Surpassing the 400rwhp mark using stock internals

[CaliLifeStyle]

Anyone pick up the latest issue of MM & FF? The topic for Under Pressure was the "magical" 400rwhp limit of the stock internals for a 2v. It stated that horsepower isn't the cause for the internals to fail. Excessive engine speed, detenation, poor tune will cause failure. So, according to them, it is possible to go past the 400rwhp mark. Very interesting read.

 

[WillDuhhBeast]

I don't know how accurate it is.. but I heard that Tim at MPH told this person that 425+ can be safe on stock internals on the TT setup, I was skeptical at first.

Apparently the tune really makes the difference.

 

[tomustang]

tell that to cheap rods and bearings.

 

[DropTopPony]

I read that a couple days ago, I see alot of guys running @400rwhp and they all say its the tune and how you treat it. As long as your not making 1/4 mile blasts 2 nights a week it can be done. I wouldn't push it personally because of the damage that could be done to the heads etc if a rod lets go.

 

[Flghtmstr1]

Now that they say it can be done, they should make a project car and do it.

 

[WillDuhhBeast]

Yeah, my personal choice would be to take really good care of the 400+ hp setups on stock internals, I imagine its pretty safe if you treat it like a car, and not a race car every day. I'm sure a few runs at the track wont hurt tooooo much.

I'd be scared, either way.

 

[CaliLifeStyle]

In the article the author said he never seen a connecting rod break because of too much horsepower.

 

[Sid3ways S13]

Kenne Bell swears the fact that around 425 is ok still on the stock internals (yeah yeah I know it is on the internet on a manufactorers website) and I'll trust them. They've put out plenty of kits and I'm sure have seen what a good tune and bad tune can do to the rods and bearings on these engines. If they were telling people on their website that it is ok when selling their 1.7l kits to people I'll take their word for it because if it was happening constantly to their customers cars, they'd remove it from their website cause it was causing people to get pissed off. Sorry for the longest sentence ever right there as well

 

[BigChiefSmokem]

Yeah, i read the article. It was a pretty interesting read, as its contrary to a lot of things i've read here on the internet. It give me hope that buyin the complete kit from vortech or kenne bell and a good tune will go a long way withough other upgrades to the engine, just pay the money bolt her on and good to go... On another note, I wonder how long it would take the clutch and/or tranny to go though on that kind of setup...

 

[Sid3ways S13]

I've got a heavy duty clutchmasters clutch in now with my 8# kit running 390whp, but that isn't what you are asking.

I know of another car almost IDENTICAL mods to mine but still has stock clutch pushing 393whp, and still holding up to the abuse.

 

[billfisher]

rpm's baby. rpms...

i hate to admit it, but as a young mechanic I had to build chevy's as well as other BS. on my nitrous budget motors i built them for 7000 rpm's. but on the bottle W/stock internals i recommended shifting at 5500. shock loading from boost or nitrous CAN break a crank or more likely a rod. that's one reason for aluminum rods. they compress and spread out the individual power strokes over a little more time saving the crank. i totally agree with the authors reasoning. i have repaired many a motor with stretched rod bolts and not repaired totalled blocks from broken rods. balancing goes a long way to saving bottom end. bent rods suck also. everone cannot afford forgings, but we all want power. keep the rpm's down wit boost.

 

[snkchmr]

My roush is at 380 to the rear with some issues with the tune that I hope to correct & see that 400.
I would say your ok with the tune & you dont beat it to death.

 

[03ghoststang]

even though im not supercahrged yet but hopefully next year i plan in getting a safe tune for around 370-390HP from the KB but pushing 400hp on a stock block that's pushing your luck............. i'm getting the 5.1L mod block from CHP to handle the 400+HP that i plan on laying down

 

[GitDat]

18 months and abused all to hell :evil: Sheesh.. I'd say 150 passes down the track and plenty of nights out racing 03 Cobras on the street So far so good.

 

[Lons2001GT]

Now that they say it can be done, they should make a project car and do it.

The author of the article in question was speaking from his experience with several project cars in which made well over 400whp on a stock bottom end. Project icebox 540whp on stock internals (daily driven) just for one example. I would not want to go past 450whp on a car I rely on for daily transportation but it has been proven with a good tune and some restrain you can break 500hp with a stock bottom end.