C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

compression ratios and octane

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Old Sep 14, 2009 | 06:38 PM
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Default compression ratios and octane

My engine builder is suggesting that I will need to add octane because of the compression ratio I have chosen

I want to hear opinions about static and dynamic compression ratios for sbc gen1 with aluminum heads related to octance and spark advance. also, carbed vs. efi, do these numbers change at all?

Right now I have 268 xfi (218/224 @ .500) using 113 heads with .030 taken off

H859CP Speed Pro .030 bore

3.75 crank

5.7 rod length

deck is stock (.025) but can be adjusted as needed


I already planned on using a thick gasket (.051) to offset the .030 being taken from the heads

Can somebody calculate my compression ratios? I am having a hard time getting the ratio calculators to work right (operator error)



I am not opposed to sending the cam back to add a few degrees of duration to lower the dcr a little. (at the time I picked it I was thinking 355ci)

I am also willing pull a cc or 2 from the combustion cambers as a last resort


Thanks in advance

Last edited by ekess744; Sep 15, 2009 at 01:33 PM.
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Old Sep 14, 2009 | 06:48 PM
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Originally Posted by ekess744

using 113 heads with .030 taken off

Thanks in advance
man that's a lot to take off a 113 head....that's got to be closer to 50cc now. Your going to need to plug more info in than what you given to get the correct ratio return numbers.

Calculator:

http://www.rbracing-rsr.com/compstaticcalc.html

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Old Sep 14, 2009 | 06:59 PM
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Originally Posted by engle1147
man that's a lot to take off a 113 head....that's got to be closer to 50cc now. Your going to need to plug more info in than what you given to get the correct ratio return numbers.

Calculator:

http://www.rbracing-rsr.com/compstaticcalc.html

he measured them at 54cc I believe
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Old Sep 14, 2009 | 07:35 PM
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Quench is important as far as preventing detonation goes.
" The flame front starts at the plug and proceed outward, an expanding ball of fire. That expanding ball of fire "supercompresses" the remaining unburned mixture. If the remaining unburned mixture reaches it's flashpoint and ignites before the flame front reaches it, you have ping (detonation).
In a tight quench area, the mixture trapped there is not burnable, it won't ignite, simply not enough space.
"turbulence" is also important. As the piston reaches TDC and closes down the quench area, the mixture at the edges of the cylinder is squirted back towards the center, kinda like stepping on a toothpaste tube. This helps mix the mixture in the combustion chamber and make it more consistent for a smoother burn."


http://www.chevytalk.org/threads/sho...page/0#1137028

A lower static comp engine with big quench will detonate before a Hi comp engine with low (.040) quench ;all things being equal.
If you have piston stock .025 in the hole , a .015 gasket would give a desirible .040 quench.

Last edited by rodj; Sep 14, 2009 at 07:37 PM.
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Old Sep 14, 2009 | 07:59 PM
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Why did you cut the heads instead of the block?

Using the figures you give
383 ,
12cc dish piston ,
54cc head,
stock .025 deck
.030 gasket I get

SCR 11:1
DCR 9.0 with # -466 cam but with a big 0.055 quench
If you went to the #-467 cam (230/236 .570 ) DCR would come down to 8.6
The 467 cam is popular with 383 owners
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Old Sep 14, 2009 | 08:03 PM
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Originally Posted by rodj
Quench is important as far as preventing detonation goes.
" The flame front starts at the plug and proceed outward, an expanding ball of fire. That expanding ball of fire "supercompresses" the remaining unburned mixture. If the remaining unburned mixture reaches it's flashpoint and ignites before the flame front reaches it, you have ping (detonation).
In a tight quench area, the mixture trapped there is not burnable, it won't ignite, simply not enough space.
"turbulence" is also important. As the piston reaches TDC and closes down the quench area, the mixture at the edges of the cylinder is squirted back towards the center, kinda like stepping on a toothpaste tube. This helps mix the mixture in the combustion chamber and make it more consistent for a smoother burn."


http://www.chevytalk.org/threads/sho...page/0#1137028

A lower static comp engine with big quench will detonate before a Hi comp engine with low (.040) quench ;all things being equal.
If you have piston stock .025 in the hole , a .015 gasket would give a desirible .040 quench.
Interesting. Thank you. So what is your opinion on scr and dcr numbers for 92 octane?
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Old Sep 14, 2009 | 08:09 PM
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Originally Posted by rodj
Why did you cut the heads instead of the block?

