500hp From 270ci
Vortech Stuffin' Our Chevy Wee 6

It had to be done. In one corner of the shop was our fresh 4.3L Chevy V-6 , and at the other end was Vortech's new centrifugal supercharger system for carbs ("Vortech Blower for Carbs" in the same issue). Bringing the scenario to its logical conclusion, one would have to meet the other. The Vortech system was designed for the small-block V-8, but in our sick dreams, there was no reason it wouldn't bolt right up to the sawed-off six. We couldn't stand it until we proved ourselves right--so we did, and ended up with 501 hp and 437 lb-ft in the process. We also got greedy and managed to puke a head gasket at 12 pounds of boost.

Let's review. The 90-degree, even-fire V-6 in question shares much of its design with the small-block V-8, which is why the blower bracket bolts to the head and why the pulley setup works. Our lil' puppy is 0.060-over for 270ci with Speed Pro LW2256 forged pistons for 9.1:1 compression, and for beef it's got Milodon rod bolts, main studs, and a windage tray. The ported stock heads use Milodon 2.02/1.60 valves bumped by Comp Cams' biggest V-6 hydraulic roller, a 280HR with 224/224 duration at 0.050, plus Comp Pro Magnum 1.6:1 roller rockers for 0.560 lift. The manifold is an Edelbrock Performer, and in naturally aspirated trim we made 301 hp at 5,500 rpm and 316 lb-ft at 4,400 with a 650-cfm Mighty Demon carb. That's through dinky, 15/8-inch-tube Hooker S-10 headers.

Bench racing ensues. When we tested the Vortech S-Trim setup on our HT383 crate engine, power jumped from 476 naturally aspirated to 675 on 8 pounds of boost and 91-octane 76 Performance Products pump gas. Applying the same math--a 42 percent increase, or 1.76 hp per cubic inch--it looked like the 270ci wee 6 would make something like 425-475 hp. But it seemed like 500 hp was the magic number, and we were willing to see what it would take to get there.

We bolted the Vortech blower to our Vortec engine and added Electomotive's HPX direct ignition system because a distributor would not clear the carb enclosure. Everything else was exactly as it had been on the 383 V-8, including the 6-inch crank pulley and 2.95-inch blower pulley; this combo made a bit over 8 psi at 6,000 rpm on the V-8, so we anticipated much more on the V-6 with 112 fewer cubes. We even used the 383's 750-cfm Mighty Demon carb with 88/97 jetting and the secondary high-speed air bleeds cut down from 0.040-inch to 0.028. Remember that the pressurized carb box requires a boost-referenced fuel system so that fuel pressure increases in direct proportion to boost. We fooled with the V-6 timing and discovered that it liked 32 degrees total under boost on 76 Performance Products 100-octane pump gas. Then we whacked it good, and much to our delight, the little sucker made 475 hp at 5,800 rpm with a peak boost pressure of 9 psi.

As we noted with the Vortech on the HT383 engine, the rpm at peak horsepower and torque increased with the blower's ability to continue to deliver airflow as rpm climbed. In fact, the V-6 kept making more power the higher we revved it. It was a rare circumstance where the hydraulic lifters didn't float around 6,200 rpm, and the blower kept making boost until, on one glorious pull, the V-6 made 501 hp at 6,200 rpm and 439 lb-ft at 4,800. Then we tried another at 6,400 rpm and gacked the head gasket. You can't really blame it: We were cramming 12 psi into the poor engine and asking it to deliver a power increase of 70 percent over the baseline. That's about when stuff breaks.

02. There was no way this setup was going to work with a conventional distributor because the carb enclosure is almost as long as the V-6 valve covers, making it too long for a distributor to fit. We went with Electromotive HPX direct ignition, and this plug is needed for the distributor hole to prevent an internal oil leak at the lifter gallery.
03. We'd never had firsthand experience with the Electromotive HPX direct ignition, but we found it almost easier to use than a distributor. Shown here from left to right are the Crank Trigger Simulator, to mimic a signal and allow you check the spark or adjust timing without the engine running; a Remote Timing Control for on-dash adjustment of plus or minus 7 degrees of timing; the multiple coil pack, this one with three coils for a six-cylinder; the trigger wheel; the crank trigger sensor and two optional mounting brackets for small Chevys; the distributor plug; and finally, a MAP sensor that can be used to retard timing as the blower comes into boost for perfect streetability and mileage.
04. Setting up the HPX is as simple as this: Just align the crank sensor with the trailing edge of the 11th tooth after the gap in the trigger wheel. That will provide 0 degrees of timing under 400 rpm (during cranking), or you can move to the 13th tooth for as much as 12 degrees of timing during cranking. We had to do that to avoid some backfiring through the exhaust because the coil packs fire companion cylinders simultaneously (power stroke on one cylinder, exhaust stroke on the other).

One solution would be to add copper head gaskets and O-ring wire (SCE Gaskets makes 'em for 4.3Ls) and keep throttling, but it would be more prudent to fling a bigger blower pulley on there to calm down the boost, then be happy making a stone-reliable 450-475 hp all day long on 91 octane. Put that in your Monte Carlo SC or LS and smoke it.

The Shriek of Power
RPM HP TORQUE
3,500 245.2 367.9
3,600 253.7 370.1
3,700 264.2 375.0
3,800 275.0 380.0
3,900 287.4 387.1
4,000 299.3 393.0
4,100 311.2 398.6
4,200 321.8 402.5
4,300 331.4 404.8
4,400 340.7 406.7
4,500 349.5 407.9
4,600 362.1 413.4
4,700 371.4 415.1
4,800 380.8 416.7
4,900 391.5 419.6
5,000 401.6 421.9
5,100 414.9 427.3
5,200 424.3 428.5
5,300 434.8 430.9
5,400 445.4 433.2
5,500 454.8 434.3
5,600 461.5 432.9
5,700 467.4 430.7
5,800 475.1 430.2
5,900 480.6 427.8
6,000 488.2 427.4
6,100 495.9 426.9
6,200 501.4 427.4