The bottom line is....... making 500-550hp from a std stroke 440 really isn’t that hard at all.
You just need “enough” of the basics.......
-flow
-compression
-cam
-carb
-intake manifold
-header
That performance level has been achieved from relatively basic combos for over 30 years.
The main difference 30 years ago was, there were no affordable aftermarket performance replacement heads.
So, someone had to rework some iron to get there.
In 1990, my old 9.7:1 448 made 535tq/535hp with mildly ported big valve 906’s(first heads I “ported”), RB SSH-44 cam, Torker 2, 850DP Holley, Hooker 2” headers.
A few years later, after I had bought my first flow bench, I got the chance to test my handy work.
Only about 240cfm.
That combo went low-11’s at 121+@ 3600lbs back in 1991/92.
Now, you can buy way better heads for pretty cheap money.
These days...... as back then....... the combo itself is the most important part of the puzzle.
