Hardcore Horsepower & Dyno

09/09/2023

When you don’t have it, make it! Had to fab up an adapter today for my LSM valve spring compressor. Engine is a blown 434ci SBC w/ AFR 245 heads and T&D shaft rockers. None of my existing valve spring compressors (I have quite a few!) would work for a variety of reasons. So I grabbed a spare mounting bar and milled up this adapter. It worked great so now it’s a keeper. My fabb’d bar is the lower one in the picture. Had to add the middle hole. Mill 1” wide x .060” deep flats exactly on center for the existing stud holes. And elongate both outer holes just a bit. Stock bar is at the top for comparison. And the PSI double springs checked out only loosing 20 lbs from new after about 25 dyno pulls. 😁

12/23/2022

It's too cold to dyno in TN! But as soon as the temps warm up again, this big dog will be on the dyno. 540cid Big Block Chevy "Big and Ugly"! Should crank over 1,000hp with Holley Sniper EFI and a TBS 10-71 blower.

02/13/2022

I’ve only done a little tuning on this engine so far. Still letting the Holley Sniper learn. On it’s 5th checkout pull at only 65% TPS already making 688hp at just 3.7psi boost. 427ci SBC 6-71 TBS blower running my custom HR cam and 93 octane UL right out of the pump.

01/02/2022

Quick install tip for flat tappets. Open the box upside down. Then simply apply the breakin assembly l**e to the tappet face. Let sit for a few minutes and some will run down the sides making the lifters ready to install.

06/14/2021

My latest street bruiser! 540 cubic inches of 780hp badass pumpgas Big-Block Chevy! Holley's Sniper EFI makes it oh-so streetable too.

In the past, you’ve had to rev an engine pretty high to make serious power. But the latest cylinder heads and cam designs have allowed us to bring the RPM …

04/03/2021

Easiest way to check hood clearance

12/19/2020

1.0mm Mahle rings for the win! That’s.0394” for us M’ericans🤪

12/02/2020

Info You Should Know: 5.7" vs. 6.0" Small-Block Chevy Connecting Rod Debate

The subject never changes, and every once in while we'll get a new know-it-all insisting that a 6" rod SBC will make tons more power, and run way better, cooler, longer, etc. than a 5.7" rod motor.

Here's some math and science to settle the debate.
All data shown is @ 3.75" stroke

Maximum Rod Angularity
6.0" rod-----18.21 deg
5.7" rod-----19.20 deg
Difference: 0.990 deg

Dwell Time. Number of crankshaft degrees the piston is within 0.250" of TDC.
6.0" rod------52.397 degrees
5.7" rod------52.071 degrees
Difference: 0.326 degrees

Dwell time difference between the 6.0" rod and the 5.7" rod is:
0.626%

Cylinder Wall Load. Percentage of force against the top of piston transmitted to the major thrust face of the piston and then to the cylinder wall.
6.0" rod----32.89%
5.7" rod----34.83%
Difference: 1.94%

Connecting Rod Dynamic Load (Tension) difference between 6" rod and 5.7" rod: 1.54%

Piston Speed. Max piston speed calculated at 5000 rpm.
6.0" rod------85.64 feet per second, (58.4 MPH)
5.7" rod------86.01 feet per second, (58.6 MPH)
Difference: 0.370-FPS or 0.2 MPH

The data seems to indicate that the differences between rod lengths are exaggerated in literature. In many (most) cases claims are anecdotal and represent the vested interests of the suppliers.

There are real gains to be had by going to longer rods but they are small, usually a lot less than 2 percent. However, hard-core racers are grasping at every tiny bit of performance and can justify the expense. For the average hot rodder we would suggest staying with the 5.7" rod length. Money would be far better spent on improving the heads, cam, induction, and exhaust or even a supercharger.

11/18/2020

Want to check for the condition of your oil but don’t have an oil filter cutter? Wearing some rubber gloves and safety glasses, when you drain the oil stop the flow as it begins to slow down near the end by simply plugging the hole with a finger. Have a clean paper towel in your other hand and remove your finger just enough to drip a little bit of the oil onto the towel. Set the paper towel aside on some clean cardboard and let it soak in for a while. You be able to see if there’s anything bad going on very clearly. This pic shows two different towels from dyno tests using Driven Racing Oil GP-1 synthetic blend 10w-30 and 15w-40. Fun fact: GP-1 oil is tinted green as a throwback tribute to the old Pennsylvania crude oils. Driven Racing even sometimes adds tint to keep the color consistent.

10/31/2020

This is how you build a street motor! Been dyno testing our newest 540ci BBC with Holley Sniper 4500 EFI. Today we hit 781HP @ 6400rpm and 721TQ @ 4900rpm. It’s just a pump gas motor 10.25:1 compression running straight 93-octane unleaded. No need to rev it to the moon. It builds over 700 ft/lbs of torque at 4500rpm! We even hit as high as 728TQ with a little different tune. That’s the cool thing about EFI. You can try all sorts of different tunes without touching the engine.