Quote:
Originally Posted by Dominik
600Hp may not be out of line if you really know what 600Hp (and the torque that comes with it) means. Hell, early 70s Can-Am Big Blocks rarely had that.
Most people who own a "600Hp" car and drive my 550Hp think I have 800Hp...
Many a client want a 514cui, because 460 is not enough, having "seen it all", but suddenly want a weaker cam in their 460.
Have you ever driven a car with 600hp and 550lbft, I mean: Did it have that much and did you DRIVE it???
My mate's 428cui features 500Hp and 450lbft. Does 10.6 e.t. on sliks with an otherwise track set-up.
Now: Your turn :-)
Dominik
|
I could not agree more, first of all the FE engine design (cylinder heads and manifold) are certainly not in a league with all the new small block heads/ manifolds and just don't produce big HP numbers because of their flow numbers, valve placement, valve angles and combustion chamber design. Translation, it is hard to get big numbers from a street FE.
I have had various FE engines with flywheel horsepower of 480, 530, 585, 702, 734, and 806 in my Cobra.
The 585 Hp engine would brake traction in fourth gear with fully warmed soft compound 12" wide road race slicks @ 5500 RPM with a 3.31 rear end ratio when too much throttle was applied. Any time you have over 500 HP in a Cobra you had better have damn quick hands or you will have a big problem.
An (HONEST) 450 horsepower engine with 480-500 Lb/Ft in a Cobra is more power than any Cobra on street tires can use 95% of the time. If you have soft compound 335 rears you could probably go up to 550 or so, but then drivability or crashability can become a problem.
Modern cars with big horsepower have much more sophisticated chassis designs, greater weight, and longer wheel bases with electronic counter measures (with some exceptions) so they do not pose the mortality threat of a 90" Cobra. If you look at the statistics on Vipers, Ford GT's and Z06's you will see a high rate of low mileage crashes so they are not immune, even though some weigh 1000 lbs more than a Cobra.