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Smitty1000
Dodge Dakota
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11/17/2002
23:49:23

Subject: RE: 400bhp + V-6, or 500+?
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Why build a V6?? The challange, thats why. I think Bernd would agree, every mechanic needs a challange now and then. I've been turing wrenches and racing for a good ten years (since I was 15), and duing this professionally for 7 years, and the coolest thing I ever saw was a 92 Kota make a 12 sec pass with a V6, and he drove the truck to the track. As for as a guy off the street, well......that is up to him.

Bernd: When is the best time to call the shop, I've got some questions on some parts. I know your real busy down there. Let me know.



Sniper
Dodge Dakota
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11/18/2002
15:43:34

RE: 400bhp + V-6, or 500+?
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for all those saying it's impossible, how many 5.0's are running around with 500+hp?....plenty...maybe they're not quite as drivable as we're used to, but still very common.....that's 100hp/litre.....as long as this is still hypothetical, say we do a little work and end up with 4.0, instead of 3.9......the logical conclusion is that 400hp out of 4.0litres is very possible....sure it wuold take alot of R&D, but still feasible......



cbmoose
Dodge Dakota
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11/18/2002
21:51:02

RE: 400bhp + V-6, or 500+?
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Anything's "possible", given enough desire, time, and money. Clifford Engineering has done well providing equipment for folks who want do do something "different". But, the problem with the 3.9 is that it simply doesn't have enough room in its design to be able to handle much over 300 hp, in my opinion.
Let's look at what we have to work with, just for fun. My specs come from the Haynes manual and the Chilton's manual, 1966-1973. The oiling system is proven, LA series stuff. Maybe change the pump, and add a windage tray while you're in there. You'll need a nice, 4340 alloy steel forged crank. Perhaps Ohio Crankshaft can help us here. Next, the two-bolt main bearing caps will have to go, replaced by 4 bolt caps. The block will have to be drilled and tapped to accomodate the new studs. Now, since my Chilton's lists the stroke on the 340 at 3.31 inches, the same as the 318 and the 3.9, perhaps the parts will interchange? I hear that stroker cranks are available for Magnum V8s. Maybe a 4" stroker crank will work here as well, since the 3.9 has the same architecture as the V8s. New bearings and rods will round out the bottom end. Let's stay with the stock stroke just for simplicity, and move on to the pistons.
3.910 is the stock piston for the 3.9 and the 318. The 360 used a 4 inch piston, with a 3.58" stroke. The 340 used a 4.04" piston. There appears to be enough room left in the block to accomodate either size, so the choice is yours.
Valve and port sizes: These, along with the proper cam profile, will determine how much of a screamer you end up with. 2.02 intake, with 1.60 exhaust valves seem to be common here, so I'll run with those. Open the ports up to 340 spec, and Extrude Hone them. As far as the cam goes, since I have to drive this pup to work, I'd like it to be streetable, so a 340 spec grind gets the nod here. The existing cam is a hydraulic roller, so it's a fair combo already. Valve gear is interchangeable with anything from the Magnum line, so experiment away.
The induction system becomes problematic here. There is no mass airflow sensor on the '93 that I drive, but I'd hate to trash the fuel injection for a carb, especially since no one builds a manifold for it. Or does someone? Here, some of the tuning tricks used on the Neon may help here. So, let's run larger fuel lines, and install a higher flow pump. It would be a waste to dump the exhaust from this beast into a Y-pipe, so whatever fuel management system we use will need dual oxygen sensors, threaded into the custom headers we've made. Or do we want to use the Y-pipe, especially since it's sized for a V-8 already? Hmmm. Let's stick with the stock exhaust, and save our money for a new, dyno-tuned computer.
The 3.9 is rated at 175 hp, at about 4400 rpm. The 340 was rated at 275 hp, at 5000 rpm. I estimate this theoretical engine to make around 240-250 hp, at about 5000 rpm.



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