I am looking for a realistic estimate of the power the engine I am building will make. It is a small block 400, bored .040", with 5.7" rods, 22cc d-dish hypereutectic pistons, Vortec heads, .038" thick 4.190" bore head gaskets, Comp Cams XE-274H cam (274/286, 230/236, .487/.490), GM RamJet intake, EFI, Doug's Tri-Y headers (1-5/8" primaries, 2-1/2" collectors), and it's zero decked, so it should have about 10:1 compression.
Need any more info?
I don't think it'll make 500hp with the Vortecs, but I really would like to know what I can expect from it.

Thanks!

If I had to guess I'd say around 400HP/460TQ. Maybe someone can run a ddyno or EA for you.

I'd say between 350 and 400

375 hp 450 tq this is merely a "WAG"

[This message has been edited by Mwilson (edited March 23, 2005).]

I know that going off of magazine buildups can throw things way off, but I remember reading about a flattop 400 buildup with stock heads and the XE-268 cam making 400hp and about 450tq. The same engine with the XE-276 made about 440hp and 450tq.
I had also read about someone with the same bottom end but a set of better heads (Sportsman? Iron Eagle? don't remember) making 500hp.
I am hoping that the upgrades I've made would make at least 450, like the mag. build did.
So, can anyone DD this?

You're not going to make much better than 400hp with that cam and head combo. I have the same cam and A LOT better set of heads and I bet I'm just barely scratching 400hp. Unless you go with forced induction or nitrous you ain't gonna get what you want out of what you have.

You can't always reply on the magazine build-ups. Sometime those guys get LUCKY or stretch the whole truth about the matter. My buddy used a roller 383 build up out of HOTROD magazine that was supposed to be "bad as hell" and he is somewhat disappointed after ALL the $$ he wasted.

Oh, okay. Thanks.

Don't kid yourself, 350-400 hp is a pretty stout motor. Unless you are used to driving a car with that much power, you wont be dissapointed.

I have a short block very similar to yours, here's what mine is and what Dynosim says about it:

The engine is a .040 over 400 sbc, specs:
-GM 817 2 bolt main block.
-Eagle ESP Crank.
-Eagle SIR 5.7 rods.
-Speed Pro flat top 4 valve relief pistons with coated skirts.
-Dart Iron Eagle 200cc heads. 64 cc Chambers give it 10.8:1 cr
-Comp Cams Roller Tip 1.5 Rockers.
-Dart Kool Can dual plane intake (like Perfomer RPM Air Gap), port matched.
-Speed Demon 750 Mechanical sec. Carb.
-MSD Pro Billit Dist, MSD 6AL
-Lunati Bracket Master cam LUN-00012LK
specs:
Hydraulic flat tappet
Basic Operating RPM Range: 2,500-6,500 RPM
Duration at 050 inch Lift: 246 int./246 exh.
Advertised Duration: 300 int./300 exh.
Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio: 0.515 int./0.515 exh. lift
Lobe Separation (degrees): 108
DynoSim says 460 HP @ 5500 & 487 ft. lb. tq. @ 4500 @ 98% volumetric effeciency

I would guess on yours somewhere in the neighborhood of 350 - 375 hp & 450 ft lbs tq. Pretty healthy. If you went with a little bigger cam and better heads you could see 450 hp. The Vortecs are decent for a budget-performance head, but you can only get so much out of them.

BTW: I got my Dart heads slightly used for $500, what did you pay for the Vortecs?



[This message has been edited by dwright406 (edited March 27, 2005).]