SMALL BLOCK

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Carbureted Engine Combinations and Power (John Myers – Vetteworks)

Engine combinations vary among almost every engine. Performance enthusiasts always ask.-."What engine combo works?" We’ve decided to write a summary of results for various combinations which have showed up in numerous publications related to V-8 engines. Most are Chevy but some may vary. Without a lengthy explanation here is some good info on a number of engine combinations and other performance related topics. Engine combos follow some important information concerning tuning.

Remember… Calculating Torque into Horsepower:

1 HP = 33,000 ft-lb./min (= 550 ft-lb./sec)  or    (1 Metric HP = 75 Kilogram- meters/sec)

      If Torque (Brake or corrected brake) = 325 ft/lb.,                                                  Horsepower (brake or corrected) =Torque x RPM                                                                                                        5252                                                           

Example: = 325 x 2000 /5252= 124 HP @ 2000 RPM                                                                                     (Torque = Force x Distance)                                                                              

 

Stock Compression -Standard Bore (4.030) 350 C.I. Chevy Compression Ratio With flat top pistons. See Chart below..                                                          
Head cc’s  - Compression Ratio

58                          11.0:1

62                          10.5:1

64                          10.3:1

68                            9.8:1

76                            8.8:1

We will begin by talking about air. In most cases, especially in the daily drivers and mildly modified Chevy’s, speed of the air entering your intake and the runners of your cylinder heads must be remain high. In this class of cars, dual plane manifolds, mildly ported heads and proper header size is essential. Without it, the fuel/air mixture has a good chance of dropping out of the main air path and onto the surfaces within the passage from carburetor to combustion chamber.

In addition to the air, carburetion should remain consistent with the volumetric potential of the engine. In other words, there’s no use running a carburetor capable of providing more fuel than your engine can burn. A Holley 850 just doesn't cut it on a mildly modified 350. Using a 780 would be about the largest application for the same engine in a highly modified – street driven car. The only instances that would benefit from anything larger than a 750 on a 350 or 383 would be if the cylinder heads, intake manifold and exhaust were paired with a radical cam to generate enough draw to require the added CFM of the carburetor. More capacity of the engine = more CFM = bigger carb.

Cams are intimidating when it comes to choosing one. All those big performance articles begin to contradict the real world when it comes to properly selecting a cam. As shown in some of the combos that follow, cams are'nt’t the key to a good strong engine. On the other hand, they help to bring the entire carb/manifold/head/exhaust arrangement into tune. If you don’t have the whole system working together, you may be wasting your time. Don’t pay too much attention to all the hype. Instead, read some of the publications written by the experts about small block Chevy performance. (See "Chevy Books" in the table of subjects in the Motor &Tech page.) Next time someone asks you how much lift your Cam has, tell them about the duration and how the other components are set up to deal with it. Lift is fine but if the duration is short, the lift doesn’t help unless you are running extremely high compression and large cylinder displacement.

Ignition is another topic commonly misunderstood. As outlined in the table below, ignition modifications rarely gain the HP expected. They may be capable of supplying a more than adequate spark but that only means that your engine will run like its supposed to. This is a good thing but to expect large performance gains from an ignition system would be fruitless. Also, many of the performance ignition wires on the market aren’t made to last as long as those that came with the vehicle. Make sure you buy good quality wires from an established manufacturer. Also, you should make sure that the wires are properly routed away from heat and objects which may draw the spark through the insulation. This is a very common detail that is often overlooked. In most cases it will lead to premature wire failure or arcing. Use wire looms if necessary. Another good idea is to buy the spark plug wires with the crimper tool so that you can cut the wires to the correct length and install the ends yourself. If you rely on a universal application you may end up with wires which are way too long and nearly impossible to route without running into something. (And looking like junk). Spark plugs should be appropriate for the engine and driving conditions. Don’t assume that the coldest plugs are best for high performance. With a properly tuned and component matched set up, one heat range hotter should be O.K.

