Here's the deal...I have a 410, its fully assemble and nicely broken in.
When we dynoed it the first time after building it last year it make peak HP of 330 with timing locked in at 25ish and we all agreed it was way low.
So after some time passed and I ran it I've taken it back to the builder for a full tuning. After carb and timing changes they managed to eek it up to 370 at the back tire but the power levels drop off when we try to run it with an advance that totals out at 32, 34, 36 etc. The custom erson cam grinder, the builder, and myself...all say this should be putting out WELL over 400 at the back tire.
So without going into too many intricate details about the grind and the build...can having the cam degreed in 'improperly' and needing to adjust it 4 degrees really net 50-60-70 HP to the back tire?
I basically need to make a decision here....I have a new cam from Ed Curtis that I could have them install or I could let them retard what is there and see what it gets me on the power band. I don't want to pay for double work (since I hate paying anyone to work on my car anyway) so if I have them redegree what is there I would keep it as is for at least the remainder of this season (and possible much longer because it is almost where I want the car)...it will be a little cheaper obviously not to switch the cam, but I'm loosing (or rather have none) confidence that a change like this can net such a large gain. What can it realistically net me?
The background on why I am looking for more power is the car goals:
Street car: Check! has an AOD, 4:11 gears, does about 12 MPG and gets driven 124 miles round trip to my office whenever I get a chance.
Opentrack for fun car: Check! has a full road course suspension on the car and as it sits the car's capabilities currently far out weight the driver skill so no current plans for improvement there (the car....the driver still needs a lot of work).
Drag Race for fun car: ALMOST
the goal has always been 11.5-11.9 with the only addition being that I would put 17 drag radials on it at the track instead of straight street tires. The best to date has been 12.2 at 109.9 so I feel it is very close. I did that time with the 330HP tune on the car so even with the retune I hope to see some positive returns, when combined with a little more practice at the starting line I might have enough to get there...its just I would like to make sure I have the power there to overcome the road course suspension, 245s on the front, and poor driver skill, etc...
Nick
http://www.dodgestang.com
