350 - 270 Combo Horsepower

[rick winchester]

I hate to get into a pi%%ing contest on which engine is better . that being said anyone who thinks a 402/315 is better than a 350/270 is mistaken. If I am wrong someone needs to notify Demarzo,Johnny Gray and Sepanek so they will quit wasting their money and time running them. This is just one guys opinion ,I can say that the 402/315 is way to high. 280 to 285 would be a lot closer in stock. SuperStock is a different story. Oh by the way I run the 350/270 @278 not 270. Rick.

[Joe DeMarzo]

Rick & Jim are dead on. The 350/270 rated 278 is a better combo. I had a 402 big block in my nova and researched a number of combo's and Johnny Gray gave me the best insights. What is nice is that a lot of racers run the combo (HP avg) and we share information on what works and doesn't. Rick I think you should move to D-1 (lol) and we can learn from each other. . It is not all about HP but torg, converter, carb, and suspension. Good luck with your choice njk53.

By the by Gray, Sepanek and I all have different engine builders.

[rick winchester]

Joe, I would love to come east and race someday,but from what I hear about the taxes up there I could not afford to live anywhere near the east coast. As for sharing info I really don't think you want to slow down ?lol. Hope to meet you someday,maybe at the nationals.If you are ever near Cincinnati look me up. Take care. Rick. ps You are right ,Johnny knows his stuff and the Sepaneks are damn fast when it counts.

[njk53]

Originally Posted by rick winchester

I hate to get into a pi%%ing contest on which engine is better . that being said anyone who thinks a 402/315 is better than a 350/270 is mistaken. If I am wrong someone needs to notify Demarzo,Johnny Gray and Sepanek so they will quit wasting their money and time running them. This is just one guys opinion ,I can say that the 402/315 is way to high. 280 to 285 would be a lot closer in stock. SuperStock is a different story. Oh by the way I run the 350/270 @278 not 270. Rick.

Rick, when you say the 402-315 is way too high do you mean the NRHA factored horsepower as being way too high? If so I agree. We have asked the NHRA for a HP reduction for our combo but no dice. I hate to admit it I raced another K/SA car heads up at Norwalk a few weeks ago and he just walked all over me, it was that bad. I have had a couple of engine builders that stated the 402-300-315 engine combo wouldn't be their first choice. If you guys out there knows of anyone successfully running the 402-300-315 combination, I would sure like to speak to them for advise. Maybe we are doing something wrong, I don't know. I feel our car is just too heavy for the power it makes.

[rick winchester]

Yes that's what I mean. If I remember right Cal Method ran that engine in a 71 Camaro years ago.He is one of best out here at making one run and changed for a reason. If you look at the class guide you can run 0/sa with a 350/270 @40 lbs lighter than you have to weigh in K/sa with a 402/300/315. I am not cutting your combo because anyone that can run under the index impresses me and that's not easy with anything. If you want to stay in K/sa you can make your car a Nomad 2 seat wagon @585 lbs.lighter than the 402. Its not going to be easy with any engine,but I know I would rather have the 350. Good luck. Rick.

[njk53]

Originally Posted by rick winchester

Yes that's what I mean. If I remember right Cal Method ran that engine in a 71 Camaro years ago.He is one of best out here at making one run and changed for a reason. If you look at the class guide you can run 0/sa with a 350/270 @40 lbs lighter than you have to weigh in K/sa with a 402/300/315. I am not cutting your combo because anyone that can run under the index impresses me and that's not easy with anything. If you want to stay in K/sa you can make your car a Nomad 2 seat wagon @585 lbs.lighter than the 402. Its not going to be easy with any engine,but I know I would rather have the 350. Good luck. Rick.

I think the main problem with the 402 in our 71 wagon is the intake manifold. Our current engine builder said the manifold is the limiting factor for making good power with that engine. I would love to stay in K/SA (because I have 2 engines and parts to boot) but, I also want to be somewhat competetive within my own class. Currently I am not anywhere near what other K stockers are running. The car itself is a good car hooks good, drives straight, and is an easy car to drive. I'd would like to keep it even if I have to go to a different engine combo.

[Mark Yacavone]

(1970) 350, 2bbl, R/SA Not much more weight .
Not many heads up runs that you couldn't handle in Div 3

K/SA is a bad place to be if you can't run at least 11.80.

[Tim Lisson]

I ran the 402 combo in my 72. Sent several cams through it but it was never really steller. Granted, there is much better camshaft technology today that may make it worth while if you really don't want to change combos. If memeory serves me correct, my best et was 11:27 @ 117.01 in H weight, in great air. The intake is restrictive and very low. The ports actually turn up to the intake ports.

Tim

[impstocker]

I ran a 396/325 combo and will be running the same motor in my 65 Impala. I thought it ran pretty good pushing my 4100 lbs 68 Impala to 11.70's . Checking out the specs compared to the 402/315 they are pretty close except I run 290 heads which have a little more intake port volume. Cam intake lift same at .398 but more for 402 on exhaust at .430 Then I did notice the intake manifold for the 402 really a "low riser" compared to the 396/325 which is a more of a "high riser" design. Makes sense than that manifold is the problem. Just wanted to throw my thoughts in.

Will Lamprecht

[njk53]

Originally Posted by Mark Yacavone

(1970) 350, 2bbl, R/SA Not much more weight .
Not many heads up runs that you couldn't handle in Div 3

K/SA is a bad place to be if you can't run at least 11.80.

I agree with you on your statement that if I can't run 11.80 I am in a bad place. Unfortunately, I am almost .4 off of that. That's why we are looking at the 350-270. The 350-270 combo would put us in M/N/O. That is why I am trying to get information as to how much power the 350-270 combo can potentially make to sand help us make a decision if that would be a good combo for our car. As I said, the car itself is not a bad car, it is just the HP - Weight ratio that is lacking merit.