What rpm power range for my 460 build

[Paul Kane]

Originally Posted by blykins

With a BBF, you'll probably save 100 lbs between cast iron and aluminum heads...

Assuming the valve train hardware between the two heads is identical, and both heads are passenger car type (ie, not A460, etc) then the weight reduction will be about 60 pounds.

Originally Posted by cycleguy55

IMO your 500 HP goal won't be attainable. In order to have the former you'll need a mild cam, and that mild cam will keep you in the 400-450 HP range, even with good aluminum heads. A bit more cam will get you to 500 HP with a BBF...

Just dyno'd an engine that made 1.05 hp/inch with a 233"@050 custom flat tappet cam, 4150 carb, as-cast dual plane, and unported Edelbrock heads, pump gas. The same results could have been fulfilled with ported OEM iron.

For a low rpm responsive 385 Series, I'd recommend stroking it. Even a little ol' 4.14" stroke 500-inch engine will meet the needs, desired hp numbers, on pump gas with a pump gas friendly compression ratio. And with the right cam the torque number will far exceed the hp number (the above noted engine made 1.22 ft-lbs/inch).