440 source engine packages

Dan the man said

What puzzles me is, they have these high dollar stroker motors putting out like 1.32 horsepower per cubic inch. I wish I had the dyno sheet on a 0.030 over 289 with edelbrock e heads, performer 289 intake, 650 Holley, comp 268h cam, 8.62:1 cr. It made 303 horsepower at 5900 rpm's. So my question is, how can a little 289 make almost as much power per cubic inch as some of those high dollar stroker builds?

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Look at the dyno sheet and study power under the curve for each combo. Peak hp numbers can mean very little on a 500" engine built to redline around 5500.

If you changed the cam, rockers and added roller lifters things would turn around. Then you would need a bigger carb and intake. Now you need a hole in the hood, etc etc etc. Eventually you need and aftermarket block.

My 511" with unported Stealths makes 1.22hp/cube n/a - 625hp@6100rpm. Not impressive sounding is it? It makes over 600ft lbs of tq from 3500 to 5400. It's going to be a mean mf in my 68 Dart @3500lbs at the line.

Identical 511" shortblock with MW CNC ported Edelbrock Victors, Indy 4150 intake/1000 cfm QF AN1050, .730 net lift solid roller made 1.47hp/ cube - 750hp@7100rpm.

Take the data above as proof that the more powerful engine ( in terms of hp/cube) has ports requiring more RPM and a bigger cam to make power. More lift, more spring pressure..equals drastically more expensicve parts or a much shorter duty cycle. Same with RPM.

The beauty of the big block stroker for 99% of cruisers out there is lots of low end torque in a pcakage that will last a lifetime if properly maintained.