Six Pack Question

I am relativly new to the Mopar family and I have a question about installing a Six Pack setup on a 440 Challenger. I plan on building a 440 over the next few weeks and I have considered going with the six pack. My question is, what else does the engine need internally for the setup to work right? The car will be a weekend driver and local shows. My plan is to bore a 1973 block .30 and go with forged pistons to get the compression around 10:1. The heads are stock 452 castings. The engine has a steel crank but I have been told that six pack rods aren't necessary for a street engine and that the lighter stock rods are fine. Is this correct? What cam specs? Is head work needed? I am also running a stock Trans. Is there a lot more that has to be considered for the six pack to work?  

I think you'll really like the Six Pack. I can't see anything wrong with your plans, except an actual 10 to 1 compression ratio with the 452 iron heads might be pushing it with todays fuel.
Personally I shoot for 9.5 to 1 comp. ratio with cast iron heads. The 452 heads are good heads. If you know how to do port work I'd suggest you do some work in the bowls and ports, especially if you're thinking headers.
I have two 440 Six packs that were built in the mid 90's and I went with Mopar Performance's hemi grind cam (.474 lift and 280 duration). Its a good cam, slightly hotter than stock. Although if I did a 440 today I'd look at what Comp Cams has available and even one or two other companys.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

P.S. If you're going with new carbs, based on my own experiences I'd suggest you go with the 1971 Carbs. I purchased a new set of the '69 to '70 carbs and they just wouldn't work right. Actually had to plug the vacuum kill bleeds (think thats what they are called) in the center carb to get the outboards to open at all. I sent them back and got the '71 carbs which work just fine.  

Thanks for the input!  

I agree with the 9.5 comp. plenty for a 440 in any street set up. My experience with 6 packs is this, lean.
To correct this is not that difficult.
Remove the centre carb, jet up two jet sizes. Install a 50 CC accel. pump if not so equipped. Also install a number .040 shooter with legs. You will think you have a totally different car after these carb up grades.
Mopar 474 cam is good but I would recommend the .484 for a weekened driver.
If your looking at anything else the comp. cam .507 is a great piece.
Doc