What ? You don't like 'Shine ? Bring on the steam locomotives ! (the only REAL ones made)

 

I wonder how effective it was to under-rate engines to try to fool insurance companies. Ford may have published a 290HP figure for the Boss 302, but it won't take a genius to figure out that it can make much more (~350HP) was the honest number. Presumably the insurance companies start charging much more when a car exceeds 300HP back then. So with today's cars advertising 400-700 HP, the insurance companies must be having orgasms.

 

Roger that... the 4-8-8-4....

 

the Chevy 427 with factory three two bbl carbs with mechanical lifter camshaft...
go 2 sizes larger on the main jets and advance the timing 8 degrees.. was an honest 500 hp...

but with crappy Tires... F-78-14.........Bias Ply..
super soft springs.. and shocks that was worthless...
control arms that could bend going backwards at 1/4 throttle...

I worked at the Chevy Dealership way back then.. and drove and wrenched on some of the fastest out of Chevy...
including the "Copo" cars. Yenko's..

 

Ah, the Big Boy ! I drove one of those Vettes back in the 70's. Only Vette I ever drove. Didn't like my left side crammed up against the door. The owner had replaced the 3x2's with a single four. I do remember the data plate on the 4 speed console.

 

IIRC the insurance people rated off advertised HP and came up with a weight/hp formula. They weren't going to dyno a Boss 302. I'm sure they tagged those cars for the cost and the extras over the standard 6 cylinder cars. "Mag wheels" of course are a sign you will be going fast. Ditto a spoiler. Anyway, I think most people who had insurance problems probably earned them through tickets vs. the up front when new rates.

I talked to my insurance co. (AAA in So Cal) about a Mustang GT back when they were only 420ish HP. Not too bad. Far from the highest rated car according to the dude on the phone.

Boss 302 and Z-28 were among the first to have the brakes and handling to (somewhat) match the power. (other than a Corvette, but I digress).

Anyway, if the OP hasn't got his answer by now he can come on and demand we get back to an answer.

 

so many changes in engines...

old.. heated intake manifold... from coolant,, BAD
many intakes today are Plastic... even less heat to fuel / air mixture...
friction and added weight.. from flat tappet camshaft design.. replaced by roller tappet.... replaced by overhead camshafts....
carburetors replaced by fuel injection...
computer controlled over points... including Timing... and as in the 6.2L adjustable camshaft timing... not just spark timing.
poor flow exhaust manifolds... to modern computer designed flow ...
No heat risers..

 

OK, so the direct way to more torque in a modern engine is probably through increasing the stroke. All the more superficial means lead to a lifetime of troubleshooting to figure out what went wrong.