SKMFX Engines gets 519 hp stock stroke 360

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412 Stroker

412 Stroker

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Newest issue of Popular Hotrodding, has SKMFX Engines (from Canada) built a W2 headed 360 I think it was .040 over 360 block, 519 hp and 476 torque, the builder says he doesn't like strokers as they pound the crap out of the mains, can anyone confirm this?? I had not heard of this, how is this possible, I am new to the stroker stuff, I have heard some getting over 10,000 miles on thier stroker, to me thats seems good life, especailly if you pound on it. the way I drive my car 10,000 miles is like 5+ years as I only get to drive my duster about 2000 miles a year.
 
412 Stroker said:
Newest issue of Popular Hotrodding, has SKMFX Engines (from Canada) built a W2 headed 360 I think it was .040 over 360 block, 519 hp and 476 torque, the builder says he doesn't like strokers as they pound the crap out of the mains, can anyone confirm this?? I had not heard of this, how is this possible, I am new to the stroker stuff, I have heard some getting over 10,000 miles on thier stroker, to me thats seems good life, especailly if you pound on it. the way I drive my car 10,000 miles is like 5+ years as I only get to drive my duster about 2000 miles a year.
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That was a competition engine for the Engine Masters. Those engines usually see alot of detonation as they push them to the edge of destruction. Last year over half of the entries failed on the dyno!
I have not seen any evidence of strokers hurting mains unless there was something else wrong. The caps will walk more because of the added stress the extra stroke makes but it's not a problem unless you have detonation.
 
Thanks Brian I was hoping you would get in this, he did mention about the mains "walking" but I wasn't sure what that meant.
 
What I think that builder is getting to is the extra stroke creates extra torque and a lot of it in a low RPM range. Since the crank sits in the mains, that is where the extra "Stress" is handled. The "walk" he mentions is the caps moving around.

Cap walk is the issue, as stated above. MoPar's stock 2 bolt blocks can handle alot before theres any issue to worry about. If your looking to do something similar to your next build, a 4 bolt main block is something you may want to invest in. While they are expensive, this is only the entery fee to a long lasting engine. It pays for itself through out the years in the do it right, do it once thing.
 
Salty Dog, you are obviously a gearhead as your answer is right on.

Getting 10,000 mile from any engine isn't a good invested for any street engine I know of unless you've got a pocket full of green and an empty head.

That's just my take
 
Thanks Hot Lines. And yes, a gear head I am. Long time running. Back in the mid 70's, we did alot of racing. Once you get to a certain level and the stock parts start scattering and lay dead in the street/track, you save the money to step up. It beats sitting down and watching.

It is an ugly fee to pay. However, when you start to run fast, it is worth every penny scrimped and saved for.
 
Back in the mid 70's, we did alot of racing.
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Sounds like you had a lot of fun. I can say the same, only, it was the 80's. LOL.
 
10,000 miles isn't nothing, I be sick if I knew my engine was good for only 10,000 miles. Come on guys, I got over 4,000 miles on my rebuild 340 I got last summer. Got drive these cars, life is short, people used to drive them year round

Plain and simple, the SMB was not design for a 4 inch stroke crank. Maybe it can work, you would think in the crazy 70--80's if it was easy it would had been done. Supercharging what was in back then

least the guy is honest and says up front 10,000 miles is a normal life of a 4 inch stroke mopar, those pistons have very short skirts, pistons rock and rings lose their seal, 10,000 miles seems about right to me.

W2 heads are the way to go, why isn't eddy making them, IDK. Back in 1979 Hot rod got over 400 hp out of a W2 head 360 but it had only 8.5 to 1 compression. Was a factory fresh short block 360 that they put in the old hemi cam and W2 heads.
 
HotLines said:
Salty Dog, you are obviously a gearhead as your answer is right on.

Getting 10,000 mile from any engine isn't a good invested for any street engine I know of unless you've got a pocket full of green and an empty head.

That's just my take
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I guess I didn't word that correctly, 10,000 miles is NOT a good cost/mileage, unless you are only doing a 1/4 mile at a time, I recently read a post that they had over 10k on thier stroker, so I guess it all depends on how you drive/maintain your engine as to the life expectancy. I guess what i was getting to is if cap walk was such an issue like the builder was stating in his article, then we can expect a much shorter life out of a stroker??
 
Main studs would certainly help out. However, I think if your going to whack the HP level good, the 4 bolt main mention should be used. While there are guys running around in 500+ HP engines, racing them and then driving them home will shorten life a bit.

Edelbrock isn't going to make W2 heads, MoPar does, the issue I think would be licensing (SP!) I am just pissed MoPar doesn't offer Econo W2 heads anymore.
 
That hp in not unheard of with 346 ci small blocks...
I made 505 hp with ported X heads on a 346 ...I kept those heads after all those years...I'm going to let Dave "DRENO" use them until he decides what he want to do as far as a fresh bullet for his Cuda.Those heads have been on dozens of cars over the years and everyone of them has just flew.
So 519 hp with W2's is not a stretch...
 
