‘66 Barracuda
I appreciate the feedback.. I’m not planning on any racing.. just a classic car to drive around. But it would be nice to have a little extra power. Again thanks for the suggestions.. I’m glad to be part of the FABO family
A lil extra power ...... when?
1) Off the line, or
2) at 30 mph? or
3) passing power? or
4) All the time?
Each of these has a different solution, that yes, can be solved with a bigger engine. But only #4 demands it.
#1 starts with the Convertor
#2 Starts with gears
#3 is again gears, and a 4bbl, but a bigger engine is an good option
#4 demands a bigger engine, but if not big enough, then might still require a TC and gears to satisfy the requirements of 1 and 2
If you're gonna build an engine, the 360 is as cheap as a 318 to build, and cheaper than a 273. A stone stock 5.9 will kill about everything but a hi-end 360, for street use.
The problem guys run into, is trying to install headers into these early As. And without headers, you limit yourself to a power level that is more in line with what a 318 can satisfy. or a detuned 340. or a lo-po 360.
Of course each bigger stock engine will have a stronger bottom end, so that makes reusing the stall and gears you currently have, an easier decision to make.
But; you still have to look at what is going on at 30 mph and when passing, cuz some combos will force your engine into rpms that it could be dead in.
Therefore, I always look at the gears first.
Take 2.73s for instance, (with a regular Torqueflite)
at 60 mph, with a 77" tire roll-out (24.5 tall) the rpm is about 2450 cruising, at zero-slip. If you need to pass someone, and stomping it into second gear the Rs might rise to 3750 , not bad.
At 32mph the rpm in second gear is ~1750 cruising, so going hammer done is 3500 in first, also not too bad.
At take-off, the starter gear is just 2.73 x 2.45=6.69 a pretty small number. To parlay that into rapid transit will take a hi-stall TC or a lotta torque; as in a bigger engine.
With 3.55s
60=2920 @ zero-slip
Passing gear would be 60=4900 in second, and
WOT in first at 32 mpg might be 4400. And
the starter gear is 3.55 x2.45=8.70, or plus 30% over the 2.73s That's a lot! and that, plus 30%, will make your small engine feel a lot bigger than it did with the 2.73s
Now if you're on the ball, you will have figured out that the take off torque is directly related to the rear gear increase which is 3.55/2.73= plus 30%. So how can this be helpful?
Well, if your 273 makes 50hp at 2000rpm stall, that would be 131 ftlbs. Adding 30%, that would then be 170 ftlbs, which maths to 65 hp, and that is what it's gonna feel like!........ with just a gear change.
You can do the same by installing a bigger engine with 65hp at 2000rpm.
Or you can install a higher rpm TC that stalls at 65hp.
So you got like 3 choices right there.
