quote:Originally posted by pantera chris:
I don't have them, but I have 600 HP. So maybe don't claim these certain truths, people might believe them.
Wow 600 horse power? .turbo? blower?In the "Hot Rod Magazine" engine build off a Cleveland won it with 575 horse power and 553lb-ft and 10.84 to 1 compression, flat tappet Comp 251 / 255 @ 50 cam You must have a really built engine. this one has only 415 c.i. built by John Kaase racing engines. The stud girdles is cheap insurance.
I'm not sure where that hp number comes from? I personally have seen three iron 357's on the dyno that showed 550hp at 6500rpm. I don't remember the torque numbers.
I would expect them to be right around 500. Maybe 480, 490 @ 5,000rpm.
The 357's "Nascar engines" with the latest high port aluminum heads are in the 750 to 800hp areas. Those are dyno numbers, not imaginary. Granted, they are very high rpm engine and do not lend themselves well to a street car.
The current 289's (292) that are running in "Vintage Racing" are competitive in the 620 to 650hp area. If you can't make that then stay home, so I would say that the numbers showing in that particular engine competition are just standardized for their own purposes.
Also, if you can't turn 8,200 rpm consistently without blowing up, you don't belong out there.
I will also point out that big cube engines are about torque rather then just horsepower engines.
A good example is a 427 Ford in a Corbra chassis vs. a 289. Currently a 351c will make about 100 hp more then a vintage 427 BUT you will see the difference on the track with the 427 can just pull away at virtually any point that the driver can handle it.
The 427 CAN be difficult to handle because it will just break the tires loose at any point. The 351 is easier to handle because of that lesser ability. It locks in to a "groove" easier.
The 427's topped out at around 485hp in competition form in the Mark II GT40's. That is probably still where they are at now but don't tell the engine. It can still beat the tar out of you.
It is a 7,000rpm engine in that form. On a drag strip, that's a different animal.