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400 ci shift point

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Old Jul 16, 2022 | 01:15 PM
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400 ci shift point

My 400 make 435 hp/ 510tq on paper. Hydro roller good to 5500. I'm not sure where my shiftpoint should be. Keeps pulling to 5400rpm but not sure if it's passes the hp peak.

Anyone with similar engines?
 
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Old Jul 16, 2022 | 01:36 PM
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Did your paper say what RPM you were getting your power?

You must have put in new valve springs--any recommendation on those for max rpm?

Any rod work? ARP bolts? Other anti-grenade items?

You are probably good to 5500 when needed....
 
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Old Jul 16, 2022 | 04:18 PM
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Should be good to 6000+ mechanically. It will keep pulling to 5500 if I let it, but I might be too far past the hp peak. Can't fine my old desktop dyno chart at the moment, that would help. Looking for anyone with a "similar" set up to compare with.

Again, talking about a 1/4 mile run.
 
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Old Jul 16, 2022 | 05:54 PM
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Torque and traction wins the race.
 
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Old Jul 17, 2022 | 07:21 AM
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Do not deal with magic paper
Deal with a chassis dyno
Then you will know actual numbers and the RPM of those numbers
I think you are close at 5400 RPM but you want exact and to be sure
That means find a chassis dyno close to you and have it tested
Good luck
 
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Old Jul 17, 2022 | 07:27 AM
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Dyno numbers will tell you the shape of the torque and HP curves but they really won't tell you much about the ideal shift point. You can only determine that at the track by running a few passes trying different shift points to see what's best. Sometimes shifting way past the peak can be the best and sometimes just the opposite and you never know unless you experiment.
 
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Old Jul 17, 2022 | 03:14 PM
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Yes Trial and error I shift quick sometimes and win easier than rodding the hell out of my unit
Used to race the hell out of my 69 Z28 never lost to a big block anything
Well I take that back, there was a 383 Magnum Cuda I used to loose to once in a while
And a built 460 Rancheroo gave me some trouble once
 
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Old Jul 17, 2022 | 06:05 PM
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I don't know how true it is for drag racing but usually the more restricted the induction the greater amount you have to over run the power peak which seems weird but I guess it's just required to get the best average power and acceleration. A good example is circle track racing with a 2 barrel carburetor. A 355 with a 4412 will typically power peak at about 6100rpm yet at the track it'll do best running to about 7200. The same basic engine with a 7448 will power peak at about 5200 rpm yet typically turn the best lap times revving to about 6800.
 
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Old Jul 18, 2022 | 08:56 AM
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My old dyno 2000 charts show peak HP at 6,000! Manifold only advertises to 5500 but there are a lot of improvement. Guess I'll do the dyno when it cools off a little, 100 degrees here. If the HP chart is still climing at my shift point I'll know what to do.
 
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Old Jul 18, 2022 | 09:36 AM
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Originally Posted by beartracks
My old dyno 2000 charts show peak HP at 6,000! Manifold only advertises to 5500 but there are a lot of improvement. Guess I'll do the dyno when it cools off a little, 100 degrees here. If the HP chart is still climing at my shift point I'll know what to do.
Most of those computer dyno programs assume that stuff like the intake manifold is more ideal than in the real world. They assume that stuff like flow and mixture distribution is uniform from cylinder to cylinder and there isn't any weird standing wave or reversion stuff to mess up the cylinder filling.
 
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Old Jul 18, 2022 | 10:39 AM
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Is the engine balanced worth a scheit and can it hit 5500rpm like right now?
That's the kicker
How about 8K
Like right now
That is the kicker
 
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Old Jul 18, 2022 | 10:53 AM
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Originally Posted by manicmechanic007
Is the engine balanced worth a scheit and can it hit 5500rpm like right now?
That's the kicker
How about 8K
Like right now
That is the kicker
Sometimes it can be amazing how high rpm can go when the engine can free rev. One of my circle track customers was running the 7448 on a 2101 Performer intake. On a restart the cars all checked up coming off of the corner and just when he had put the throttle down he was bumped from behind which totally unloaded the rear tires and caused him to spin out. The engine which normally turned 6800 went to 8700 rpm. Yikes! but no harm done.

 
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Old Jul 18, 2022 | 11:57 AM
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Engine is balanced, polished rod and crank, ARP bolts all around, MSD, Speed Demon 750, Headers, forged pistons at I think 10:1. Total seal rings, roller cam at 216/224 at .050 with .562/.586 lift. I appreciated the input. Just have to wait for cooler days.
 
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Old Jul 18, 2022 | 12:15 PM
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That sounds nice
Cooler sounds nice
Got gas boiling out of carbs around here
 
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Old Jul 18, 2022 | 12:30 PM
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Yes! I converted to electric pump and a return line. No more problems. The BeCool radiator and electric fans don't hurt.
 
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