Getting the most out of a low comp 440

You are going to need pistons no matter what.

The low compression 440 we built had good ring seal. It had been rebuilt with an overbore a short while back by an unknown party and all we had to do was rehone and install new rings. Worn bores, with taper and out of round, will give you an oil sucking pig. We tested a low compression 383 before we did the 440. Without rebuilding the bottom end, oil was dripping out of the breather onto the headers. So we attached 2' long 5/8 hoses to the breathers to get the oil out beyound the headers. At rpm, the blow by was so bad the hoses would stop drooping and extend out horizontally. The engine didn't make a great deal of power.

Spend the bucks for a slight overbore and install new pistons and rings. If you spend your time building this thing and it turns into bug fogger you'll be disappointed.

Plan for the future, bastardize this thing by milling .060" off the block deck, .102" off the top of the block, .100" off the heads and .197" off the intake to get everything to fit, you'll find that nothing will fit when you decide to up-grade to performance parts. Do it right the first time and this engine will out live three or four trucks. Take it from a retired pipefitter, welder and machinist.

It is however your choice to build it any way you want to.