mike reeh
1/2 ton status
Donovan let it be said that I really respect your style and attitude.
now then, there is something seriously wrong with your neighbors chevelle.. 502hp and even more torque should take any 35-3800lb chevelle into the 12's, and I THINK (cant back this one up) that Ive heard of ZZ502's busting chevelles into the 11's.. Its been a while since Ive frequented team chevelle but there are many dudes with the zz502 in their chevelle, its a mean engine and with the proper tranny, rear gears, tires, driver, etc, they'll give most well built <454" cars a run for their money.
intake valve diameter is important, no doubt, but I dont think that you can compare two stock motors, period. regardless of intake valve size and stuff.. we're really not talking stockers anyway.. there were stock 350s making under 150hp but there is a lot of potential.. since were talking about making power, we need to talk about what kind of power we are trying to make. 2.02 or larger valves on a small block chevy will make huge horsepower but for lower engine speed air velocity, the small valves might be a better choice for torque and bottom end power.. its all about breathing.. why do you think a 396 or 402 big block will crush a 350 or 400sb in most cases? its not because its magically a big block, its because it can breathe, and the bigger intake runners, intake valves, etc, all contribute. So- when I complete my sb400 buildup, I will be using aftermarket heads with 2.02 valves (at least) for maximum breathing potential.. 2.02 on any 400" mill is really not "large" anyway.. even for a 350 I think its a good size. okay getting off topic a little.
suffice to say that in order to compare two differnet motors, they have to be built to the same specs (carb, cam, etc) to really do a comparison, and even then, I dont think its right.. where do you draw the line? there will always be someone with a smaller motor but a better setup that will spank you, negating any comparison in favor of your setup.
on a related topic I used to know a guy with a 70 el camino that had a LS7 454 bottom end and he built it up from there.. the advertised output for the LS7 was I think 465hp, and he dyno'd at a little more than that at the rear wheels. that car was mean, and he was running mid 11's on a test n tune one day, and they wouldnt let him run a second time because he didnt have a full roll cage, etc. To make my point, I dont think you can compare based on that info... and for that very reason, my main point about the advantage a chevy has over a cad, is that it will be easier, cheaper, and will make just as much power because of the huge availability and aftermarket for the motors... correct me if Im wrong but I dont remember looking thru summit and seeing a $100 performer RPM for a cad, nor do I remember anything about Thorley making headers for 73-87's with a caddy big block :/ i think you have to consider all points here..
enough rambling
mike
now then, there is something seriously wrong with your neighbors chevelle.. 502hp and even more torque should take any 35-3800lb chevelle into the 12's, and I THINK (cant back this one up) that Ive heard of ZZ502's busting chevelles into the 11's.. Its been a while since Ive frequented team chevelle but there are many dudes with the zz502 in their chevelle, its a mean engine and with the proper tranny, rear gears, tires, driver, etc, they'll give most well built <454" cars a run for their money.
intake valve diameter is important, no doubt, but I dont think that you can compare two stock motors, period. regardless of intake valve size and stuff.. we're really not talking stockers anyway.. there were stock 350s making under 150hp but there is a lot of potential.. since were talking about making power, we need to talk about what kind of power we are trying to make. 2.02 or larger valves on a small block chevy will make huge horsepower but for lower engine speed air velocity, the small valves might be a better choice for torque and bottom end power.. its all about breathing.. why do you think a 396 or 402 big block will crush a 350 or 400sb in most cases? its not because its magically a big block, its because it can breathe, and the bigger intake runners, intake valves, etc, all contribute. So- when I complete my sb400 buildup, I will be using aftermarket heads with 2.02 valves (at least) for maximum breathing potential.. 2.02 on any 400" mill is really not "large" anyway.. even for a 350 I think its a good size. okay getting off topic a little.
suffice to say that in order to compare two differnet motors, they have to be built to the same specs (carb, cam, etc) to really do a comparison, and even then, I dont think its right.. where do you draw the line? there will always be someone with a smaller motor but a better setup that will spank you, negating any comparison in favor of your setup.
on a related topic I used to know a guy with a 70 el camino that had a LS7 454 bottom end and he built it up from there.. the advertised output for the LS7 was I think 465hp, and he dyno'd at a little more than that at the rear wheels. that car was mean, and he was running mid 11's on a test n tune one day, and they wouldnt let him run a second time because he didnt have a full roll cage, etc. To make my point, I dont think you can compare based on that info... and for that very reason, my main point about the advantage a chevy has over a cad, is that it will be easier, cheaper, and will make just as much power because of the huge availability and aftermarket for the motors... correct me if Im wrong but I dont remember looking thru summit and seeing a $100 performer RPM for a cad, nor do I remember anything about Thorley making headers for 73-87's with a caddy big block :/ i think you have to consider all points here..
enough rambling
mike
