How Much Is Too Much?

[BMK]

Mmmm just enough

[427SnakeSC]

I am running a 302/370 hp., 5 spd. and a 4.11 final drive. It is extremely quick! 1st gear is practically useless. 0 - 60 time is 3.5 sec. I will be opting for a 427 SO built by Keith Craft in my new car. I will be running a CR 4 spd. toploader with a 3.54 final drive. I have the feeling I will be learning to drive all over again! LOL

[JBCOBRA]

The engine size/power/drivablity question is partially a function of where you live. How much traffic, gridlock vs. open roads? All the power in the world won't do much good sitting in traffic. My car pretty much hates traffic.
Try and factor this into your selection of engines.

[flybynav1965]

greetings,
i have not purchased my engine yet, so that is why this forum is so helpful.

to those of you that have "tons" of horsepower, how often to you really use it? on the track is one thing, but street cruising, is 400+ HP overkill. the reason i ask is that i'm on a budget of about 10-11k for engine and tranny. if i budget 2500 for tranny, that leaves about 7-8k for the power. also, i will have to "contract" out my engine, for i do not have the expertise to build one. any suggestions for any engine that i can get for that amount and be THRILLED with?

thanks for your expertise and opinions,

JOE

[Dwight]

If you want a 351w/408 about 420 rwhp it will cost you about $7000 - $8000.
FE BIG BLOCK; Keith Craft sell a 455 cid, over 500 flywheel HP, for about $7000. You can build a strong 351w for $5000 - $6000.
Mike Lane has a 408w for sale $5000. You can drive it before he pulls it out of the car. I have a 5.0 EFI and I'm getting close to 400 fwhp. I plan on getting it dyno soon. With 400 hp and a 2400 lb car, you do not have to fear anything next to you at a street light. But there is always something faster. Maybe that Honda with a wing.
Dwight

[Fred Z]

Joe............you might call CHP here in the South LA area.........they make great motors and can help you.............for that money they will build good hp, and it coms tested WITH a 2 year guaranty!! Hard to beat that!! their number is somewhere in the sideboards on this site.........they are no building mine and have heard nothing but excellent things about them! If you like, you can mention my name........but they may not be tuned into that, yet!
good luck........................
Fred.

[Fred Z]

Joe............you might call CHP here in the South LA area.........they make great motors and can help you.............for that money they will build good hp, and it coms tested WITH a 2 year guaranty!! Hard to beat that!! their number is somewhere in the sideboards on this site.........they are no building mine and have heard nothing but excellent things about them! If you like, you can mention my name........but they may not be tuned into that, yet!
good luck........................
Fred.

[Excaliber]

To me the question is not how much horse power, how much TRACTION and whats the right GEARING for the horse power.

If you can't hook up 400, 500 is rather pointless, see my point?

Going with to low of an overall 1st and 2nd gear ratio is just a waste of tires and time. The trans 1st gear ratio need to take into account the rear gear ratio for a reasonable 'hole shot' on 'street' tires. Well, unless your building a dragster only and plan on running slicks.

For maximum enjoyment (street 90% of the time) consider a cam shaft profile that works well with your cruising rpm, which is determined by your final gear ratio.

Say you go with a 5 speed with over drive, cruise rpm is 2200 at 70. Then you have cam with a profile of 3500-4000 and up. You'll find yourself down shifting to keep the motor happy, OR, cruising at 100 mph to get within the cam's profile rpm.

500 horse and ultra low rear gear\trans ratio will result in a wild ride with lots of tire smoke and a tail happy car, that WON'T be 'fast'. With proper gearing and tires 500 or more is quite managable.