Imca Hobby stock, engine setup question?

Hi,

I've been a avid CC reader for awhile and decided it was about time i joined the forums.

Anyways, There is a local Imca track about a mile from my house and from time to time i build engines for the local Hobby stock class racers... Most of the racers i get want a good engine that will rev fairly fast but without sacrificing Hp or Tq... which is why i normally base my build off of a chevy 350 block.

Anyways, A guy i know has recently requested that i build him a engine that will rev a LOT faster than anyone else on the track, even if it means costing him Hp and Tq.

Normally i would go straight for 400 block and destroke it to 377 with a 350 crank as this is one of my favorite setups for stock car class, but in the hobby stock class the imca has a 361 cubic inch limit.

So, My next thought is of something i haven't built before but have heard of people building it and having good success.... My thoughts were to take a 400 block and destroke it with a 327 crank, this should put me at about 347 cubic inches which is under the limit and the engine should really rev, But my thoughts wonder how much power will even be behind all those Rpm's with such a short stroke???

Any opinions on this would be greatly appreciated, especially to any of you out there that have built this setup and ran it on a oval dirt track.  

i don't know if that has been run on a dirt track.. but i was at a used nascar parts site.. and there were a lot of used 3.250 stroke cranks there..

one of the magazines did build a 400 with a 327 or 302 crank a while back... they might have even used 300 six,  ford truck rods in it...    long rod ... minimal mods...

the 267 crank might be easier to find than a 302 crank...  3.10 inch stroke... i don't know if you could balance it with the big pistons... and the smaller counterweights..   talk to your engine balancer pro first...

307s are a good source of large journal 327 cranks...

there are also some great articles over here

http://www.circletrack.com/enginetech/index.html

and a few more here

http://www.stockcarracing.com/tech/index.html  

327's  can rev up pretty high alone and still can make great power if tuned right  

I agree, Mainly because 327's have great heads and Imca rules state that you have to use stock Gm casting heads when racing Hobby Stock class..... If i was building a engine for myself, this would be route i would go if i chose to race hobby stock.

This guy on the other hand already has a 400 block and i have had a tuff time convincing him to spend the money on a different block to build.... He's got a fairly tight wad  

i guess u have to make do with what ya got. not a huge fan of 400's so cant really help ya then  

Hello,
IMCA Hobby Stock Class does Not allow any 400 engine parts, that includes the block. Going with a 327 is the best way to go for the high rpm. I have seen cars in all classes use a 327 with great success. Plus if others know it's a 327 they are less likely to claim your engine since, most want all the cubic inches they can get.  

just build a crazy fast 327 with some good heads and a nice comp.raito they rev high. it would be a shame to destroke the 400. i wish i had one to mess around with.  

if the limit is 361ci then bore a 350 .060 and use all lightweight forged rods pistons and crank and youll have the best of both worlds.