Using the figures you give
383 ,
12cc dish piston ,
54cc head,
stock .025 deck
.030 gasket I get

SCR 11:1
DCR 9.0 with # -466 cam but with a big 0.055 quench
If you went to the #-467 cam (230/236 .570 ) DCR would come down to 8.6
The 467 cam is popular with 383 owners
The heads were damaged, I had to


This was the chart I used to figure I was ok on compression ratio

http://www.northernautoparts.com/Pro...tModelId=15101

Are these numbers off?

I am really considering the exact cam you mentioned

It's kinda looking like I am going to have to pull a cc or 2 from the cambers even with a cam switch

Last edited by ekess744; Sep 14, 2009 at 08:20 PM.
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Old Sep 14, 2009 | 08:42 PM
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Originally Posted by ekess744
This was the chart I used to figure I was ok on compression ratio Are these numbers off?
Piston charts are very generic; don't state what gasket being used in calc .
Chart is correct for 58cc w/ 4.060 .043 thick gasket
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Old Sep 14, 2009 | 08:50 PM
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Originally Posted by ekess744
So what is your opinion on scr and dcr numbers for 92 octane?
http://www.corvette-guru.com/modules...forumpost63911

http://www.popularhotrodding.com/eng...eze/index.html
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Old Sep 15, 2009 | 11:34 AM
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With SCR 11:1 you need 104 octane to stay on the safe side.
98 minimum.
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Old Sep 15, 2009 | 01:04 PM
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im getting 10.57 when I calculate with a .051 gasket... But I realize that my qunech is going to be horrible with .025 deck that the piston supposedly comes with. I'll know more once I actually measure it.

Last edited by ekess744; Sep 15, 2009 at 01:35 PM.
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Old Sep 15, 2009 | 06:37 PM
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Originally Posted by frenchyoliver
With SCR 11:1 you need 104 octane to stay on the safe side.
98 minimum.
I have run 11.6 compression on 91 octane. Cam timing and quench play a big part.
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Old Sep 15, 2009 | 06:49 PM
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I think I am going to running a different cam for sure. I am looking at 230/230 .560 lift and 110lsa with a carbed edlebrock torker 2 intake
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Old Sep 15, 2009 | 10:20 PM
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Originally Posted by tpi 421 vette
I have run 11.6 compression on 91 octane. Cam timing and quench play a big part.
and elevation
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Old Sep 16, 2009 | 12:19 AM
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Originally Posted by ekess744
and elevation
True!

But we only have 91 octane here where most sealevel gas stations will sell 93 or 94 octane I have heard of.

Last edited by tpi 421 vette; Sep 16, 2009 at 12:21 AM.
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Old Sep 16, 2009 | 01:36 AM
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After looking at the hot-rodding article posted by rodj and this article, I would have to conclude that the requirement for 104 octane with 11:1 compression would refer to dynamic compression (vs SCR). For that kind of dynamic compression to occur, static would need to be much higher.

(Edit: Otherwise even our stock engines would have trouble running on pump gas -- by the chart I linked!)

For the OP, I like the chart in the article rodj linked -- because of the addition of water temp!

I've seen several people running pump gas with 11:1 compression but most (if not all) are running flat-tops. If you can find a piston to knock things down 1/2 pt, I gotta think life would be a lot easier for you.

Last edited by GREGGPENN; Sep 16, 2009 at 01:42 AM.
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Old Sep 16, 2009 | 05:53 PM
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Originally Posted by tpi 421 vette
True!

But we only have 91 octane here where most sealevel gas stations will sell 93 or 94 octane I have heard of.
also true
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Old Sep 16, 2009 | 05:59 PM
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12.3:1 with 91 octane here
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Old Sep 16, 2009 | 06:14 PM
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Originally Posted by pr0zac
12.3:1 with 91 octane here
wow
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Old Sep 16, 2009 | 06:15 PM
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Originally Posted by pr0zac
12.3:1 with 91 octane here
cam specs?
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