Chevy 409 big bore short stroke vs Pontiac 421 Super Duty small bore long stroke shootout. Hmmmm... 80 HP difference?

I would imagine the big bore short stroke would offer more low end power. Huge low end torque.

So much depends on the gearing.

Generally (CMIIW) the longer the stroke, the better the torque. Short strokes are good for high revving engines.

Ever see the combustion chambers on the 348/409 engine heads? There aren't any. Deck angles are screwy too. GM was doing some strange stuff back then, like the GMC 702 V12.

Weird motors.

Quoted for Truth. Its all about piston speed. A short stroke motor has slower piston speeds at the same RPM than a longer stroke motor, thus it can rev higher.

The length of stroke is controlled by the crankshaft. The crank functions as a lever in the power stroke. Longer lever = More torque. Runs out of legs at high rpms tho.

Rod/stroke ratio is important for high reving motors as it is not the piston speed that damages motors(twists cranks) it is the stopping/starting of the piston at TDC and BDC. That is what twists cranks and spins conrod bearings.

A higher reving motor allows for lower gear ratios. This is of utmost importance as any gear ratio lower than 1:1 Multiplies Torque. This is how tiny Honda 4 cyl motors are able to put More Torque to the wheels than the motor produces at the crank.

I always felt a certain spookiness with some Pontiac engines.

I have had two Pontiacs, one tried to kill me repeatedly the other one liked to try killing children in crosswalks. NEVER AGAIN.

No joke. I finally grenaded the engine on the one that tried to kill me, maybe the other one was out for revenge but the second time it tried that crap I drove it to the crusher so I could watch the evil bastard be destroyed beyond salvage.