Barbie
yes If first gear was the limit of your driving experience, then each of these engine could be geared to take off at the same torque level, which would then feel very similar. The problem comes when you get past the stall speed and thru the rest of the gear, to reach second gear.
For instance; say we have a 273 and a 360; that they are each in a same weight car, both have the same automatic, same tires and an 1800stall TC.
So lets start with the 360/320hp.Lets say it makes 160 ftlbs at stall and is pumping through a 3.23 gear. Well 160 x 3.23 = 517 ftlb to the axles.
Next we have the high-winding 273-4. Lets say it makes 118 ftlbs at 1800stall. to make it feel like the 360, it will also have to hit the 517 ftlb mark. so 517/118 =4.38s.
So these two will both feel exactly the same at exactly 1800 rpm.After that the 273 will wind out much faster, and perhaps the 360 struggles to keep up. And then the 273 hits second , and the torque output falls back into the basement, and the 360 which is just now coming into it's own, whizzes on by. The 360 hits 60mph still in first gear at 5900 rpm. The 273, shifted at 45. his rpm fell from 6000 to 3550, and he is now struggling to get out of that deep hole.At 60 he will just be coming alive at 4700 rpm; and the race is long over, cuz we are about to speed.
But you said not racing.
Well ok, Do you wanna keep the 4.38s behind the 273?Probably not. You might want to hit the hi-way occasionally. So 3.55s? Sure let's put 3.55s in both of them.
So cruise rpm at all speeds will be the same. So lets say you are in no hurry,and take both of these cars side by side to 30% throttle. Pick a number, any %number. Which one will get to 35 mph sooner. Oh you don't care right, Allright then which one will have to be driven harder to get to 60 mph, to merge in traffic? Oh you don't care right? Alright then, which one will use less gas to go from here to there.Oh now you care?
If not for racing,why do we build bigger smallblocks. Well I think we build bigger small blocks for lotsa reasons. Some want to smoke the tires to 65 mph. Some want to cruise at 1800 rpm but still have some giddy-up.Some want to drop the hammer at 35 in second and beat the yellow light.Some build 'em cuz it costs the same as a smaller engine.Some want to slide every corner they see.Some want to come up behind a slowpoke and stab it in top gear and hit 85 as they pass his front door.Some build 'em cuz they just always wanted more than a teener, and some just want what they want.
I have this memory from a very long time ago, and I know I don't have enough years left in me nor the money...This is not a poke at the 273. This is something part memory, part imagination, part desire.... I'll tell you about it.
I can imagine a small engine in a heavy car. I imagine it with really tall gears.I imagine it with about a 2400TC.I see it with a 2bbl, hi C/R a short cam and a willingness to work hard. I see myself hitting the gas, and waiting, and listening and watching. I have no tach, no gauges, a full tank of gas,and nothing but open road. My little engine is blasting a sweet tune out the dual straight-pipes.I am waving to all the smiling people,who are watching. And waiting. And listening. When she hits about 2800, she shifts, and everybody sighs, as the little engine says "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can." And now we are at 37mph, back at 2400ish, and the people are disappearing in the mirrors.With my foot still in the carburetor, I reach over and grab a slug of A&W.Yep those pipes sure are singing a sweet song. Life is good . The windows are down, the sun is shining, and the speedo is slowly creeping to it's destination. Soon she will be shifting again, but I'm kicking back listening, waiting, watching.I got nowhere to go I just wanna go. Ah 62 mph here comes the shift right on time. Shall we go some more or are we done. I think I can, I think I can...................I think I can.
I see it as a 273 in a big boat Chrysler 4dr hardtop with power everything. Yeppers power everything
