HP Potential for a 327?

[garagedweller2]

How much HP can a 327 make, maxed out (Full cams/HUGE heads) ? [Modified by garagedweller2, 3:06 PM 10/25/2003]

[Vetterodder]

Maxed out, as in an all out race engine that spins to 9k or more, probably around 600-700 hp without blowers or nitrous. I'm not talking about anything that could be driven on the street or be expected to last long. Typically, all out drag engines can make around 2hp per cube, with smaller displacement engines having an advantage in hp per cube.

[garagedweller2]

Will there still be enough torque for road course use?

[Vetterodder]

Will there still be enough torque for road course use?

Yes and no. Keep in mind that high hp #'s are the result of high torque at high rpm. While a road race car could be geared to utilize the power band of an all out drag engine, reliability would be a major problem. Even the shortest road races require much more running time than a drag meet. Practice, qualifying, etc., compared to staging and 1/4 mile runs for the drag car, often with plenty of time for an engine repair or replacement between runs. A lot of road race cars are built to near their max power capability but they aren't likely to sacrifice durability to the degree that drag cars can.

[garagedweller2]

Thanks

[gkull]

garagedweller - Watch TransAm series race in person some time. You'll never understand how they make the motors sound like that. But anyway they make 600+ out of 310 ci max size.

The car your racing weight is important also. It all comes down to HP per pound