himmelberg
Torque vs. horsepower
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: Rowland Heights
Torque vs. horsepower
Just wondering what you might be trying to achieve with your F series truck. There is no replacement for displacement? does sizes matter? Is the dark side out for more RPM? I read that low rpm maximizing torque engines usually last longer. What about the effects on the drivetrain? I'm sure there are many options on this topic.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2001
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From: Iowa
Ed
A lot in that question. There are a lot of reasons driving our powerplant selection. Himmelberg has already nailed the answer for many of us. Bigblocks have a certain aura about them and will always attract a following. As do other options like Y-blocks, strokers and such. The other half of the darksiders are looking for a modern engine with good street habits. (fuel efficiency for one). Many of the guys just happened to find a deal on a modern engine and grabbed it.
As far as low torque engines outlasting a higher revving engine. A lot more to the equation than that. The Asian automakers just about buried us with high RPM low torque engines that routinely lasted considerably longer than our Detroit V-8s of the 70-80s. Properly maintained, there are few engines that wouldn't last longer than most of us would conceivably ever drive our Effies.
A lot in that question. There are a lot of reasons driving our powerplant selection. Himmelberg has already nailed the answer for many of us. Bigblocks have a certain aura about them and will always attract a following. As do other options like Y-blocks, strokers and such. The other half of the darksiders are looking for a modern engine with good street habits. (fuel efficiency for one). Many of the guys just happened to find a deal on a modern engine and grabbed it.
As far as low torque engines outlasting a higher revving engine. A lot more to the equation than that. The Asian automakers just about buried us with high RPM low torque engines that routinely lasted considerably longer than our Detroit V-8s of the 70-80s. Properly maintained, there are few engines that wouldn't last longer than most of us would conceivably ever drive our Effies.
Last edited by fatfenders; Feb 10, 2005 at 06:16 AM.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 8,813
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From: Littleton, New Hampshire
Ed,
I want reliability, reasonable gas mileage, good parts availability, and enough horsepower to stay with traffic. I prefer torque to RPM because I think it is easier on internal parts. Yes, there is no replacement for displacement!
Vern
I want reliability, reasonable gas mileage, good parts availability, and enough horsepower to stay with traffic. I prefer torque to RPM because I think it is easier on internal parts. Yes, there is no replacement for displacement!
Vern
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Riverside, So Cal
Ed -
I think the answer to your question is going to be very personalized to each member. A daily driver is going to need something very different from a weekend warrior built for bragging rights and burnouts.
In the time I have been on the forum, I have heard of MANY different options from built 460's, Hemis' and BBC's (blown and otherwise) to 4.6's and 5.0's with EFI, to 6's (stock and some very exotic 6's, no less).
My impression is that "Darksider" refers more to custom or "not stock" than to engine specs.
I personally like torque over rpm's. Torque is what twists the wheels. And whether your drag racing or towing, there's no substitute for it. But I can't think of any other vehicle less suited to drag racing than a pickup truck. No weight over the drive wheels...but the burnouts are awsome!!! Gotta love "line lock".
I think the answer to your question is going to be very personalized to each member. A daily driver is going to need something very different from a weekend warrior built for bragging rights and burnouts.
In the time I have been on the forum, I have heard of MANY different options from built 460's, Hemis' and BBC's (blown and otherwise) to 4.6's and 5.0's with EFI, to 6's (stock and some very exotic 6's, no less).
My impression is that "Darksider" refers more to custom or "not stock" than to engine specs.
I personally like torque over rpm's. Torque is what twists the wheels. And whether your drag racing or towing, there's no substitute for it. But I can't think of any other vehicle less suited to drag racing than a pickup truck. No weight over the drive wheels...but the burnouts are awsome!!! Gotta love "line lock".
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: Rowland Heights
Randy,
It's an interesting topic that I'm sure everyone has an options. I like the feeling I get when the tires chirp between each gear change.
I remember a write up that covered the details, and in the end the writer closes with, remember, you cannot have horsepower without torque, but you can have torque without horsepower, it's called a dump truck.
It's an interesting topic that I'm sure everyone has an options. I like the feeling I get when the tires chirp between each gear change.
I remember a write up that covered the details, and in the end the writer closes with, remember, you cannot have horsepower without torque, but you can have torque without horsepower, it's called a dump truck.
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2000
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From: La Verne, California
Ed
My '70 300 I-6 has the Best of both worlds.
She developes 400 Foot Pounds of Torque, 300 Horse Power w/ 10-1 Compression Ratio & idals @ 675 RPM w/o rattling a Quarter that was placed on her Valve Cover.
Her Holley 1850 is jetted conservatively, the Trans is a Heavy Duty/High Performance '70 C-4 & I'm looking into installing 3.25 gears w/ an HD/HP Equaloc.
Which is being installed into my Red '58 Mercury M-100 Truck, Draca, as in the Female version of Draco, as I type this.
Cheers
Colonel Flashman
My '70 300 I-6 has the Best of both worlds.
She developes 400 Foot Pounds of Torque, 300 Horse Power w/ 10-1 Compression Ratio & idals @ 675 RPM w/o rattling a Quarter that was placed on her Valve Cover.
Her Holley 1850 is jetted conservatively, the Trans is a Heavy Duty/High Performance '70 C-4 & I'm looking into installing 3.25 gears w/ an HD/HP Equaloc.
Which is being installed into my Red '58 Mercury M-100 Truck, Draca, as in the Female version of Draco, as I type this.
Cheers
Colonel Flashman
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Lancaster SC ,
Let's see in my feeble mind.....
Horsepower would be like finding and marrying a Supermodel, Torque would be marrying a girl that can and will cook. A fantasy would be both in one !
Bwaaa haaaa haaaa
Bubba
Horsepower would be like finding and marrying a Supermodel, Torque would be marrying a girl that can and will cook. A fantasy would be both in one !
Bwaaa haaaa haaaa
Bubba
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From: Seattle WA.
Originally Posted by 55Bubba
Let's see in my feeble mind.....
Horsepower would be like finding and marrying a Supermodel, Torque would be marrying a girl that can and will cook. A fantasy would be both in one !
Bwaaa haaaa haaaa
Bubba
Horsepower would be like finding and marrying a Supermodel, Torque would be marrying a girl that can and will cook. A fantasy would be both in one !
Bwaaa haaaa haaaa
Bubba
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 244
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From: Blenheim, Ontario, Canada
To get real good horsepower numbers, you need to move up the rpm range and give up some bottom and midrange torque. So you end up giving up the torque in the range that you normally drive but oh does it feel good for the 5% of the time that you venture into the power band. This is especially true for the small blocks so I would think the best of both worlds would be a 351W stroked to 408 or 427 without outrageous mods to the intake tract ie. RV cam, smaller runner heads and conservative carburetion. This gets closer to the characteristics of a big block without the size and weight. A certain inline 6 comes to mind as well.
Regards, John
Regards, John
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