As stated earlier, the smaller cubic inch engine is going to need to be driven at a higher rpm to acheive the same power potential. There are some very simple formulas to determine the amount of revolutions needed to acheive the same average piston speed.
The basic formula that everyone knows is as follows:
Determining piston speed...
Formula: Stroke x RPM / 6
So let us take a 6,000 RPM 347 CI engine.
347 CI example: 3.4 x 6000 / 6 = 3,400 average piston speed in feet per second.
400 CI example: 4.0 x 6000 / 6 = 4,000 average piston speed in feet per second.
But what if you want to figure out how much one needs to shift the smaller cube engine compared to the larger cubed engine to get the same piston speed?
All you have to do is change up the formula a little bit...
Formula: Wanted piston speed (larger stroke) x 6 / Stroke used (smaller stroke)
So let us take a 4" stroke engine (408) shifted at 6,000 and see how high we need to revolve the 3.4" (347).
4000 fps x 6 / 3.4" = 7,058.82 RPM is needed for the 347, compared to a 6,000 RPM 408.
So you can see that you can simulate more cubic inches with higher RPM.
A 6,000 RPM 408 is roughly the same as a 8,000 RPM 302...
So you can see why some of the high revving 302/306's are making some big numbers with the right parts to support the extra air needed.
The basic formula that everyone knows is as follows:
Determining piston speed...
Formula: Stroke x RPM / 6
So let us take a 6,000 RPM 347 CI engine.
347 CI example: 3.4 x 6000 / 6 = 3,400 average piston speed in feet per second.
400 CI example: 4.0 x 6000 / 6 = 4,000 average piston speed in feet per second.
But what if you want to figure out how much one needs to shift the smaller cube engine compared to the larger cubed engine to get the same piston speed?
All you have to do is change up the formula a little bit...
Formula: Wanted piston speed (larger stroke) x 6 / Stroke used (smaller stroke)
So let us take a 4" stroke engine (408) shifted at 6,000 and see how high we need to revolve the 3.4" (347).
4000 fps x 6 / 3.4" = 7,058.82 RPM is needed for the 347, compared to a 6,000 RPM 408.
So you can see that you can simulate more cubic inches with higher RPM.
A 6,000 RPM 408 is roughly the same as a 8,000 RPM 302...
So you can see why some of the high revving 302/306's are making some big numbers with the right parts to support the extra air needed.