Those X heads musta flowed pretty well.

What I would like to know is does the main girdle Hughes sells help with bearing cap walk? I am kinda disappointed that they did not incorporate one in my stroker build. The builder says it is not needed until about 550 - 600 HP and the thing has to be there before line boring the mains which they did on my build. Cheapskates!
 
I know they make stud girdles for BB do they make them for SB too? A girdle is a good idea if you have a stroker that you flog at the track...
 
airwoofer said:
Those X heads musta flowed pretty well.

What I would like to know is does the main girdle Hughes sells help with bearing cap walk? I am kinda disappointed that they did not incorporate one in my stroker build. The builder says it is not needed until about 550 - 600 HP and the thing has to be there before line boring the mains which they did on my build. Cheapskates!
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Girdles on SB's is a waste of money. If you get to the point of needing a girdle, you need a better block.
 
id sure in hell hope my 408 stroker will last more than 10,000 miles...530 hp, 510 ft lbs..that thing was expensive!! id expect about 50,000 miles...maybe more...
 
i dont think girdels are a wast of money it tyes them all to geather and makes a stronger pice??? it stops a lot of main walk which will make your block stronger . i personaly think its a good envestment even in a four bolt main block.
 
robert 68 cuda said:
i dont think girdels are a wast of money it tyes them all to geather and makes a stronger pice??? it stops a lot of main walk which will make your block stronger . i personaly think its a good envestment even in a four bolt main block.
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How does it tie everything together? It attaches all the main studs together....but unless it's part of the cap, or doweled to the caps, it does nothing. And it does not prevent main cap walk!
 
ou812 said:
How does it tie everything together? It attaches all the main studs together....but unless it's part of the cap, or doweled to the caps, it does nothing. And it does not prevent main cap walk!
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I agree.

If they were just triangulated to something. Like if they were ran down to the block itself or something. Or part of a removable deep skirt attached around the block?
 
412 Stroker said:
I guess I didn't word that correctly, 10,000 miles is NOT a good cost/mileage, unless you are only doing a 1/4 mile at a time, I recently read a post that they had over 10k on thier stroker, so I guess it all depends on how you drive/maintain your engine as to the life expectancy. I guess what i was getting to is if cap walk was such an issue like the builder was stating in his article, then we can expect a much shorter life out of a stroker??
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I think the key thing to realize about the statement of stroker life is that they is building a motor for the Engine Masters competition to be run on a dyno under certain rules.

Not building a motor for a street car under a customer’s parameters (rules). I get from Brian’s statements that these are VERY SPECIFIC built motors maxed out for this specific competition. Why wouldn't they, it's a competition.

The certain stroke combos that may work well or not well in this competition might entirely different outcome for an end user customer in his car.
 
Ok maybe I should start a thread on how many miles people have on thier strokers, anyone reading this wanna post up thier mileage??? I think it would be interesting to see what kind of mileage people are getting out of these things....
 
I completed my 416 stroker on March 27, 2011. So that's 5 1/2 months.

So far I have 1800 miles on it.

I don't get to drive it much. Mostly 2-3 mile errands on weeknights and weekends. But it's been to two all day track days with lots of laps at 100-130mph reaching 6000-6200 rpm for sustained periods. And I've took it to one autocross event which is just a lot of on and off stuff only like 50 second laps. I cruise at about 3700-4000 rpm at 75+ mph. Drove it on two 90 mile trips in 90-100 deg heat to race it and then drove home.
 
A typical 500HP stroker like we build should stay fresh for a min. of 50,000 miles. The only wear is going to be the bore and skirts like most common V8's. There will be slightly more wear because of the added stroke, but it should be minimal given the tall deck height and 6.123 rod.
Now if you drive the thing super hard, race it alot and street drive it everywhere it might wear out sooner...I would expect that with ANY engine not just a stroker.

Consistent oil changes, clean air filters, periodic lash checking and keeping it cool will make sure it will last a long time as with any engine but especially a performance engine. Good oil is also very important!!
 
ou812 said:
A typical 500HP stroker like we build should stay fresh for a min. of 50,000 miles. The only wear is going to be the bore and skirts like most common V8's. There will be slightly more wear because of the added stroke, but it should be minimal given the tall deck height and 6.123 rod.
Now if you drive the thing super hard, race it alot and street drive it everywhere it might wear out sooner...I would expect that with ANY engine not just a stroker.

Consistent oil changes, clean air filters, periodic lash checking and keeping it cool will make sure it will last a long time as with any engine but especially a performance engine. Good oil is also very important!!
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Great advice for any engine!!!!!!!

A lot of people give grief of the side loading, extra stress here and there, this and that. I believe the bottom line is, build it well, treat it right, it'll live a long time.
 
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