Stroke Q ?

[Frank Elder]

No this is not a proposition!!

Knowing that our engines are long stroke, depending more on torque for our git up and go than horsepower my Q is......can our engines be destroked to gain more HP, or would that just be counter productive?

This is just a theoretical question as I certainly cannot afford a custom billet crank.

[55 Fargo]

In-line L head 6, with shorter stroke equals less HP, as per 218, compared to the longer stroked 251.

This is with Canadian Mopar flathead engines, as they were all the same block, just different cranks,rods, pistons, to create the different displacements.

Now a V8 with overhead valves, this method might produce more hp, but look at SBC 383 stroker, longer stroke.

I think for more HP, creating higher compression, more effecient indution, and exhaust, would be the route to take for more HP.

Check out the Head that Edgy made, it is vavlve in head design, to allow better breathing, that facilitates, in producing more HP, and I am not sure it broke 200 hp, so not all that much bang for the buck, but still cool nonetheless.

How about a Hemi, now that engine will have some horsies to be developed

[greg g]

shorter stroke = less compression, assuming no other changes. If you look at a short block 218 compared to a 230 with their heads off, you will see the piston at tdc is down in the cylinder about 1/16th of an inch. In the 230 the piston comes almost level with the top pf the block. Giving you more squeeze.

When the OHV V8 engines became the rage the HP wars among the manufacturers. It was here that the engineers changed horses in mid stream from low revving torque producers to higher rpm HP motors. So for that design philosophy, short stroke under square engines became the rage, HP ratings moved up and so did the RPM's at which that performance was reached.

[Plymouthy Adams]

actually the undercut of the crank some .125 felt on both extremes gives you an added throw of .250 and the piston relationship is yet the same on the 230 as the 218 the crank and rod difference make the CI..the bore is untouched as is the piston pin position..

[Frank Elder]

Thanks Guys! Our flattie has to have a long stroke got it.