Drivers/Racers - 4 Speed Driving Lesson Required
Would I see a big difference if I made it into a 390 stroker?
That's a loaded question;
Of course you would see a big difference......... but to what end?
I don't read anywhere that you are complaining about the current engine.
An average of 140 is NOT the end of the world, that is pretty stock for a 318LA. At the pressure your current engine should be easy to tune for 87E10.
XE262H which has 262/270 duration and a 462/470 lift. The specs have an operating rpm range of 1300-5600.
This cam in your engine, if it has headers and a free-flowing exhaust, installed right, might have peak power at 4800;
but the power curve at 4800 will be long and flat, which is why the operating range is listed so high. If you short-shift at 4500 or even 4800, the rpm drops into the basement, "off the cam" and she will struggle to get back up on it. With a power-peak at near 4800, the torque peak will be around 3300, so for fast ET, you want the rpm to stay above that ....... at the least.
Thankfully, the A833 makes this easily doable.
However, in your case, with the long relatively flat power curve, you can stretch the rpm out quite a ways and take advantage of coming into the next gear with more power.
The 1-2 split in the Regular A833 is 72.2% meaning that at whatever rpm you shift into Second, the Rs will drop to 72.2%. So, if you outshift at say 5400, then it will in-shift at 3900. and ...... the outgoing power my be equal to the incoming power, which will usually give you the highest average power thru that gear..... so that is what I do when I'm looking for the quick way.
For a streeter it doesn't usually matter much in first gear, cuz the tires are spinning the entire time anyway. But again, in your case, I think your modest 140psi will not get it done. So then, it is the right thing to do.
If you do this, with ALL 4 barrels open, ALL the way, then you should see a Big improvement in performance with the current engine.
So therefore, for you, at this time, I would give your combo another chance.
To get off the line in a hurry just takes practice.
Rev it up to 2400 and start giving it some clutch. As soon as you do that, the Rs will want to fall, so quickly, give it more gas to keep the revs close to 2400, and simultaneously keep feeding it clutch. Continue until the clutch is out all the way, and the gas pedal is floored. Then hang on cuz the 1-2 shift is coming up in a hurry.
As you get more proficient at this, you can try higher rpm at zero-mph, say 2800 and then 3200. Sooner or later the tires will want to spin, so back up a couple of hundred rpm, and practice that for a while.
On the shift into Second, there is no slipping required.
As a newbe; for low-ET;
you will simultaneously back out of the throttle, push down on the clutch pedal until the freeplay is gone, then another inch or maybe two, and rip the stick back into Second. These three actions must take place simultaneously but milliseconds apart in the right order.
I highly recommend not to practice this with the engine off, cuz there is no way to know how your Second gear is lined up in the box, and if it isn't, then you can I suppose, damage your brass synchronizer ring.
As you get your practice in and become confident, you can experiment with the amount of clutch you give it, and the distance that you back off the throttle. Eventually you might try letting the engine flare UP during the shift.
Shifting into Third is the same.
If your car will not spin the tires; figure out what gears are in it, before condemning the engine. With your combo, I suggest a minimum 3.55 gear.
If you have passengers, forget showing off.
Happy HotRodding
