So the question comes down to this.....what does it take to get 400 + to the tires ourt of a 2v Naturally aspirated....
1. 5.3l short block (FRPP has a BOSS 5.O Block and can use the Eagle Stroker Crank, rods, and will need 94mm bore pistons - The block has been backordered for the past 15 months due to supply chain issues) (NOTE: There are several places that can resleeve an aluminum block or stand block to 94mm - using an aluminum block you get the weight savings and the resleeve is 1900) I will use L&M engines as they are one of the best) I will put up part numbers for all items once I start sourcing and buying.
2. Full exhaust....specifically....
kooks long tubes 1 5/8 and x pipe, cats deleted with 2.5 in exhaust....I use
magnaflow...the guy with the stroker used
Borla I believe..
3. Full bolt ons...i.e. CAI, TB combo, bigger injectors, under drive pulleys, maf, electric water pump, aluminum flywheel, DS, or lighter 9.5 in stall converter... any other tweaks to gain a few ponies.... other things like deleting AC with idler pulley, Power steering, etc... can free up some ponies... I am keeping all mine but just wanted to note...
4. 11.3 or higher CR... key is 190 to 195lbs at cylinder pressure with 93 octane as this is the safe max threshold.....or if e85. which can handle 14 to 1 cr safely...... I will be dynoing on 93 pump gas but will use torco octane booster for drag racing and hard pulls... 1 can with 7 gallons of gas raises 93 octane by 7pts or 100 octane.... with a full tank and 1 can it should be around 96-97 octane... added insurance for higher CR Cars...
5. TFS Heads....stock could get you there with a 11.6 or higher cr on pump gas.... ported heads should easily get there with 93.. remember...for every 1 pt in compression is equal to 4% more power across the board..
6. Correct cams....off the shelf are very limited and often not a good option....anything with .575 lift or higher...around 238 to 244 duration should be enough and maintain perfect drivability.....MHS offer a stage 4 and 5 cam that would work perfectly for the 5.3 liter and would be like running a stage 2-3 cam in this set up....
7. Intakes....both the PI and Bullet can get there depending on CR and matched mods....that is if you want over 400 hp and tq..... with a carburated eddy set up or eddy with 6061 injection set up can get to 430 to 440 but tq will come in around 330 to 340...so trade off in tq...same with TFS intake.....eddy you will spin to 6400 to 6900 or higher for peaks or TFS intake from 6700 to 7500 with right cam set up...so 135lbs or dual pac springs will be needed with these intakes......with pi intake with 78mm
bbk tb or bullet intake with ported heads should have peak power from 5900 to 6300 depending on cams used...with 125 or 135lbs springs needed.. It would be interesting to see if any port work or extrude honing of the Bullet intake could improve the power curve at all...
The 323 stoker combo that put down 393/398 could easily hit 420 to 430 with a 12 to 1 Cr on E85 with heads ported so the combo was just a few tweaks away...possibly just a ported TFS R head with .610 to .615 lifts with the stage 4 cam profile would have hit 420 to 430 on pump gas...
So more cubes, high CR, and all supporting parts...5.3l base engine...