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Hey all, does anybody have any idea how much power a stock bottom end on a 1981 corvette could handle? Just asking for future reference when I do mods like heads and potentially a hotter cam.
The pistons are the weak link....but I have seen people shoot 150 shot of nitrous on them.......would I do it? No. RPM and cylinder pressure are the killers of cast pistons......detonate it once and it is over.
As long as there is no power adders involved and the engine is in good shape.....it will handle what you plan to do.
I built a 400 horsepower engine for my Dad in 2000 for his 32' Ford using a Goodwrench 350 lower end ,(Basically what you have) and we both used to beat the **** out of it.......it is here in Texas now and still runs!
You're generally safe with modest modifications - headers, intake, cam. heads, and if you drive it respectfully. On theother hand I will never build another high performance engine with a factory cast crank. The photo is of my 383 built with a factory 400 crank. And I didn't drive it all that hard. Really.
All 81's are 2-bolt blocks. I wouldn't push it past 400 or so. A 400 horse 350 is plenty stout, over 1.1hp/cu in, there are a lot out there claiming it but it's not easy to get it done.
Ouch! If its any consolation a 5140 cast crank is very inexpensive and can take a beating.
Yeah that made a lot of noise when it broke. I've heard that some of the aftermarket cast cranks are much stronger than the factory pieces. My 427 small block has a Scat forged piece down there so I'm pretty sure I'm OK now.
Stock Bottom End
