Great question to ask...I'm contemplating some changes in my own combo to optimize.
Here is what I have, a 360 street motor build using Hughes 3844AL cam (238/244 @0.050", 108 LSA). In my Diplomat coupe (3600lbs weight with me in it), re-worked OEM head castings, 9.8:1 static CR, 4k stall converter, 3.91 rear) my best ET was 13.13@103mph (the first and only outing so far). This pass was with a Holley Strip Dominator intake, so it did kill off some botten end torque...I have since gone back to my Performer RPM intake.
I built the motor with a 9.8:1 static CR as per Hughes' recommendations. They were right on the money, the cranking pressure ended up being right in the 165 psi ballpark. I run a pretty aggresive ingintion curve, 21 initial, 38 total @ 2K. Since this is primarily a street car I also run vac adv with a total of 55@ 3K (cruise speed/RPM). With this configuration I only run pump premium fuel (93/94 octane) and have never had any ping/detonation (right down to looking at plug porcelain deposits), so I think I'm all good there.
OK, so what's the story? Well, I think I should do better then 13.13 ET...the motor should be able to make at least 400 hp, heads flow
[email protected]", but given the ET and trap speed it actually looks like I'm quite a bit down in power. Keep in mind, this is a clean build, new everything (with the exception of crank/block). Still looking to do some cylinder leak-down testing, but rings should not be a problem.
Therefore, I think I have room to grow on the compression side of things. I will be pulling the heads to get a bit of a shave done, aiming for 10.5:1 bump, quite frankly I'm thinking I might actually get away with 11:1...
