73 Duster build named Fred

I'm running a stroked 340 (419) with a 727 trans and totally agree with some of the guys on here about running an aluminum head. With a 408 cu in motor you have to consider this is basically a big block. Stock heads ports will be way to small for the air that the bottom end will be wanting. I have Hughes Edelbrock heads with 2.08 intake, stage 3 porting and the car runs the quickest ET's when the car is shifted between 5800-6000 rpms. I'm running a Hughes flat tappet cam STL6468AS with 1.6 Hughes lifters with 264 deg duration on intake and .660" of lift, 13.0-1 compression. If I set the shift points at 6200 rpm the car runs slower. The head ports are still not big enough if your looking for higher rpm's. I am not, I always shifted my car at 5800 - 6000 rpm's and I get over 10 years on a motor easily, then I rebuild them to rebuild them. Use a good race oil. Driven GP1 or Brad Penn. Got my stroker set up from Ohio Crankshaft, Scat crank, Diamond pistons, Scat H-beam rods and Clevite bearings. I foot brake the car, no tranny brake. Regarding the transmission 727 is the way to go for durability, I always use Borg Warner clutches, over 20 years of racing with a mild motor on one transmission and currently have 7 years on the full race transmission that's in the car now. Going low budget is not always the way to go. Build it right the first time with quality parts and have years of happiness. I race with guys with 408's in the a body cars running a 904 to gain ET and most of them have to rebuild them once a year, because they are starting to slip at the end of the race season (car running 7.0 or faster in the 1/8 mile).