Destroked Small Block?

I agree mostly to fit class rules the hemi was destroked for nascar to 305 in the end.

But stroke and engine size don't really decide engine potential. Heres where people usually confuse hp and torque as 2 separate things.

The ultimate limit of an engine is bore size, cause it limits intake and exhaust flow (valve size and it interaction with the bore).

But the true limit of a sbm is that it comes apart somewhere after 600hp so in that way 318/340/360 have the same limit or potential.

If the rotation assembly is made from the same material at the max piston speed limit (redline) for each stroke 2.96/3.31/3.55/3.58/3.79/4 etc.. will have the same power potential for a given bore.
Cause it will br able to pump the same cfm (hp) through the engine.

But since you can't keep the same rod ratio for each the short ones will eat a bit of power due to friction.

Torque is basically power per one powerstroke and hp is all the powerstroke added up over time (rpm).

500hp is 500hp doesn't matter how you divide it up between torque and rpm as long as geared right both can to the same job.
Performance wise.


Bigger engine have obviously advantage on the street. Better street manners needs less gear and stall more reliable etc...

On the track that doesnt matter much. If a high revving short stroke long rod gives you a slight advantage in a highly competitive class then its worth it or is able to make it to the end of a 500 mile race over an engine slightly more but less reliable than its worth it.

Thats why we got to be careful of some of these race theories that come from the racing world dont always mean much in the everyman street car.