Transmission/Stall Converter: Make sure your total timing comes in at the same time your stall converter stalls

1.) Engine 383 400 Crank - .030 over – 350 Block – 882 Cast production Heads – Comp Cams 292 Hydraulic 244 Duration, .507 In. Lift @ .050 – Edelbrock Performer RPM – Holley 750 – 1-3/4 in Headers

Dyno: Vacuum =9in/hg

Horse power      Torque         RPM

339                    330           5400

                           392          3800

Power good but poor torque at low RPM

¼ Mile – 13.15 @ 104.8 MPH

2.) Engine 383 400 Crank - .030 over – 350 Block – 882 Cast production Heads Comp Cams Dual Energy 275 219/229 Duration, .461/482 lift at .050 – Edelbrock Performer RPM – Holley 750 – 1-3/4 in Headers

Dyno: Vacuum = 14in/hg                                                                                                                                                 Horse power    Torque       RPM

328                   345            5000                                                                                               

                         408            3600                                                                                 

¼ Mile – 12.97 @ 104.7 MPH

3.) 350 .030 over (355) – Edelbrock Performer intake – Edelbrock Q-jet carburetor – 1-3/4 headers – 882 Heads (1.94/1.5 valves) – Crane HMV-266 cam (210/216 duration @.440/.454 lift)

Dyno: Vacuum = NA

Horse power      Torque         RPM

         285              332         4500

                             355         3500

¼ Mile – 13.78 @ 97.50 MPH

4.) 350  .030 over (355) – Edelbrock Performer intake – Edelbrock Q-jet carburetor – 1-3/4 headers –#6073 Edelbrock 70cc Aluminum heads (9.5 CR) – Crane HMV-266 cam (210/216 duration @.440/.454 lift)

Dyno: Vacuum = NA -

Horse power       Torque          RPM

          339             356           5000

                             395           4000

¼ Mile – 13.14 @ 103.2 MPH

5.) 350  .030 over (355) – Stock iron heads – GM HEI distributor – cast iron exhaust manifold – Cast Iron manifold - Q-jet carb

Dyno: Vacuum = NA

Horse power            Torque         RPM

       278                     292         5000

                            343         3500

¼ Mile – 13.99 @ 96.05 MPH

6.) 350  .030 over (355) – Stock iron heads – GM HEI distributor – cast iron exhaust manifold – Performer Aluminum dual plane manifold (P/N 2101) - Q-jet carb

Dyno: Vacuum = NA

Horse power                  Torque                 RPM

      293                            308                    5000

                                        346                    4000

 

¼ Mile – 13.84 @ 97.5 MPH

7.) Points vs Electronic – 5.7 GM Crate motor  5.7 GM crate motor – 9.5:1 Corvette aluminum heads – Crane HMV 272 Cam – Edelbrock Performer Manifold – Holley 750 Carburetor – 1-3/4 Headers – Turbo Mufflers

                          RPM   2500       3000          3500          4000         4500           5000         5500

New single point            346         355          364          *370          363             334          298

New HEI                         343         354           360          *369          359            335           303

New MSD Electronic       345         357           363           *367          360            335          303                                   distributor w/6AL box and Blaster 2 coil

* = Peak Horsepower

8.) 350 (Rocker/Roller differences and Engine Combo) 1.5 Inch Rockers vs 1.6  .030 over (355) – pocket ported 882 cast iron GM heads (9.1:1 CR), Weiand Dual Plane Intake – Holley 750 – 1-5/8 headers

Crane Roller Rockers      RPM 1.5" Rocker HP 1.6" Rocker HP + Gain

                                            3250               221               218      -3

                                            3500               240               237      -3

                                            3750               263               257      -6

                                             4000               280               283      -3

                                             4250               302               303      +1

                                             4500               316               317      +1

                                             4750               324               336     +12

                                             5000               345               347      +2

                                             5250               346               354     +8

                                             5500               350               364     +14

                                             5750               351               353      +2

                                             6000              334               343      +12

1.6 Rockers + .02 ET and .20 MPH improvement in ¼ mile

9.) 350 - Standard performance engine - Cast 1.94 I/1.5 E 76cc, 9.5:1 Compression ratio heads - Cast iron Intake - Q-Jet carburetor - 1-5/8 Dia. Headers - MSD distributor - 38 deg total mechanical advance - 3896929 Chevy cam with 258/268 duration at .050 lift: .390/.410

RPM        Horsepower            Torque  

3500         250                         375

5000         294                         280

10.) 350 - With cam and intake system modification (A)  - GM cast iron heads - 1.94/1.5 valves , 9.5:1 compression ratio, 76cc combustion chambers - Edelbrock Performer Intake manifold - Holley 650 CFM carb. - 1-5/8 headers - MSD Distributor - 38 degrees total mechanical spark advance - Cam = R.T. TM252 252/264 Duration - .430/.450 lift @ .050

