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Horsepower arguments

DONWT15

By DONWT15
in Engines & Drivetrain

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DONWT15 Enthusiast

DONWT15

Posted
  • Author
Posted
13 minutes ago, Donstar said:

Don,  I'm right behind you with a son. I am happy not feeling ancient - no time to feel old!

Less free time now than when I was still working. Funny how that works.

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duquephart Enthusiast

duquephart

Posted
Posted
17 hours ago, DONWT15 said:

Been retired for awhile now and remember growing up in the late 60's during the muscle car wars. Anybody else in that category?

My overall point is I am surprised how many complaints there are about the power these engines put out.

Take the 5.3 for example: 355 HP from 325 cubic inches. That's 1.1 hp/cube! That's pretty darn good.

Back in the old days 1 HP per cubic inch was the Holy Grail for performance engines and took some serious work to get there.

My 2015 with the 5.3 (6 speed) has great acceleration and very good mileage.

I guess it's all in what your used to.

Any and all comments or insults are welcome.

 

Does a '69 Nova 350/300 4 speed count?

DONWT15 Enthusiast

DONWT15

Posted
  • Author
Posted
5 hours ago, duquephart said:

 

Does a '69 Nova 350/300 4 speed count?

Absolutely.

 

I should list what I had since I didn't at the beginning:

 

1967 Mercury Cyclone GT   390 with a 4 speed (more or less a Fairlane)

1969 Plymouth Road Runner  440 with an auto (dreamed of Superbirds)

1971 Dodge Charger  400 with auto

1971 Chevelle SS 396 (402) with 4 speed

1974 Dodge Dart Sport  340 with an auto (the family stuff was kicking in)

All but the 67 Merc had at least a set of headers and a Holley.

 

After that family life took over and went through several 4 door Oldsmobiles, Buicks, Pontiacs, then started buying pickups in the late 90's. This 2015 Silverado would give every one of them a good run for the money.

Grumpy Bear Senior Enthusiast

Grumpy Bear

Posted
Posted
4 hours ago, DONWT15 said:

Absolutely.

 

I should list what I had since I didn't at the beginning:

 

1967 Mercury Cyclone GT   390 with a 4 speed (more or less a Fairlane)

1969 Plymouth Road Runner  440 with an auto (dreamed of Superbirds)

1971 Dodge Charger  400 with auto

1971 Chevelle SS 396 (402) with 4 speed

1974 Dodge Dart Sport  340 with an auto (the family stuff was kicking in)

All but the 67 Merc had at least a set of headers and a Holley.

 

After that family life took over and went through several 4 door Oldsmobiles, Buicks, Pontiacs, then started buying pickups in the late 90's. This 2015 Silverado would give every one of them a good run for the money.

67 Merc Cyclone. Now there's one quick car. Good looking too.  

DONWT15 Enthusiast

DONWT15

Posted
  • Author
Posted
10 minutes ago, Grumpy Bear said:

67 Merc Cyclone. Now there's one quick car. Good looking too.  

 

That's the one I actually miss the most. It came with the factory chrome valve covers and air cleaner.

Most times if I mention it a lot of people have never heard of it.

Fun car.

Mileguru Enthusiast

Mileguru

Posted
Posted
On 2/9/2018 at 5:04 PM, HoosierZ said:

Now some people think a truck needs 500hp to tow a lawn mower. 

I love this quote SO much!

I'm probably going to put it in my sig someday =)

With that said, I have a 6.2L with a TVS1900, ECM tune, TCM tune, and water/methanol to tow my lawn mower LOL!

Orlando8 Enthusiast

Orlando8

Posted
Posted
7 hours ago, DONWT15 said:

 

That's the one I actually miss the most. It came with the factory chrome valve covers and air cleaner.

Most times if I mention it a lot of people have never heard of it.

Fun car.

My first car in High School was a 71 Cyclone

DONWT15 Enthusiast

DONWT15

Posted
  • Author
Posted
1 hour ago, Orlando8 said:

My first car in High School was a 71 Cyclone

Good looking car. Built during the NASCAR aero wars.

 

How do you like the 5.3?

Orlando8 Enthusiast

Orlando8

Posted
Posted
46 minutes ago, DONWT15 said:

Good looking car. Built during the NASCAR aero wars.

 

How do you like the 5.3?

love it, so far (knock on wood) truck has been flawless

Grumpy Bear Senior Enthusiast

Grumpy Bear

Posted
Posted
10 hours ago, DONWT15 said:

 

That's the one I actually miss the most. It came with the factory chrome valve covers and air cleaner.

Most times if I mention it a lot of people have never heard of it.

Fun car.

They want to forget it because all they saw of it was tail lights. :lol:

Rob Okray Enthusiast

Rob Okray

Posted
Posted
35 minutes ago, Grumpy Bear said:

They want to forget it because all they saw of it was tail lights. :lol:

Unless you were driving 426 Hemi. 

Donstar Senior Enthusiast

Donstar

Posted
Posted

The '67 Ford line-up of cars was pretty impressive and perhaps my all-time favorite.  The Falcon, Fairlane, Mustang and Galaxie could be found at the grocery store or race track. The pick-ups and vans of this year were also fun to drive!

KARNUT Senior Enthusiast

KARNUT

Posted
Posted

In the early mid 70s the fastest muscle cars were olds and especially Buick’s. The mid sized Buick’s had more torque and HP with the 455 stage 2


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GRN69CHV Enthusiast

GRN69CHV

Posted
Posted

Keep a few things in mind in regards to HP.  Cylinder head design has come a long way as has manufacturing techniques and materials including gaskets.  Aluminum heads on iron blocks were guaranteed to leak 40+ years ago and the heads were prone to physical failure.  Camshaft designs!  Advent of hydraulic roller cams added power, not just peak HP but power everywhere especially peak torque.  EFI, engine management systems, they all work to increase efficiency.  I've personally built and ran a mild 454 based engine that was in the 550HP range and a 540 cubic inch BBC that dyno'd just over 700HP, idled at 800 rpm in gear with the AC running.  

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