There used to be a shop outta Kalifornia that advertised on the C.F. forum that posted "stock" (read: reader beware!) Dyno results for over 100 LT4s. The data showed the apex of the bell curve to be (IIRC) 350ish - which flies in the face of the 330hp factory rating. Interesting.
Want another? The factory stats for the famous 427ci L88 listing was 430 HP the same year the L79 427 was listed at 435 HP. Why would anyone want to pay PRIMIUM $ for a roudy, solid lifter cammed, 12.5;1 compression, 101 octane motor that made less HP than a very streetable L79? Obviously, most customers didn't - as build orders for the L88 Vettes never reached the 100 mark.
Fact: it's another example of numbers gamesmanship designed to throw off the general public, to encourage or discourage (skew) sales to suit a particular purpose. And, the C5 with the 348 Hp LS-1 was about to be debuted. Corvette was once again "on the ropes". So, did GM go shopping for some performance numbers they would feel comfortable publishing for the out-going C4, enough to give sales for the beleaguered C4 (Corvette) a much needed shot in the arm, and yet not so much as to take too much away from the new model? GM has done it in rhe past (the L88 vs. L79) for lesser reasons, would they/did they do it again to the LT4 C4? Time slips talk and B.S.
(dyno #'s) walk.
Just give me the rwhp/torque #s and call it good!
