To Stroke, or not to Stroke

[chlngr1970]

So, I was talking to a guy today that was thinking of going with a stroker 400, and advised me that the stroker engine was just not worth the extra expense, including all the machining of the block. He was telling me a stout 400 should give me more than enough power to give me 11's with the right gears and tires.

What I am looking for is a solid 11 second car that will run on pump gas. The specs I was thinking of are as follows:

• 400 Block
• 440 Crank
• .040 over pistons ( probably Flat Top )
• MP 284/.484 cam
• 9-9.5:1 Comp Ratio
• 452 Heads, worked over
• HV oil pump
• Edelbrock Performer RPM intake ( or better, suggestions? )
• Holly 750 or 850 carb
• MSD 6AL ignition
• MSD, or MP Electronic Ignition Distributor
• Maybe even an electric Fuel Pump
• Mancini Racing Trans ( RM Valve Body )
• 3.55/3.91 rear gears
• 29X10X15 rear tires...probably BFG Drag Radials

The Duster will have most of the sheet metal, save maybe a glass hood. The Battery has already been relocated to the trunk.

This is gong to be a weekend warrior, with an emphasis on being able to drive to the track, and car shows once it is complete.

Any advise? Am I going overboard wanting the 451? Will a built 400 with my combination give me solid 11's?

j

[Doc]

What type of exh system ?

[chlngr1970]

Ahh, forgot to add that.

I am looking at the TTI Try Y underchassis headers, with an X-Pipe, and Flowmasters.( I have knock offs on there now, and they work pretty good ) I am thinking of either 2.5 or 3" pipes, turned down after the muffler, just before the rear axel...like I have now.

Looks like I also forgot to add the 10"/11" converter too. I was thinking of the Turbo Action or TCI Torque Converter in the 10" or 11" flavor. I was warned away from I think it was TCI on the tranny, and was thinking of the Mancini Racing trans in a couple more bonus cycles ( am taking a bonus cycle approach to fund this little project...more stuff every 6 months )

November I wil be getting the 400/727, tortion bars, Schumacher motor mounts, and the dual snorkle hood scoop. Next I plan on getting the body pannels, then the stroker kit, then some interrior parts, then have the body work done while having the engine built. Once the body is ready for paint, I can paint the engine compartment then install the engine. Bring the car home for that, and do the interrior, and finish up the painting last. It's going to take a while, but will be one sweet ride when I am done. I am quite excited.

j

[Doc]

My thoughts ? ... ADD a set of Eddy heads and increase compression ratio with some mild domed pistons. 11 second possible. Add a bigger cam and a touch bigger gear ? .. 11's ferr-sure.

[chlngr1970]

A couple questions, and a couple concerns.

First, is this with or without the Stroker kit? Second, how much more with the compression and gears? The goal is to be able to run pump gas, and going to much over 9/9.5:1 comp is treding into greater than pump gas territory. Also, going with a lower gear kinda kills the streetability, doesn't it? Wouldn't 3.91:1 be the most you would want for a street car? 4.30/4.56:1 would be cool, but how about highway driving? Aren't RPMs going to be kinda high with that? A while back, I had 4.88:1 gears and it sucked trying to drive on the freeway, and in Texas, you don't want to be in the heat at city street speeds for too long

So, just so I understand, are you saying run about 9.8:1 comp, with a 292/.509 cam, and say 430 gears without the stroker kit? Is that still a streetable combination?

j

[Doc]

How about a REAL streeter combo ? .... 2.76 ... I have one. Wanna' talk about that ?

[chlngr1970]

Well, I doubt that will get me to the 11's I have a 3.23 rear now.

j

[chlngr1970]

Anybody else have any opinions on stroking a 400 for a street/strip application? Should I have put this in a different forum?

j