harrisonm
Well-Known Member
Thanks everybody. It was a question that just popped up in my mind (or what's left of it). You all gave me a lot of good information. I think I understand now.
I agree with your definition of Horsepower. But essentially a single piston briggs and straton engine making 75 hp and worn chevy 305 V8 making 75hp NEGATE your opinion;torque is what is going to move the vehicle (outside of gearing) and rpm will dictate the final speed of the OP's objective.
Torque AND at max rpm for th eOP's objective is what is needed. Horsepower is also a measure of acceleration and driving constantly at top speed isn't acceleration.
horsepower is torque over time. that's it. a measure of acceleration of torque. end of story.Torque and hp aren't separate powers that do different things in an engine. Yes the op needs torque and rpm to reach his objective but we normally call combined torque and rpm "Horsepower", hp is torque with rpm and torque and rpm are hp, torque with rpm move accelerate maintain highway or even top speed or whatever work you want but use and call it hp so we can calculate the work and engine can do. The main difference as to hp between 2 engine that make the same hp but different torque is one will need more revolutions in the same amount of time "rpm" to do the same task.
My '69 GTX. This is my 2nd GTX. (Replacing my loss from years ago.) This car is same exterior color. Same a little over stock 400+ HP 440 performance package. Same 4-speed and same Dana 3.54:1 rear. What is different? This car has 15" rear rim with 28" tires. Compared to 26.5" 14" rims tires of first car. As expected? This GTX is not as quick thru the gears. But my first GTX was done at 130 MPH. With a bit of a spooky vibration. This car? Is not happy until 90+ MPH. Then it's 440 starts pulling. At 130 MPH? It's still pulling. With a very comfortable float on the road. On a very lonely interstate. I saw its 150 speedo bury. And tack at around 6100 RPM. (I'm guessing speedo was doing its best on accuracy.) But tach confirms with tire height and rear gear to be 140+ MPH. Car was still remarkably stable. Only valve float ended its pull. (I shutdown more on fear of tire qualifications to sustain that speed and temps.)Show me that car that goes 160 mph...I doubt it ran 160 mph without crashing. I owned a mopar car that ran an easy- no vibration 150 mph and would do so for a good while with ease. I spent a whole lot of money making it able to do that. Aerodynamics & proper suspension play a huge role above 130 mph. A tremendous amount of air starts pushing under the car above 130 making it unstable.
Above 150 it gets more interesting - I spent seat time in other faster cars so i have been 160 mph on a closed course. Ford GT, Corvette, Mustang track cars, Older former SCCCA Mustang race cars, Viper.
Show me that 160 mph rocket ship!
Show me that car that goes 160 mph...I doubt it ran 160 mph without crashing. I owned a mopar car that ran an easy- no vibration 150 mph and would do so for a good while with ease. I spent a whole lot of money making it able to do that. Aerodynamics & proper suspension play a huge role above 130 mph. A tremendous amount of air starts pushing under the car above 130 making it unstable.
Above 150 it gets more interesting - I spent seat time in other faster cars so i have been 160 mph on a closed course. Ford GT, Corvette, Mustang track cars, Older former SCCCA Mustang race cars, Viper.
Show me that 160 mph rocket ship!
They had 150 MPH speedo? And a 340 having the torque to push that heavy a car to 150? That's even more amazing. That guy was not stock for '73? Someone did some parts and wrench time.My 73 STOCK 340 Rally Charger wrapped the 150 speedo all the way straight down goin out I-16 just east of Macon with six of our dumbasses in the car about 80 or 81. All because one of um asked "Rob, how fast will it go?". I held it on the floor till it quit speedin up and said "bout right there."
Now, here's the rest of the story. That was on a Saturday mornin on the way to Pat Patterson's junkyard to see some cool stuff. That followin Monday, me and my best friend Kirk, jumped in the car on our way to auto shop class downtown. Soon as I turned in the driveway to the shop, my right front tire blew out. I was goin probably 3MPH. Both front tires has the polyester cords showin through. Yeah, I've done some stupid stuff.
They had 150 MPH speedo? And a 340 having the torque to push that heavy a car to 150? That's even more amazing. That guy was not stock for '73? Someone did some parts and wrench time.
My 73 STOCK 340 Rally Charger wrapped the 150 speedo all the way straight down goin out I-16 just east of Macon with six of our dumbasses in the car about 80 or 81. All because one of um asked "Rob, how fast will it go?". I held it on the floor till it quit speedin up and said "bout right there."
Now, here's the rest of the story. That was on a Saturday mornin on the way to Pat Patterson's junkyard to see some cool stuff. That followin Monday, me and my best friend Kirk, jumped in the car on our way to auto shop class downtown. Soon as I turned in the driveway to the shop, my right front tire blew out. I was goin probably 3MPH. Both front tires has the polyester cords showin through. Yeah, I've done some stupid stuff.