My first 440 , help me

I have inherited a dodge charger, 1970, stock 440, 727 transmission.  I am thinking about a mild upgrade to the engine intake system

I am considering an Edlebrock performer intake and a Thunder series AVS 650cfm carb. 

Next step will be 1 7/8 inch headers.

this is my first project car and I would appreciate any suggestions about the best manifold/carb combination for this engine.  It will be a street car not raced but I would like to learn about improving the performance and this seems like a good place to start. 

Thanks in advance.

Lance; your 440 will like the performer intake and headers. You should use a 750 or bigger carb, if you have room to clear the hood the performer RPM would be a better choice.  

i've been a mopar freak for 19 years, and a motor head for nearly the same time. so trust me when i say goatheat is wrong the 440 will loath that performer rpm. your stock cam power band is from idle to about 5500 or 6000 rpm. the performer rpm loves 2000-2200 and up to 5500. so there will be a lag of power from idle up to 2200 or so. so unless you have a stall converter that intake wont help you. so go with the performer there rated from idle-5000 so thats instant power when you stomp the pedal. but as far as carbs go goatheat is right the 440's love 750 double pumpers. nothing bigger cause it will cost you horse power.

                                     Arron "72 mopar 65" C.

Lance:
Goathead is "Right" the performer RPM and 1 7/8" headers will perform quite well with your combo. I have a 383 motor with the same combo of Intake, carb and Headers... it has so much low end torque that I chirp the tires each time I leave a stoplight. The Performer is a great dual plane manifold not a single plane, so the torque on the low end will be good, besides you have about 480 ft/lbs on tap, so don't worry.
Mike  

Your dope if you think the RPM will hurt his 440s performance !! I have been running Mopars for over 33 years and I have the RPM on a 440 right now, It loves it !!!! The 440 also loves 850 CFM and more!!!  

 no offence but if you would have read the question. he said he has a "STOCK 440". stock cams are from idle and up on the power bands. performer rpm is 1000 rpm power band over stock. so unless he puts the rpm cam or one with the same power band there will be a power lag from idle to the power band. you dont mix racing parts and expect stock stuff to put out all the power potential. you have to match: 2000 to 2000 or 3000 to 3000. not stock to 2000.  

At the risk of enciting an argument, I would like to enter another voice into the argument.  The intake manifold is one of several components that can be changed even on an otherwise stock engine, and inprove performance.  The issues in power production for an intake manifold involve airflow (both volume and rate), and mixture control.  If you can increase these, the engine will make more power.  If you would look at the Performer RPM, you will find that the flow numbers are above the factory intake at all levels.  Its ability to maintain fuel atomization is also positive.  While it is indeed more effective between 2000 RPM's and 6500, it outperforms the factory cast intake at all levels and so even for a stock engine, one will see an increase in tork.  The added benefit is that when (for a Mopar fan, it is never if) a cam is added, the intake side is ready.   

Thank you Paul well said!  

Well the 440 I had in my 69 Charger a lot people considered it DETUNED for it had a .528 lift int.  312 (242@.050)dur.  .552 lift exh. 322 (252@.05.)dur. hydralic cam. It had 346 heads template ported 11.1 compression 2 1/8" headers torker 2 intake and a 750 holley pro searies carb. At its fastest it went 11.53 with the holley. Then I got smart and got an 825 Race Demond and ran average 11.30's with a low et of 11.18@118mph.  

Spend time on the motor first,learn it.Do not throw money at it until you learn how to enjoy it.File the rough spots at the gasket surface on the stock manifold throw some adjustable lifters in it w/ some higher ratio rockers and learn how to tune the heads by getting some adjustable rocker nuts.You will find that once you have mastered the tune on your valves that your powerband will grow as well as your redline,then figure out your ignition,be it MSD w/points or ???These types of things will get you ready for more power and help keep all of the people behing you from chocking on the overcarbed carbon infested fume puffing monstrosity most rides are becoming (atleast in my city).Be smart and tune first,the rest is the easy part,,,  

rob, sounds like the lunati 305 voodoo cam, split lobe, fast ramp,.533 intake .552 exh, duration at 242 int. 252 exh, agree, ecxcellant cam, I would also look into the weiand line of intakes.  

? paul your suppose to start at the bottom end making it strong and light not from the top down bro.I luv this room  

heh, robs a liar  

yeah, I know, just firing up a funny old thread  

312 intake duration and 322 exhaust with those at .050 duration #s and lift?  im the pope, jeez