engine size computation
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 2,719
Likes: 1
From: Lee's Summit MO
engine size computation
to me anyhow, I know both the CID and the Liters for most of the engines pre-97. Whatever a person calls a motor is up to them. Most of the engines put in 80-96 trucks were used at least 20-25 years. Everyone knows these engines well. They (cid/Liters) didnt change at all.
I call the post-97 engines by their Liters because I dont know their Cid's except the 4.6 which is 281.
Evan A.K.A. PastMaster
1993 F-150 302/E40d XLT
1989 F-150 302/Aod 4x4 XLT Lariat
I call the post-97 engines by their Liters because I dont know their Cid's except the 4.6 which is 281.
Evan A.K.A. PastMaster
1993 F-150 302/E40d XLT
1989 F-150 302/Aod 4x4 XLT Lariat
Senior User
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 349
Likes: 1
engine size computation
The cubic inches of an engine is actually the total volume displaced or "swept" by all the pistons. If you can imagine the volume swept by a piston as it moves from bottom dead center to top dead center, it would take the shape of a "cylinder" and look something like a Planters peanut can. Multiply that volume by eight (for a V-8) and voila, you get the total displacement. The actual formula for the volume of a cylinder you may recall as "pi x r-squared x h. A simplified formula for engines would be:
displacement = 3.1416 X (bore/2) X (bore/2) X (stroke) X (# cylinders)
For a small block 351 (or FE 352) the bore and stroke is 4.00 X 3.5. The math would be:
3.1416 X (4.00/2) X (4.00/2) X (3.50) X (8) = 351.86
Not really rocket science, but interesting. HTH
FL Panhandle
displacement = 3.1416 X (bore/2) X (bore/2) X (stroke) X (# cylinders)
For a small block 351 (or FE 352) the bore and stroke is 4.00 X 3.5. The math would be:
3.1416 X (4.00/2) X (4.00/2) X (3.50) X (8) = 351.86
Not really rocket science, but interesting. HTH
FL Panhandle
