just doing some brain storming today.

currently my car is putting out about 400rwhp on stock heads. i've been thinking of putting on a set of Dart 205 heads to boost low and mid range power since this is a street car and not a track car or dyno queen (i want useable power).

from what i've seen with similar cams and these heads...i'm thinking 440rwhp and 420 torque... is about right.


NOW....

with a basic 382ci stroker...same cam...same heads...

what would the power increase look like? would these heads be a restriction on a stroker? or will they help boost low end power even more ( which is typical on a stroker anyway right).

i realize the cam is a bit small for a stroker, but i don't want to buy a new cam and it would be nice to have a nice tame engine but still make good power (cam is a bit touchy as a daily driver in stock cubes right now).

like i said...just brainstorming. i'm wondering if i should step up to the Dart 225s in anticipation of the stroker (quite a while down the road ...barring any engine disasters).

 

Buddy just got his 402 running and with stage 3 heads (mine are stock valve CNC ported), bigger headers (1 7/8" compared to my 1 3/4"), bigger intake and TB (FAST 90/90 to my FAST 78 with stock ported TB), with about the same cam he's making 60 rwhp and 60 TQ more than I am on the same dyno and both cars with the converters locked for the final pull. Oh and both cars were tuned by the same guy on the same dyno.

Unless mine blows up (knock on wood) I'm not spending the kind of money that it takes to build a stroker. I'd almost bet that with the bigger headers, 90/90, and some bigger valves that I could get within 20 hp of his 402 any way.

Put the Dart 205s on.

 

hmmm...interesting

thanks.

and in all honesty....heads are on the books for this year...then i'll need a 12bolt...

i dont' make much money...so big purchases like those will come once a year if that.
so really i'd be looking at 3+ years till i would get around to a motor (again assuming no disasters).

so i think getting the heads that i want on the motor NOW is better than planing for a possible upgrade that could take years. not to mention i could always just do a forged 347 block.

 

Your buddy's 402 isn't running right. Probably to small of heads and cam and not much compression. A good built 401 is capable of almost 800+FWHP.
Street build close to 700FWHP and decent driving manners.That's 575RWHP with an auto.

 

yeah but that's comparing apples to oranges...

the point is that both are running similar cams....one on a 346 one on a 402

i'm sure it's a big cam for the 346, and a bit small on the stroker...but that's what i'm specifically asking.

i don't plan to change cams...so i'm specifically asking what the power difference is with just the added cubes.

 

Not much for the bucks.
If ya are not going to do it right then 33 cubes ain't s***.IMO and definitely not cost efective.

 

382 is a good idea, can be a very stout package. We have made over 525rwhp in an M6 car with a 382 and a good set of CNC heads.

Dyno numbers to me are very skeptical in general, it is a tuning tool and needs to be used as such. I know our local Mustang Dyno here in Michigan has never seen over 480rwhp out of an N/A LS1 with an A4 trans. However if you put down good power there, you are bad to the bone!!!

 

I wouldn't **** with a head that small on a stroker-motor unless all you want is lots of low-end torque and mid-range power with disappointing high-end.

My buddy picked up only 28 rwhp going from factory LS6 heads to the Dart 205cc heads. I wouldn't **** with the Darts, anyway, since people are having problems with them smoking their asses off. Mine was smoking, my buddy's is smoking, and various other people are smoking or seeing increased smoking with those heads... probably a valve-seal problem.

Mike

 

I agree with a engine of that size I wouldn't bother with a head that had less a 215-220cc runner.

I hadn't heard this about the DART heads. It sounds like a valve seal situation for sure.

 

Yeah, there's been a thread on LS1Tech about it for some time now. People accuse/defend Dart, but let be real. It's happening EVEN on heads that are bolted-on straight from Dart without extra portwork and a new valvejob.

Here's my old Vette smoking at idle after the 225cc heads were put on (smoked 0 before), although it DID dyno 471/416

Idle smoke:
http://kraest.com/vette/idle.mov

Going through the gears w/250 lbs cameraman:
http://kraest.com/vette/2ndgear.mov

 

That sucks, and I agree if the heads are un-modified and then going right onto engines that never smoked and now they are. Thats just no good.

 

a friend of mine just did a 382. he used everything off his ls1, and picked up 30hp.he also gained about 35ft/lbs of torque.i say go 382 alot cheaper than 408 and seem to make good power.i agree with victory peak numbers don't mean a thing. the 4" stroke will improve your numbers across the graph. making the car feel like a whole new beast. by the way i run strokers in both my cars.as soon as my factory warrantee is up on my truck i got a 402 for it to.
matt

 

why in the world whould you just stroke something and reuse stock cam, heads, and intake? Or are you saying he already had a cam/heads, if so those are really dissappointing numbers.

 

yeah for the small added cost of doing the stroker, over the cost of a 355, i guess i should just do the stroker.

hmm...i think i'll just worry about that when the time comes.

i think i'll be doing the 205s regardless