or more and 7000 shifts if you go with the cam i am about to recomend. If you want more power, i would go with an Isky rr735 rollercam. It is 278 at .050 intake, 288 ex and a 110 lsa. .486 lobe lift on the intakes for .735 gross lift with a 1.5 rocker. Your engine builder can tell you if he can set the heads up for the springs you will need. You will need good springs, rockers and pushrods. The springs should be a very good brand, like PAC, and be sure and use plenty of seat pressure. I run 340 on the seat, but buzz my motor 7500 rpm. I gained a solid tenth going from k1000h at 225 on the seat to comp 947s at 340 on the seat, with a 499 like your motor.
I made 847 hp with a 15/1 compression 528, indy 440-1 ported heads on alcohol, injected, using that cam. With your motor i would see what can be done to raise compression, 13/1 minimum with the isky cam to get good results.

[Jaredb1]

Thanks guys. It is definitely a heavy car. It's a street car, with full interior. I know I am playing with fire with this block. I don't want to throw a bunch of money in it, eventually it will fail. I plan on doing an aluminum block 572 build. Just trying to put it off for a while. This short block has seen a lot of street use and about 300 passes at the track. I am going to go to the aluminum main cap and girdle system from BCR. I will have the heads touched up and flowed by a reputable head guy as I move forward.

[gregsdart]

The last comment, this is a street car, throws my cam and compression suggestion out the window, unless you are interested in running race gas, or e85. Why not just run it as it is, and focus on the big motor? If you still want to press ahead with performance upgrades with this motor, I don't know how much benefit a cam change will make considering what your goals are. Porting is a decent move, weight reduction the best IMHO. If you can up the compression at all with the fuel you will run, that is a small help.