So I was brainstorming ways to try to increase HP per Cubic in and impacts from Compression, Head Types, Porting, Intakes, and cams that would maximize HP and TQ Gains. When it comes to modding a 2v or any engine for that matter, you can truly see how off the shelf parts, vs custom part are a must in some instances along with modifying certain parts are needed to achieve best performance.
Lets talk HP per CU first:
- Normally, cars off the showroom floor for high performance N/A are in the 1.15 to 1.40 range for HP per cubic in and can vary in size of displacement and RPM capability levels....
- A normal stock 281 GT puts down 235/270 bone stock to the tires lets say... so 235hp/281cu = .836hp per cu... Pretty sad bone stock....
- A Gen 3 car stock 302 has 415hp/380tq to the tires so lets say... 415hp/302cu = 1.374 HP per CU.. This was attained by Increase in Compression to 12.1, better valve train and head flow to higher rpms, and variable cam timing (VTC).... very impressive for technology enhancements...
- When you mod a car and looking for gains, you're really trying to increase HP per CU Inch to increase performance...
- A supercharger on a bone stock 281 for a base kit and ranges from 340 to 360 to the tires... so lets say 360/281 = 1.28hp per CU Inch... Impressive for just a base kit modification and simple bolt on...
- A supercharger stage 2/3 kit intercooled and dyno tuned with full bolt ons can hit 440hp max safely so 440/281 = 1.56hp per CU IN which is impressive... but that is 14lbs of boost on a ticking time bomb in my opinion... but with a built SB you see why most go Supercharger...
- My car with full bolt ons, Heads (Ported), cam, full exhaust put down 355/281 = 1.26HP per CU Inch... which was pretty impressive considering small displacement through an auto...
Optimal range for HP per CU:
- Many race cars or high-end dragsters are putting down 1.9 to 2.5 HP per cu in so these are engines that are completely maximized, race fuel, super high compression, etc...
- So what should a goal be for a properly built streetcar for max effort.... for any engine, I would say 1.5 HP per cu in is the goal for max power and reliability....
- Looking at my set up with 1.26hp per CU In, there was plenty of potential to get over 1.3 which is a decent bump in power but ultimate goal is 1.5... just getting to 1.3hp per CU would be 281x1.3hp per CU = 365.3... for 1.4 would be 281x1.4 = 393,4 HP ... but looking at the parts available at the time, getting 1.5hp per CU In was nearly impossible..... for 1.5 this would be 281x1.5 = 421.5hp...
Lets talk HP per CU first:
- Normally, cars off the showroom floor for high performance N/A are in the 1.15 to 1.40 range for HP per cubic in and can vary in size of displacement and RPM capability levels....
- A normal stock 281 GT puts down 235/270 bone stock to the tires lets say... so 235hp/281cu = .836hp per cu... Pretty sad bone stock....
- A Gen 3 car stock 302 has 415hp/380tq to the tires so lets say... 415hp/302cu = 1.374 HP per CU.. This was attained by Increase in Compression to 12.1, better valve train and head flow to higher rpms, and variable cam timing (VTC).... very impressive for technology enhancements...
- When you mod a car and looking for gains, you're really trying to increase HP per CU Inch to increase performance...
- A supercharger on a bone stock 281 for a base kit and ranges from 340 to 360 to the tires... so lets say 360/281 = 1.28hp per CU Inch... Impressive for just a base kit modification and simple bolt on...
- A supercharger stage 2/3 kit intercooled and dyno tuned with full bolt ons can hit 440hp max safely so 440/281 = 1.56hp per CU IN which is impressive... but that is 14lbs of boost on a ticking time bomb in my opinion... but with a built SB you see why most go Supercharger...
- My car with full bolt ons, Heads (Ported), cam, full exhaust put down 355/281 = 1.26HP per CU Inch... which was pretty impressive considering small displacement through an auto...
Optimal range for HP per CU:
- Many race cars or high-end dragsters are putting down 1.9 to 2.5 HP per cu in so these are engines that are completely maximized, race fuel, super high compression, etc...
- So what should a goal be for a properly built streetcar for max effort.... for any engine, I would say 1.5 HP per cu in is the goal for max power and reliability....
- Looking at my set up with 1.26hp per CU In, there was plenty of potential to get over 1.3 which is a decent bump in power but ultimate goal is 1.5... just getting to 1.3hp per CU would be 281x1.3hp per CU = 365.3... for 1.4 would be 281x1.4 = 393,4 HP ... but looking at the parts available at the time, getting 1.5hp per CU In was nearly impossible..... for 1.5 this would be 281x1.5 = 421.5hp...