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Old Aug 18, 2007 | 02:17 AM
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Default Crate engine HP ratings??

How do the figures for crate engine HP ratings compare with stock engines...in other words, my 72 350 is rated at 200 HP...my new ZZ4 is rated at 355HP...So is the ZZ4 almost twice (1.78X) the HP as the stock 350, all else being equal??

Somebody set me straight!

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Old Aug 18, 2007 | 10:01 AM
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Originally Posted by MakoShark72
How do the figures for crate engine HP ratings compare with stock engines...in other words, my 72 350 is rated at 200 HP...my new ZZ4 is rated at 355HP...So is the ZZ4 almost twice (1.78X) the HP as the stock 350, all else being equal??

Somebody set me straight!

IIRC 1972 was the 1st year of SAE Net HP ratings, in fact I thought most 72 engines were advertised with both the SAE net and gross numbers. For example the 72 LT1 motor was rated at 255 hp, but it was in fact largely unchanged form the previous years 330hp (i think) rating - the difference? Gross vs. net.

In any case the net numbers as have been mentioned include all accessories and full exhaust as installed in car.

GMPP crate motors (with a few exceptions) are all gross rated - meaning full length headers - no accessories - open exhaust and whatever carb the test cell has on hand.

So in short while it is still more than your 72's 200 hp its closer than it appears to be.

Last edited by fauxrs2; Aug 18, 2007 at 10:07 AM.
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Old Aug 18, 2007 | 10:12 AM
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Originally Posted by MakoShark72
How do the figures for crate engine HP ratings compare with stock engines...in other words, my 72 350 is rated at 200 HP...my new ZZ4 is rated at 355HP...So is the ZZ4 almost twice (1.78X) the HP as the stock 350, all else being equal??

Somebody set me straight!

The 270 HP base engine in 1971 (gross rating) is exactly the same engine as the 200 HP base engine in 1972 (Net rating)
35% loss of hp with all accessories and driveline taken into account.
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Old Aug 18, 2007 | 10:14 AM
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Originally Posted by fauxrs2
IIRC 1972 was the 1st year of SAE Net HP ratings, in fact I thought most 72 engines were advertised with both the SAE net and gross numbers. For example the 72 LT1 motor was rated at 255 hp, but it was in fact largely unchanged form the previous years 330hp (i think) rating - the difference? Gross vs. net.

In any case the net numbers as have been mentioned include all accessories and full exhaust as installed in car.

GMPP crate motors (with a few exceptions) are all gross rated - meaning full length headers - no accessories - open exhaust and whatever carb the test cell has on hand.

So in short while it is still more than your 72's 200 hp its closer than it appears to be.



"Starting in 1971 automakers began to quote power in terms of SAE net horsepower (as defined by standard J1349). This reflected the rated power of the engine in as-installed trim, with all accessories and standard intake and exhaust systems. By 1972, US carmakers quoted power exclusively in SAE net hp. The change was meant to 'deflate' power ratings to assuage the auto insurance industry and environmental and safety lobbies, as well as to obfuscate the power losses caused by emissions-control equipment."

A '72 220 HP should be 280+ gross HP.
As fauxrs mentioned, the crates are generally rated at gross HP as there is no sure to calculate which components will be used with the application.

Last edited by Bob Onit; Aug 18, 2007 at 10:17 AM.
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Old Aug 18, 2007 | 02:09 PM
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Here we go again!!!

Net or Gross its all the same because its not important! Not to mention, Chevrolet always kept the HP "RATINGS" down to keep insurance prices and taxes down!

Here's a perfect example IMO:
1967-69 corvette L88 427 - 430 HP Gross
2006 - Z06 LS7 427 - 505 HP net

In a drag race, the L88 would beat it in a heavier car w/ bias tires!

The only HP you should be worried about RWHP.
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Old Aug 18, 2007 | 02:15 PM
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I also see a few people comparing the "same" engine. What you also have to understand, is that every year they added on more emissions crap and dropped the compression. So for ex. a 70' LT1 is not going to produce the same HP as a 71 LT1 and so on.
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Old Aug 18, 2007 | 02:53 PM
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Originally Posted by FRSTR90
Here we go again!!!

