I disagree and here is why. There is not so much trouble going for 1 hp per cui with a relatively small budget just read the many articles from Hot Rod magazine like this one here http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles/ccrp_0601_amc_360_engine_build/index.html
Here you can see a fresh build 360 engine but stroked to 370, I realize they are doing somethings that maybe our 401 buddy isin´t doing like longer rods and alu heads but he has more cui and that gives a lot.
I´m not a big fan of these edelbrock alu heads because they don´t flow much more than stock AMC heads with a mild porting job also you can see they are not running a big cam here but getting 437 hp that´s impressive. the cam they are using is not so different from the calm that our 401 friend is using..
And finally the compression ratio is higher on the magazine engine that this one but here´s something I have realized a lot of people think the compression ratio is making a BIG change in horsepower and tourqe output but this is what is really happening from the stock 8,4:1 to 9,5:1 compression there is a lot of difference both in power output and MPG but from 9,5:1 to 10:1 there isin´t really maybe something in MPG but a few hp
For example I saw and article couple of years ago and they where having this trouble with a drag engine that had 15:1 compression ratio and turned out 860 hp but the guy who bought it wanted to put it in his street car so he could drive it so they desided to lower the compression ratio from 15:1 to 11:1 and dynoed the engine after the change and it turned out 820 something hp so here you can see the higher you go with the compression it makes less and less affect.
Maybe my numbers are of 20 hp or even 30 but The 401 motor we are talking here is a EASY 420++ hp in my opinion but maybe you know something I don´t ?
Best Regards Leonard from Iceland = )
