How much engine is too much?

[Intrepidman]

I know I'm about to get some wildly varying responses here, but I find myself wondering, just how much power is enough? Basically, when does an F-body come to the point that it really can't handle anymore power? (As a street or road track car...drag racing is an entirely different story)

There must come a power level at which even with the best aftermarket suspension and 315mm Nitto NT05s on the back, you start blowing the tires off all the way through 2ng gear (which is 90mph in an A4 car)

But what kind of power are we talking about to do something like that, I don't think an LS7 would be unmanageable, but how about an LS9? or would unmanageable power only come from truly over the top builds?



On a related note:

Obviously, I don't have any experience with massively powerful cars, or I wouldn't be asking...but, if someone did drop an engine into an F-body that was simply too much for it to handle, would the solution simply be to drop a longer ratio gear into the rear end and enjoy longer periods between shifts...or would that negate the advantage of a more powerful engine?

[c5z28]

No such thing, when you have to much power you solve it with more grip, and if you can't break it lose you put in more power. Nitto's-psshh plenty of grippier tires out there.

[Sarge]

It is all about quickness and not how much HP one makes. The HP focused crowd are called "Dyno Queens".
Yes...a 400 rear wheel horsepower car can run faster times than a 700 RWHP twin turbo. Simply put the guy that gets it to the ground wins.

Horspower sells cars. Torque wins races.

[Intrepidman]

I don't disagree at all Sarge, I was just thinking that with todays technology, its relatively easy and not terribly expensive to make a ridiculous amount of power...but as you said, other than bragging rights on the dyno, can a street/roar race car actually make use of that much power > with the right set up and a set of slicks F-bodies are hooking with 1000(s) of hp/tq, but that's an entirely different set up compared to a street/race set up where handling is a consideration and slicks or DRs are not there to help you hook.
Power is great, right up to the point that you make so much power that you can't even feather the throttle coming out of a corner without spinning across the track....that would really ruin my day.

[Smittro]

That's right if you can't get it to the road may as well roll down your window and throw money out it.... Big difference in "fast" and "should be fast"...

[Knight]

The only time I would say a car might have enough power, is if when you pressed on the gas it caused instant death. Otherwise, you can always add more.

[Intrepidman]

The only time I would say a car might have enough power, is if when you pressed on the gas it caused instant death. Otherwise, you can always add more.

Replace "instant" with "imminent", and you are not far off the mark when it comes to some tracks and only facotry safety equipment.




On a side note, I knew I should have titled this thread differently to avoid so many people replying "There is No such thing as too much" lol

[SMWS6TA]

I quote - "Warp speed Mr Zulu!!"



OP ask that question to the ppl that throw in a 427 Cobra or a LS3 with a super charger into a Miata, a BOSS 302 into a pinto.

[35th-ANV-SS]

802.378 rwhp and 792.884 rwtq

[SMWS6TA]

802.378 rwhp and 792.884 rwtq

[Blackbird WS6]

well a boosted or spray car can make a shit load of power and be very streetable....i dont know what the limit is susp wise but theres people making 1000+rwhp on a f-body susp setup

[Intrepidman]

802.378 rwhp and 792.884 rwtq

VERY Nice! ... Can you get that thing wide open in 2nd or 3rd on the street? .. If so, what tranny, gear and tire make/size are you running. That would be great info IF you don't mind sharing all your secrets ;-)

[tatertot91]

VERY Nice! ... Can you get that thing wide open in 2nd or 3rd on the street? .. If so, what tranny, gear and tire make/size are you running. That would be great info IF you don't mind sharing all your secrets ;-)

I think it was a joke

[Sarge]

I don't disagree at all Sarge, I was just thinking that with todays technology, its relatively easy and not terribly expensive to make a ridiculous amount of power...but as you said, other than bragging rights on the dyno, can a street/roar race car actually make use of that much power > with the right set up and a set of slicks F-bodies are hooking with 1000(s) of hp/tq, but that's an entirely different set up compared to a street/race set up where handling is a consideration and slicks or DRs are not there to help you hook.
Power is great, right up to the point that you make so much power that you can't even feather the throttle coming out of a corner without spinning across the track....that would really ruin my day.

I'll share a lil something here I dont often "share". I drove the Radio Shack Pro Stocker many years ago. Vette. Built by Jim Pressley of Corvettes by Pressley. That is how I met my wife. Did not have any dyno's and shit then. But I "guess" we put down somwhere around 600 RWHP and ran 10's.Since then cars (Pro Stock) put down maybe 30% more power and run what? 6's? 5's? A 100% ET difference. The difference is the chassis and rear ends. Today I have a totally street legal 2004 GTO /AC/Leather seats etc. car. Runs 10's. It aint the power...it is the geometry and chassis.

[shady milkman]

No such thing, when you have to much power you solve it with more grip, and if you can't break it lose you put in more power. Nitto's-psshh plenty of grippier tires out there.

There must come a power level at which even with the best aftermarket suspension and 315mm Nitto NT05s on the back, you start blowing the tires off all the way through 2ng gear (which is 90mph in an A4 car)

actually the NT05s are really good autox or hpde tires...they arent quite like the 555rs with drag racing.

i think for autox and hpde there is definitely a limit. The biggest one being the class you are competing in. then you have grip..but most of the time that can be solved with the proper set up...mind you the gt1 C6r had 580@5400 rpm and 610 tq@4400 rpm. obviously they could have got more power but didn't need it and i believe they were limited by the class.

[chuckie669]

I quote - "Warp speed Mr Zulu!!"



OP ask that question to the ppl that throw in a 427 Cobra or a LS3 with a super charger into a Miata, a BOSS 302 into a pinto.

Warp speed is fast, but when you hit ludacris speed... then you have enough power

[35th-ANV-SS]

I think it was a joke

It was...

I'll let you all know how I hook up on the streets come April. I'll be putting down around 550 to the wheels.

Suspension set-up in sig.

[20ws6speed01]

( gt1 C6r had 580@5400 rpm and 610 tq@4400 rpm. )

[mark21742]

Make it too fast and too powerful, then work on a very good traction/ stability control to make it not spin when you don't want it to.

With torque management and traction control you can tame even the wildest beast

[transam_00]

It is all about quickness and not how much HP one makes. The HP focused crowd are called "Dyno Queens".
Yes...a 400 rear wheel horsepower car can run faster times than a 700 RWHP twin turbo. Simply put the guy that gets it to the ground wins.

Horspower sells cars. Torque wins races.

I agree. which is why my brother and I planned on making a diesel powered muscle car. They did it with a 65 impala in diesel powered magazine and was running insane times. Diesels naturally make more torque.