When is it too much power for the street?

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Everybody wants more power. When it's not fun to drive anymore is when you have too much power. If you can't keep the tires from spinning uncontrollably, you probably have too much power. There have been quite a few here on FABO that have taken their strokers back out because they were too much. If it's sideways everytime you accelerate where's the fun of driving? (unless that's all you want to do)
 
Just because you have doesnt mean you have to use it all the time. The throttle is not an on/off switch LOL Some might try to tell you otherwise ;)

mischiefdart said:
I think a 454 in a CJ7 might be crossing the line a wee bit.I agree that good suspension and brakes that are capable of handling the increased power level are a must. Also driver discretion plays a part.
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I dont care who you are, this is BAD *** right here!!!
 
MRL Performance said:
Just because you have doesnt mean you have to use it all the time. The throttle is not an on/off switch LOL Some might try to tell you otherwise !!
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Just remember kids, it is more fun to drive a slow car fast, then it is to drive a fast car slow
 
It is all about control. If you can't control your car it is too much. If you spin your tires too much, you are going to get beat anyway.
 
I like having plenty.... You never know when a random Shelby, z06, or badass Camaro will pull up beside you with evil intent on their minds. Always cool to show 'em the tail lights of an old Mopar.....
 
66fs said:
It is all about control. If you can't control your car it is too much. If you spin your tires too much, you are going to get beat anyway.
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BING BING BING, and the number 2 answer has been given!

BlueDream said:
The point of "too much" power is dependent on how sticky your tires are and if you have wheelie bars or not...
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Perhaps.....

Oldschool said:
I like having plenty.... You never know when a random Shelby, z06, or badass Camaro will pull up beside you with evil intent on their minds. Always cool to show 'em the tail lights of an old Mopar.....
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And that would be the base line for me for the "Hot Rod" ride.

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Truly, it's not the amount of HP/TQ you have but how you use it and how well you control it.
Someone here once said there Dad told them, If your gonna be stupid, do it alone. This way, no one gets hurt. If this is about racingon the street, there is a time and a place for everything.
Around these parts, we race late night at industrial parks. There are plenty of empty back roads to run on.
 
BlueDream said:
The point of "too much" power is dependent on how sticky your tires are and if you have wheelie bars or not...
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If your humor is anything like mine, then you forgot the" lol"!
I think there's a joke in there but I'm not sure yet if I should be giggling.........It's like a joke with a double meaning. I think they have a grammatical name for that. Double-intendre?

It's like if the wheels are up you are, or could be in a second, outta control, and therefore you are at/over the irresponsible line. But if the tires and bars are doing their job, than you are still on the fun side of the line.
 
Fully understanding you and your car limitations is where it begins...... and being honest about both! Next is having reasonable judgement of when and where is the right place and time.
 
No such thing as too much power...idiots driving powerful machines..plenty of them.
 
..too much power quite often means poor drivability
hard starting,won't carry itself until warm,loads up at idle,lazy bottom end without a gear
and converter,hi revs on the highway ,loud drone,poor mileage.
..annoying for some,delightful for others!

..a slant six can be too much for a knucklehead!
 
too much power? Ill give you my example: 451 Stroked 400 block, 590 lift cam, CNC ported heads and 2" headers in a 65 Barracuda with 215 rear tires and a 3.91 rear. It was difficult not to spin the tires in any turn and on take off with a 2800 stall convertor, out it came. Of course the tires were the real crippler, but a 2900lb car doesnt help traction.
 
Once ask a Suzuki dealer how many Hyabusa's he sold.

His answer was "Sold Eight Killed Five "

There is never to much power unless owned by and asshole

My son just bought a R6 Yamaha motor for the golf buggy
 
Woods74 said:
After having posts deleted out of a topic for not being on topic, I figured I'd fire up a thread and ask the question:


Where is the line between having fun, and being irresponsible?



Thanks!
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Not sure how much power my junk makes but it goes 6.20`s and 9.70`s and I drive the hell out of it but w/ RESPECT...........Soon to be faster................:cheers:
 
Exactly what does power have to do with it?

Let me set this: '07-'08 Ram has well over 300 horsepower. Lined up against my Hyundai with almost 200 less horse. The Ram had me off the line. It's a given. The Hemi has more torque developed down low. The DOHC V6 in my Hyundai doesn't pull hard until it hits 2500 rpm. Climbing the speed ladder the Hemi had me beat by a truck length until about 75-80 mph. By the time I hit 90, that's all she wrote. Triple digits and the truck slowly disappearing in my mirror.

Huge difference wasn't just weight (I had him) and horsepower (he had me), but when each started into the power band, how quick it went into the power band, and how long it can stay in the power band, as well as turning r's quickly.

My wife, driving the same car up against a '71 340 powered Road Runner and the results were completely different. Off the line he had her, easily. He was well into triple digits before she could get there, and all she was doing was trying to get a good look at the car. Which, I might add, she did, when he slowed down enough for her to catch up, then it a was leisurely drive.

And the 340 car is rated at, what, a hundred less horse than the Hemi Ram?

"Power" is relative to the platform and has very little bearing on the outcome.

And taking that into account it's a pretty dumb question.
 
Oh, and I'll add this when it comes to power:

Enough is enough, but too much is just right.
 
mischiefdart said:
I think a 454 in a CJ7 might be crossing the line a wee bit.I agree that good suspension and brakes that are capable of handling the increased power level are a must. Also driver discretion plays a part.
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I put a 340 in a fiberglass cj-7 when I was younger, that jeep was a blast.
 
Most of the deaths from so called street racing around here are from kids in underpowered Hondas or in parents BMW's playing cat and mouse through traffic on Hwys and city streets. I really don't consider that street racing that's just stupid.

And for the OP, there's a difference between street strip car and a street only car. On a street strip car sky is the limit cause the main purpose for the power is the track but on a street only car I'd say it's some what questionable for a 400 plus hp Abody and really questionable for a 600 plus one. But if you want an whatever hp car and plan on driving it reasonably responsible then go for it.
 
400hp A-body can be a scary ride with tiny wheel's,i just got back from a ride and i almost lost it! Time for bigger wheels and tires.
 
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