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Reply to "big block vs small block"

Steve,

To hit 460 cubes with a 351W block, you'll need a block that can be overbored to 4.185" inches. This is not your Ford production block, but a FRPP (Ford Racing) block, a Dart block, etc. The crank is the same crank being used in the more common 427 strokers, such as the one sold by PI Motorsports.

The common production 351W block is a thin wall casting just like the Cleveland, and production of 500 bhp is taxing that block pretty well. A FRPP or Dart block can sustain several more hundred horsepower without complaint, so a 460 cube stroker based on one of those blocks will not have relaibility issues associated with the engine block, or the reciprocating assembly.

The reason 460 strokers aren't more common is that most are based on the less expensive Ford production block. The rod angle is not a problem at street rpm levels, assuming a reasonable red line of 6500 rpm. Now if you were NASCAR racing with one, at 9000 rpm, you should expect trouble. The main problem with the extreme strokers is that the wrist pin passes through the oil ring groove which will create an oil burning issue.

And your last question, can the small block based stroker produce as much bhp as a big block engine of equal displacement, the answer is yes or no Big Grin. It will depend upon how much bhp the cylinder heads you use will support. My advice would be to put those C302 heads to use. There are off the shelf intake manifolds available to match up with those heads on the 351W block. Gary Hall is using C302 heads on the motor in purple passion. If you didn't already have the C302 heads, my advice would be the Brodix BF300 heads, those heads will support "mondo" amounts of bhp.

Your friendly neighborhood PIBB jockey, George
Last edited by George P
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