some older cars have 300+ ft/lbs of tq...but why so little hp?
does the smaller hp number really change speed?
i always wondered if a car with around 300 ft/lbs of tq, but only like 175 hp, would still be as fast as the tq may suggest.
idk, i guess im new to everything

is the hp number just a number?
or does it indicate slower speeds?

can someone fill me in?

 

Too lazy to explain in my own words, here, read this....;

http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles...que/index.html

 

horsepower = rpm x torque / 5252

so horsepower is derived from torque. so the more torque the more hp.

 

Agreed. Horsepower is the rate that torque is being produced. In the equation above, the 5252 is a constant but also the point on a power curve where the hp and torque curves meet. For any piston driven engine. When you add more power to an engine, you shift the power curve up. That is why you see 300ft lb cars make low hp, they are low RPM motors who make their power off idle. The power is made low. Now if that 300lb ft is made higher in the band your HP will be higher as well. See above equation.

Example (for reference)

Diesel engine making 300lb ft at 900 rpms makes 51.4hp at that same rpm.
LO3 engine making 300lb ft at 3500 rpms makes 200hp at that same rpm.
An LS1 engine making 300ft lb at 4500 rpms makes 257hp at that same rpm.

 

thats y those turbo ricers make 900hp and 450 ft/lbs of torque (numbers arent calculated so dont quote me)

 

that is so simple im keeping the formula. excellent putting something difficult to explain into a very simple form.