RPM        Horsepower            Torque  

3750         280                         392

5000         317                         333

11.) 350With cam and intake system  modification (B) - GM cast iron heads - 1.94/1.5 valves , 9.5:1 compression ratio, 76cc combustion chambers - Edelbrock Performer Intake manifold - Holley 650 CFM carb. - 1-5/8 headers - MSD Distributor - 38 degrees total mechanical spark advance - Cam = R.T. TM264 264/276 Duration - .450/.470 lift @ .050

RPM        Horsepower            Torque  

3750         277                         388

5250         337                         337 (no typo) 

Note: Cam duration brought the horsepower curve up and kept it there longer but torque suffered lower down the RPM band

12.) 350 - Modified - GM   "492" cast iron heads w/ 2.02/1.6 valves, 64 cc Combustion chambers, ported w/ three angle valve job - 11:1 compression Ratio - Holley 300-36 Intake - Holley 750 Carb - 1-5/8 headers - 38 deg. Total mechanical spark advance - Comp Cams 292H, 292/292 duration - .501/.501 lift @.050

RPM        Horsepower            Torque  

4000         298                         391

6500         403                         326

Note: This is a high performance street set up with a cam which works better in the higher RPM range.  The longer Duration of the cam cause the Torque to suffer significantly at lower RPM.  Higher compression causes mid range torque to come up quicker.  A dual plane manifold would make this set up more suitable for the street.  Idle would be a bit on the rough side.

13.) 350 - Modified Tuned Port Injection -GM "492" cast iron heads w/ 2.02/1.6 valves, 64 cc Combustion chambers, ported w/ three angle valve job - 10:1 Compression Ratio - TPIS Modified manifold, runners and plenum, stock throttle body with air foil screens removed from M.A.F. sensor - Magnum PROM - 1-3/4 headers - TPI Hydraulic cam - 278/286 duration - .490/.510 lift @ .050

RPM        Horsepower            Torque  

4250         340                         420

4750         356                         394

Note:  As with many TPI setups, high end horsepower takes a hit because of the long plenum.runner system of the TPI engines.  On the other hand, you'll get plenty of low end torque as a trade off.  Definitely a fun setup for the street.  Count on steady power until about 5000 RPM.  After that is when the TPI begins to suffer.  Engine throttle response is also a good trait of the TPI.

14.) 350 - Modified with TPIS Mini Ram - GM 492 cast iron heads w/ 2.02/1.6 valves, 64 cc Combustion chambers, ported w/ three angle valve job - 10:1 Compression Ratio - TPIS Mini Ram stock throttle body, stock throttle body with air foil screens removed from M.A.F. sensor - Magnum PROM - 1-3/4 headers - TPI Hydraulic cam - 278/286 duration - .490/.510 lift @ .050

RPM        Horsepower            Torque  

4750         344                         380

5750         400                         366

Note: Obviously the Mini Ram made up for the decreased air flow of the TPI system.  Here a gain of 44 horsepower was traded off for 40 lbs. of torque at the lower end.  The RPM band also jumped up 1000.

15.) 431 H.P. 383 - Brodix -8 Cylinder heads with 2.02 I/1.6E valves, 68 cc Combustion Chambers - Manley pistons (49453) - 5.7 in. Connecting rods - Edelbrock Performer manifold - Holley 750 Carb - 1-3/4 headers - MSD Ignition - 36 degrees total mechanical spark advance - Competition Cams special hydraulic roller - 280/286 duration -.525/.560 in Lift @ .050

RPM                Horsepower            Torque  

4000                   344                         452

5000/5500         431                           429

Note: The 383 offers excellent torque due to its increased stroke.  In addition to this, the quick valve action due to the hydraulic roller provides adequate valve opening during the shorter duration of the cam. 

16.) 626 H.P. Supercharged 350 - Dart II cast Iron Sportsman heads with TRW 2.02 intake and 1.6 exhaust valves - ported and polished - 68 cc chambers - TRW Forged (L2441F-30) Supercharged pistons - Weiand 6-71 blower - 2 Holley 600 CFM Vacuum sec. carbs - 1-3/4 headers - MSD Distributor - 32 degrees total spark advance - 9% overdrive - 10 lbs boost - Comp Cams hydraulic roller 286/286 duration - .560/.560 lift @ .050

RPM        Horsepower            Torque  

5200         569                         575

6000         626                         548

Note: All I need is a car to put it in.  Don't forget about the drive train for this set up!

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