I threw this thinking out (mostly) years ago when I was a young buck when I found out the bore and stroke combo of the NHRA top classes and heard of the rpm they were spinning.
I put “mostly” in parentheses because it comes down to (What I thought then a ways back) the equipment being run above the short block. Now I know the crank, rods, pistons and rings along with the machine work in addition come into play.
Years later in life…. What I realized was the rpm was dictated by the cam size & valve spring to control the valves properly and only better enabled with the proper parts to allow big breathing.
So to that end, I pondered how a big stroke big block was spinning 10,000 rpm and traveling as fast as they did. For me, it became apparent that I had a zero idea of how things work.
I honestly never truly grasped “Ultimate Piston Speed.”
As if they would suddenly break apart and crumble away or something.
