Poll: Which would be a more fun C4 daily driver 350HP/450TRQ or 400HP/400TRQ?
I'm building a 383...It looks like the numbers change quite a bit based on the intake.
It would seem that with the stock ported TPI intake and ported 113 heads and a more or less run of the mill 383 you can make
350HP at the crank complimented by 425 to 450 ft/lbs of trq.
But with an LT1 conversion intake on the same 383 you should make 400 to 425 HP and 400 ft/lbs of trq.
These numbers might be slightly higher or lower....but with a C4 vette which is more fun to drive everyday --- with the occasisional (1 to 2 times a year) trip to the track.
Increased horsepower gives you the option to take advantage of gearing to increase the torque at the axle/wheels as desired to suit available traction. It doesn't work the other way around.
The goal is to maximize HP at any given speed. Excess torque is of no real benefit once the tires are spinning.
Increased horsepower gives you the option to take advantage of gearing to increase the torque at the axle/wheels as desired to suit available traction. It doesn't work the other way around.
Exactly. Go for the higher horsepower and simply gear the car to fit. Gives a more flexible car and one that can leave decently hard and walk away up top. We can all tell ourselves that 0-60 is all that matters until someone comes off the on ramp behind you and reels you in like your car had an asthma attack in third and fourth gear. Good gearing and some power up top makes a big difference there.
Another thing to consider like LT4BUD pointed out is how is the torque made? A lot of setups are real torquey in the 2500-3500 range, but fell off pretty steeply. My car pulls hard from about 2500 all the way to 6800 never letting up, just building.
My opinion is that your car with that proposed motor with the LT1 intake and a compatible cam to utilize the extra RPM range on it will walk away from the same motor with a ported TPI intake, especially since you mentioned the stock one. Either way though, I'm sure you will enjoy it.
Location: St. Peters MO Sometimes you have to prove yourself by doing alot of killing or alot of dying...
Quote:
Originally Posted by *89x2*
More torque, period.
on the street... torque is your best friend. Actually just to put it into prospective <flame suit on> my Dak R/T with 250hp and 375ftlbs of torque is more fun to drive than my vette. However the vette is just a blast at the track, on the twisties, abandonded highways and air strips... ect.
on the street... torque is your best friend. Actually just to put it into prospective <flame suit on> my Dak R/T with 250hp and 375ftlbs of torque is more fun to drive than my vette. However the vette is just a blast at the track, on the twisties, abandonded highways and air strips... ect.
If the car is an auto, more torque, if the car is manual, the balance of 400/400 will be overall more fun, plus if you do any open road driving it will come in handy but if you are just going to cruise around town, you will never need the extra HP since most encounters will be light to light in which case the guy with the most torque and launch skills usually wins even from a 5-8 mph rolling start.
I'd go with more HP every time. Stock the car has 350 torque and that is good, so I wouldn't want to be dropping under that. The 400/400 is sweet! The 450/350 even better.
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Andrew
'88 Corvette: coupe, Z52, auto, 3.07, A/O ram air intake, K&N, free mods, ported SR, ported TPIS big mouth base, ported heads, brake ducts, C5 calipers, Carbotech pads, lowered, C5 silver thin spokes all four 18x9.5", LT4 injectors, TPIS headers, March under drive pulleys. Dual exhaust with H-pipe. Lightened! Corbeau A4 seats, harness bar. 1.25" and 1" tubular sway bars with heim links.
I like torque, its more fun to play around doing burnouts and such. I can tell you from experience that without horsepower, you will fall flat on your face at higher speeds... like the end of the 1/4 mile.
Poll: Which would be a more fun C4 daily driver 350HP/450TRQ or 400HP/400TRQ?
Sure-you don't need that HP until you're over 90MPH and that gets you to work too quick! 
