[Stan Weiss]

Originally Posted by ponyakr

Found his chart compiled by Air Flow Research.

It says that 200cfm flow will only support 411.4 hp,

and that 250cfm flow will support 514.3 hp.

https://www.hotrod.com/articles/airf...ylinder-power/

Don't have a clue how this might apply to Pontiac engines, or if it would, at all.

Another rule of thumb, ball park, figure I saw posted was that hp potential is aprox 2 times the flow. So 200cfm flow would support 400hp. 250cfm flow would support 500hp.

Many say an engine is just a air pump. So, power potential depends on how much air you can pump thru it.

But, all this doesn't answer all my specific questions about the power potential of the particular Pontiac engines in question, in legal SS form. Most, or at east many of those may never be answered. But, at least I'm searchin for the answers.

Actually reaching the predicted power level requires maximum compression, the right cam, a tuned exhaust system, and a nonrestrictive carb and intake manifold. The combined lift generated by the cam lobe and rocker arm should equal the observed lift on the flow bench needed to achieve the desired intake port flow. You don't want a doggy exhaust port, either. Depending on the engine, if the intake/exhaust-port flow ratio is 65 percent or less, the engine may not meet your power goals, although it can be crutched in some cases with a dual-pattern cam.

Stan