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Put the car on a chassis dyno this weekend and did 3 pulls. The best pull was the first one with the
following results at ~5800RPM:
RWHP=303 RWT=415ftlbs Fuel mixture=12
The dyno tech told me that I needed a better cam to 'wake up' the 454's hp and told me that the
torque would improve also and air/fuel mixture #s were good already. Since this engine is supposed
to have 425hp at the flywheel, even allowing ~18% for the driveline/IRS should be about 350hp
which is what I expected to see. Why would the hp be so low? My current 'mystery' hydraulic flat
tappet cam is mild since it has no lopey sound and idles smoothly at 750rpm
Since this engine is supposed to have 425hp at the flywheel, even allowing ~18% for the driveline/IRS should be about 350hp which is what I expected to see. Why would the hp be so low?
Remember that the dyno number is net hp. The 18% figure that you commonly hear is for driveline loss from the flywheel to the rear wheels, and applying this factor will get you net flywheel hp. The 425 figure that you mention is gross hp, which will require another conversion factor of which no one really knows (many variables). I saw a GM dyno chart of the original LT-1 versus the new LT1 and they were almost the same peak hp. Bear in mind that the quoted numbers were 300 net for the LT1 and 370 (I think) gross for the LT-1, so you get a general idea of the disparity between net and gross figures. Just some thoughts. Your numbers may not be that far off, but I don't know what is typical for that motor.
That said, have you checked the basics? Do you have exhaust that is up to the job? Is your timing correct? Are you getting proper timing advance? Is there a restriction in your system somewhere? Maybe a gasket that somehow shifted during assembly? Is your induction system up to the task of supporting the airflow you need?
I guess what you are telling me is that the HP claims of GM for the new vettes is net hp since there were two Z06s there also. One was a modded 01 that went 374hp/368torque and the other was a stock 02 that went 353hp/347torque which has 405hp on its side emblem. This versus the older BB 427 vettes with claims of 400 and 435hp that was apparently gross! :cry
Anyway, I think it's time for a cam since everything else is the 'good stuff' and the exhaust will be changed to Hooker sidepipes this winter! :smash:
71coupe - CR is either 8.5 or 9 and I burn 93 octane but it won't lug or ping even on 87. The engine has the open chambered heads that allow for lower compression. I'm wondering how this engine could be built while still being able to run on 93 octane since I've heard that it can be done.
Mark-
A 454 can take a bigger cam than a smaller motor & still be driveable.
The limitting factor on the cam would be your compression. A bigger cam keeps the valves open longer & it tends to bleed off compression, causing a power loss.
If you have 9.0:1 c/r, look for a cam with no more than 230 deg @ .050 for hyd & 235 deg @ .050 for solid. That will wake up your motor with a nice choppy idle. Your 454 could take more if it had more compression.
Also, look for a cam with a wider lobe seperation. They usually run from 108 deg up to 114 deg + . This may help for the lower compression.