I agree the big block torque curve will be broader, but I said with gear and converter to match the combo's.
With that said a big block with a 275/60/15 tire with 3.23 shifted at 6000 rpm would fall back to 3500 in second, then back to 6000 and fall back to 4000 in drive. While a small block with the same tire and with 4.10 shifted at 7500 would fall back to 4500 in second and back to 7500 then fall to 5200 in drive. That small block would have 500rpm more pull in 1st-2nd shift and 300rpm more pull in 2nd-drive thats 800 rpm more total. This is figured on both cars with a 727 and stock gear ratio's. This would also be with the converter dead locked which we know don't happen, but still more useable rpm from the small block.
You stated matched optimized combos between the two. A 500 HP BB is not optimized with a 3.23 gear. Further, it wouldnt fall back to 3500 rpm in second with the right vert.
The original question, 500 HP BB 440 vs 500 HP SB 360 in a 3000# car. In this case alone, at this level of performance, the broader torque range of the BB,s extra stroke should win.
The argument of Mechanical advantage with more gear has merit. But you can overgear IMO, Ive found that with my 500HP combo, it likes to dwell a little in first gear with the verts torque multiplications aspects.
Ive tested 3 gears with the same HP. RPM and gear multiplication isnt always the fastest way to the stripe at these 500 hp levels.
Pro stocks 500CI and 10,000 rpm,s sure different story.
