1981 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC SITE
SUCCESSFUL
HIGH PERFORMANCE
ENGINE
COMBINATIONS
(PAGE 1)
"High Performance Engine/Driveline Combinations" pages, on this page I will gather information on dyno or track tested high performance engine combinations specifically. If you have a personal account of or know of an engine that fits the main criteria of being verified by REAL dyno or the drag strip please forward the specifics of that combination to me at rmchevelle@aol.com. Thanks in advance to all who submit their information.
Engine Combo #1: 350 Chevy +.030
Cylinder Heads: GMPP Vortec
Compression Ratio: 8.75:1
Camshaft: Competition Cams Xtreme Energy 268 (224/230 deg. duration at .050 with .477/.480 1.5 rockers and .508/.512 - 1.6 rockers
Intake Manifold: Edelbrock Vortec Performer RPM
Carburetor: 625cfm Road Demon
Total Timing: 36 degrees
Headers: Hedman Elite 1 5/8
Exhaust:
Real Dyno Performance: 390 hp at 6000 rpm; 427 lb-ft at 4000 rpm
NOTES: This engine is from an article titled "Miserly Mouse" written by Jeff Smith in the April 2001 issue of Chevy High Performance magazine. Jeff is also the editor of the magazine and the author of the now infamous "Goodwrench Quest" engine buildup series. He is definitely sold on the Vortec heads and reasonably so because they produce power on each of the dyno tests that he has done. Check out that low (for a performance engine) compression ratio
Engine Combo #2: 350 Chevy stroked to 383 cubic inches
Cylinder Heads: "882" Chevrolet castings, Brodix -8 Pro aluminum
Compression Ratio: "882" heads = 9.6 to 1, Brodix heads = 10.6 to 1
Camshaft: Crane Powermax series
(cam #1= H266-2 w/210/216 duration at .050 and .440/.454 lift)
(cam #2= H296-2 w/234/242 duration at .050 and .473/.488 lift)
Intake Manifold: Edelbrock Performer RPM
Carburetor: Holley
Total Timing: 38 degrees
Headers: ?????
Exhaust: ?????
Real Dyno Performance:
(Small Heads, Small Cam) 339 hp at 4600 rpm, 440 lb-ft of torque at 3300 rpm
(Small Heads, Big Cam)377 hp at 5200 rpm, 430 lb-ft of torque at 3900 rpm
(Big Heads, Small Cam) 370 hp at 4800 rpm, 470 lb-ft of torque at 3400 rpm
(Big Heads, Big Cam) 470 hp at 5400 rpm, 474 lb-ft at 4200 rpm
NOTES: This was an article in the January 2001 Car Craft magazine titled "Cams: How Big Is Too Big?". One thing that really impressed me here is the 470 hp from a so called street head. This test was done presumably to show the reader the effect of using the right "size" cam for the application.
Engine Combo #3: 350 Chevy stroked to 383 cubic inches
Cylinder Heads: 1964 Chevrolet "camel hump", GMPP Vortec, Trick Flow 23 degree
Compression Ratio: 10.5 to 1
Camshaft: Crane Powermax (cam #1=222/234 duration at .050 and .467/.494 lift)
(cam #2=244/252 duration at .050 and .516/.525 lift)
Intake Manifold: Holley Street Dominator dual plane
Carburetor: Holley 800 cfm double pumper
Total Timing: 38 degrees
Headers: ?????
Exhaust: ?????
Real Dyno Performance:
(Phase 1) "camel hump" heads = 354 hp at 5000 rpm, 422 lb-ft of torque at 3600 rpm
(Phase 2) cam #2-see above = 367 hp at 5300 rpm, 415 lb-ft of torque at 4100 rpm
(Phase 3) GMPP Vortec heads = 396 hp at 5500 rpm, 441 lb-ft of torque at 4200 rpm
(Phase 4) Trick Flow 23 degree heads = 421 hp at 5400 rpm, 448 lb-ft at 4300 rpm
NOTES: I really like this engine for the power vs. dollar aspect. This was another budget engine buildup. The finished price hovered right around $2000. That figure was accomplished by some judicious swap meet shopping. It was featured in the January 2001 Hot Rod magazine. The story featured experiments with the two cams listed above and also the 3 different heads listed above. I noticed while perusing the article that there were a couple of details left out which might add to the total bill such as headers and exhaust.
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