NASCAR 302 or 351? Things that make me go hmmmm...

[Unit 5302]

Hmmmm...

I occationally wonder, could a 302 whip the 351 on the high speed ovals? NASCAR forces builders to use a restrictor plate correct? That restrictor plate limits the amount of cfm that can flow into the intake manifold, and therefore, into the engine.

The 351 obviously gets a bunch of power taken away from it's maximum potential, look at the rpm they run on high speed ovals versus other tracks.

My question about is, wouldn't a 302 be able to achive just as much power as a 351 when limited to a certain amount of cfm flow?

The way I see it the 302 has this going for it

• Greater efficiency
• Less restriction of max performance
• Higher rpm capability
• Quicker response

The 351 would retain
[list][*]More displacement[*]Lower rpm reliability[*]and Known potential[list]

I don't think anybody will dispute a 302 is a more efficient motor than a 351, but when is the tradeoff really reached under high powered applications? A greater amount of drag due to longer stroke versus the added drag from from higher rpms. The greater reciprocating mass from larger rods versus greater piston velocity. Could a 302 spinning at say 9000rpm with the restrictor outpower at 351 at 7800rpm?

My personal opinion, I'd like to think the 302 could whip the 351 with a restictor plate, simply because I hate the 351, and I love the 302. Don't ask why, I couldn't explain it if I tried I don't think.