Net or Gross its all the same because its not important!
Yea, youre right! But..all I was originally asking...really... is how much "seat of the pants" difference I'll notice from the tired stock 350/200 (OK..270) to the fresh ZZ4 350/355 (net or gross I could care less!!)

Thanks all!!
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Old Aug 18, 2007 | 07:36 PM
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Originally Posted by FRSTR90
The only HP you should be worried about RWHP.
It's kinda hard to dyno RWHP on a crate engine isnt it?

Sorry but I dont understand your point.

It all starts at FWHP.
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Old Aug 18, 2007 | 08:01 PM
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Originally Posted by Bob Onit
It's kinda hard to dyno RWHP on a crate engine isnt it?

Sorry but I dont understand your point.

It all starts at FWHP.
My point is that you really don't know for sure how much more HP you are going to be getting. Mako's engine is supposedly 200HP net and 270Gross, but who knows if these weren't under rated?

Your right about it all starts with FWHP. But when your driving your car, it takes HP to turn the alt and w/ all of the accessory pullies, the tranny, and the differential. What I was telling him is to worry about the HP that actually reaches the pavement.

However, it sounds as if he already has the engine. He was just curious and wanted to compare his original engine with the ZZ4. I've heard lots of good things about the engine from people who own them. So I am sure he wont be disappointed.
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Old Aug 18, 2007 | 08:11 PM
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I understand your point somewhat John.

I would be willing to bet the ranch that GM does not under rate their crate engines.
Theres would be no benefit to do so and theres plenty of competition as well.
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Old Aug 18, 2007 | 08:14 PM
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Originally Posted by MakoShark72
Yea, youre right! But..all I was originally asking...really... is how much "seat of the pants" difference I'll notice from the tired stock 350/200 (OK..270) to the fresh ZZ4 350/355 (net or gross I could care less!!)

Thanks all!!
Torque will contribute to ripping the seat out of your pants... ....so don't forget about those numbers....have fun with your motor swap
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Old Aug 18, 2007 | 09:35 PM
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My ZZ4 dynos at 260 RWHP/300ftlb torque. Thats w/ muncie M20, BG Speed Demon 650 carb, Flowtech ceramic headers , and an Alens chambered 2 exhaust. Hope this helps you out.
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Old Aug 19, 2007 | 12:24 AM
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Originally Posted by fauxrs2
IIRC 1972 was the 1st year of SAE Net HP ratings, in fact I thought most 72 engines were advertised with both the SAE net and gross numbers. For example the 72 LT1 motor was rated at 255 hp, but it was in fact largely unchanged form the previous years 330hp (i think) rating - the difference? Gross vs. net.

In any case the net numbers as have been mentioned include all accessories and full exhaust as installed in car.

GMPP crate motors (with a few exceptions) are all gross rated - meaning full length headers - no accessories - open exhaust and whatever carb the test cell has on hand.

So in short while it is still more than your 72's 200 hp its closer than it appears to be.

I had this same question so I contacted GMPP direct for an answer. Basicly the "replacement" crate engines are the same as the production engines and carry the same HP. But the engines like the ZZ4 that do not have a production counterpart are rated at GROSS HP. GMPP said that they did not know the type of car the engine would be going into, the intake or exhaust system being used, or the accessories being attached. So all the crate, non-production, engines were rated at GROSS HP.
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Old Aug 19, 2007 | 12:29 AM
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Originally Posted by Bob Onit
I understand your point somewhat John.

I would be willing to bet the ranch that GM does not under rate their crate engines.
Theres would be no benefit to do so and theres plenty of competition as well.
Ohh, I agree... I was talking about the engines that actually came in our cars..
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Old Aug 19, 2007 | 10:51 AM
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The L88 wasn't under-rated at 430 hp for insurance purposes...it was to dissuade buyers from buying it for street use...it was a pure racing engine. For less money a buyer could get an L71 rated at 435 hp. The racing crowd knew the engine and car for what it was and is.

The rating wasn't really inaccurate...it was 430 hp at the rpm's specified. The published specs just didn't say how much higher the red line was or how the peak horsepower and torque would continue to rise until it hit the redline.
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Old Aug 19, 2007 | 11:04 AM
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Roughrider is correct. The L-88 was under rated to keep the clueless from ordering it as they would just check the highest rated engine.
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