HP estimation

[jdscofield]

I have rebuilt my 400 in my 74 Charger, and I'm trying to determine the Horse power and whether or not it's going to still be a turd.  Here is the set up:

400 block
.30 overbore
10 bearing
hypereutectic pistons
mild cam (was trying to keep up compression) 272/454 .272/.454
compression 8.7:1
202 heads
edlebrock performer RPM dual plane high rise intake
Holley 750 double pumper
headers
flow masters
2700 rpm stall
373 drive ratio

As I said, Trying to figure out the horse power and if this set up will make this 74 Charger get up and go.  Any additional tips to produce even more out of this engine without stroking it are greatly appreciated.

[cdr]

need more info on heads ?   202 ? not on a bb mopar.   stock heads  maybe 300hp flywheel

[jdscofield]

Where can I find the casting numbers and info on the heads?  Used the heads that were on the engine when I first bought it.  previous owner said he upgraded to 202 heads, but he also said it had 10:1 compression and a radical cam.  I tore it down because it had no compression and was slower than a geo metro.  I did find out it had after market pistons and a .010 overbore.  This is my first big block and I haven't modified an engine in almost 20 years.  Have forgotten much technical info but concepts are still there.

[cdr]

cyl head casting # is under the valve cover.what is the cam duration @ .050

[XH29N0G]

cdr will know more than me.  So take what I say in that context.

Take a look at http://www.moparmusclemagazine.com/techarticles/5115_cylinder_heads/ for information on cylinder heads.  I think the 202 are a small block head. 

That aside, whatever you have, I would think that the issue would be whether anything was done to the heads (there is a recent thread on dyno testing a low compression 440 and I think the bottom line is that it depends on what is done with the heads).

The intake, carburetor, and cam are probably all OK.  I was advised to try a Lunati 60302 (now I think it is PN# 10230702 with a 383 that had a stock HP cam probably similar to what you have and I thought it worked well.  My advertised compression ration was a little higher 9.5:1 (don't know where it actually was).  I liked it like that. 

Now, that said, I have had my engine rebuilt and stroked and it is a completely different animal.  I suspect that one person's turd is another's nice combination.

The people here will be able to tell you just what you need to reach a certain goal.  This will be $$ and combinations of parts. 

See what they say and keep us posted on your progress.

[cudaken]

If tune right, I be in the 300 to 315 camp depending on other support items and what was done or not done to the block. Big thing to me is if the block deck height was checked and brought to correct specks.

Cuda Ken 

[myk]

You should've asked us this before you chose the parts and rebuilt the engine-nothing anyone says will matter now.  Even if your parts combination is correct, the final key to unlocking any motor's potential is its tune; the best engine in the world would be a "turd" if the tuning was wrong. 

At this point the only way to answer your question is to strap it to a dyno and see what happens...

[jdscofield]

The issue I have is that when I return from Afghanistan my ex-wife's drug addict brother stole all my tools. Therefore I was forced to have someone else build my motor for me. I told him what I wanted. I finally received some of the specs over the phone five months after I received my engine.  I told him I wanted 10:1 compression, suggested a cam grind from lunatti, and wanted to be in the 350 hp range without nitrous, and wanted the heads swirl ported and polished and the openings matched to the openings on my headers.  He didn't even touch the heads.  I'm also dealing with mistakes and lies from the previous owner.  He said he installed the better heads on the engine.  However, I just got the new valve covers to finally seal properly, so I'm not going to open them up at the moment to check the casting number, I'm just going to assume they are the stock ones for that engine.  To get the compression raised, I'm probably going to have to pick up some aftermarket heads from edelbrock and change the cam

[XH29N0G]

My bet is it is going to be a fun car the way it is, and swapping heads and a cam is not super difficult and also will add to the fun.