Tech / General Engine Is your car making a strange sound or won't start? Thinking of adding power with a new combination? Need other technical information or engine specific advice? Don't see another board for your problem? Post it here!

HP/TQ ratio?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 08-16-2005, 10:27 AM
  #1  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
88_Import_Slaye's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Grand Terrace, CA
Posts: 678
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 88 Camaro
Engine: 310 LG4
Transmission: 700R4 w/2200 stall
Axle/Gears: 3.42
HP/TQ ratio?

What is the optimal HP/TQ ratio for a street car? What I'm asking is, it better to have more TQ than HP, more HP than TQ or equal HP/TQ at certian RPM? This question is geared towards a street car that does drag pulls at the strip every now and then.
Old 08-16-2005, 11:05 AM
  #2  
Moderator

 
Apeiron's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Mercedes Norte, Heredia, Costa Rica
Posts: 20,981
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes on 8 Posts
Car: 1984 Z28 Hardtop
Engine: 383 Carb
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 3.54 Dana 44
It's best for every car, regardless of application, to make equal torque and HP at 5252 RPM.
Old 08-16-2005, 11:23 AM
  #3  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
88_Import_Slaye's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Grand Terrace, CA
Posts: 678
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 88 Camaro
Engine: 310 LG4
Transmission: 700R4 w/2200 stall
Axle/Gears: 3.42
Originally posted by Apeiron
It's best for every car, regardless of application, to make equal torque and HP at 5252 RPM.
I've heard that before somewhere now that you tell me...

So even for circle track cars and cars that run the silver state race?
Old 08-16-2005, 11:30 AM
  #4  
Supreme Member
iTrader: (2)
 
vernw's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Dallas, TX area
Posts: 3,205
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 91 Formula WS6 (Black, T-Tops)
Engine: 383 MiniRam (529 HP, 519 TQ - DD2K)
Transmission: Built '97 T56, Pro 5.0, CF-DF
Axle/Gears: 4.11 posi Ford 9"
Uh, actually, the equations that calculate the HP are based on the TQ values.

Plus, those equations FORCE the TQ and HP to ALWAYS be the same at just over 5200 RPM. All motors have equal HP and TQ there.

IMO, on the street - TQ is King!!!!!
Old 08-16-2005, 11:31 AM
  #5  
Moderator

 
Apeiron's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Mercedes Norte, Heredia, Costa Rica
Posts: 20,981
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes on 8 Posts
Car: 1984 Z28 Hardtop
Engine: 383 Carb
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 3.54 Dana 44
HP = TQ * RPM / 5252

It's not just a good idea, it's the law.
Old 08-16-2005, 11:33 AM
  #6  
Supreme Member

iTrader: (1)
 
DuronClocker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Elgin, IL
Posts: 3,085
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Car: 1997 Corvette
Engine: LS1
Transmission: 4L60E
Axle/Gears: 2.73 IRS
IIRC, math and physics says that HP and TQ are going to be equal at 5252RPM no matter what engine it is.

For a street car, you want as flat of a torque curve as possible. Torque isn't everything though, you still need HP. Torque is what gets you going, horsepower is how fast that torque accelerates you.

Someone on here had a quote about torque being how far through the tree you go, but horsepower is how fast you hit the tree, or something to those lines..
Old 08-16-2005, 11:37 AM
  #7  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
88_Import_Slaye's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Grand Terrace, CA
Posts: 678
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 88 Camaro
Engine: 310 LG4
Transmission: 700R4 w/2200 stall
Axle/Gears: 3.42
i've heard Torque is the work that can be done, Horse power is how fast the work can be done
Old 08-16-2005, 12:15 PM
  #8  
Supreme Member

iTrader: (1)
 
DuronClocker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Elgin, IL
Posts: 3,085
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Car: 1997 Corvette
Engine: LS1
Transmission: 4L60E
Axle/Gears: 2.73 IRS
That's another way of wording what I was trying to say. Exactly.
Old 08-16-2005, 12:38 PM
  #9  
Moderator

 
Apeiron's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Mercedes Norte, Heredia, Costa Rica
Posts: 20,981
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes on 8 Posts
Car: 1984 Z28 Hardtop
Engine: 383 Carb
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 3.54 Dana 44
A car with more torque will accelerate over a given distance in less time.

A car with more HP will require less distance to reach a given speed.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
InfernalVortex
Electronics
10
04-20-2021 11:31 AM
Vincent135
Transmissions and Drivetrain
9
09-28-2015 10:50 PM
Damon
Tech / General Engine
8
09-26-2015 04:29 PM
83 Crossfire TA
Suspension and Chassis
6
09-18-2015 12:01 PM
83 Crossfire TA
Suspension and Chassis
0
09-08-2015 12:06 PM



Quick Reply: HP/TQ ratio?



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:15 PM.