Looking for a slant builder/guru

BillGrissom said

First, insure you understand what "power" means. That occurs at high rpm, with the engine screaming. So, unless you plan to drive around like that (sometimes looking childish), max HP may not be the most important spec. What most people describe as "power" is really low-end torque, think a Harley glugging along in high gear, ready to torque it out w/ a twist of the throttle. That is why most V-8's were sold w/ 2-barrel carburetors.

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Sorry to say your wrong all an engine makes is power whether be low mid or high end power. We're use to talking in terms high end hp and low end torque which is not accurate. Power or hp is the combined effort of torque and rpms through out the powerband. And the 2bbl thing is economics, cheaper to make then a 4 bbl no advantage with torque or mileage.

Yes you can do mods that move that powerband higher (off idle) making low end weaker under 2000 rpm even though you'll make more torque overall (hp). For street engines I see the goal is increasing the powerband without moving the powerband to far from idle.

The problem is with low power stock engines is there done by 4500 rpm and already make good low end power (torque) hard to make huge improvements down low. Most things like cam heads and exhaust moves the moves the powerband up. The trick is to increase it with little to no impact on bottom end. There's no reason you can't increase top end a 1000 rpms giving you an idle to 5500 powerband with more power across the board. Above that under 2000 rpms begins to suffer so greater stall and gears is required and most cars are under geared to start with basically anything under 4:1.

So best to do things that work between Idle and 5500 especially 2000 to 4000. The only thing I could see you really screwing up under 2000 rpms is cam. And the head is so weak have a hard time believing it could over done plus a good flow head needs a lesser cam which is more streetable then big cam poor flowing head. Plus without any head work your not gonna make more than 200 hp.