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Chevrolet RPO 573 specs: 348 ci (5.7L) 8-cylinder, 4.125 x 3.25 in (104.8 x 82.6 mm) bore and stroke. Rated 280 hp, 1959–1961. Used in the Chevrolet Bel Air.
The Chevrolet RPO 573 is oversquare — the 4.125" bore exceeds the 3.25" stroke by 26.9% — a layout that favors airflow and RPM over leverage at the crank. The 3.25" stroke does not reach 4,000 ft/min of mean piston speed until about 7,400 RPM, so piston speed is not what limits this engine's revs — valvetrain and breathing are. Each of the 8 cylinders displaces 43.5 ci (713 cc).
It is one of 13 engines in the Chevrolet 348ci family, all of them 348 ci — the differences between them are in compression, heads and rating, not displacement. 3 factory variants share these dimensions, rated at 280 hp across 1959–1961.
| Displacement | 348 ci / 5.7 L |
|---|---|
| Bore | 4.125" |
| Stroke | 3.25" |
| Cylinders | 8 |
| Configuration | V8 |
| Bore/stroke ratio | 1.269 |
| Block material | cast iron |
|---|---|
| Head material | cast iron |
| Valvetrain | OHV |
| Fuel type | gas |
| Advertised HP | 280 hp |
| Years | 1959–1961 |
| Bore/stroke character | 1.269 — oversquare — bore exceeds stroke, which favours higher RPM and larger valves |
|---|---|
| Mean piston speed at 6,000 RPM | 3,250 ft/min — conservative for a street engine |
| Displacement per cylinder | 43.5 ci |
Each link opens the calculator with this engine's specs already filled in.
These records share identical bore, stroke, displacement and compression. They differ by model year and factory power rating.
| Year | Advertised HP | Code |
|---|---|---|
| 1959 | 280 hp | RPO 573 |
| 1960 | 280 hp | RPO 573 |
| 1961 | 280 hp | RPO 573 |