Interesting DOHC vs. pushrod 500+ motors

[Paul Workman]

I ran across a couple SBC videos of engines claiming to be 500+ hp, and thought it would be interesting to compare to an LT5, just for fun...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05Tc7...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StCV0qYdqxU&NR=1

And my 508 hp LT5

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1YFa8ruh8A

Makes for an interesting comparison, I thought.

Took her out to stretch her legs a bit today. Geeeze but that 19 degree air sure makes some wicked hp! Course, the tires didn't grip for crap - no surprise there, I guess.

Happy new year! May your mods go smooth - and long live the King!

Is it spring yet??

P.

[Aurora40]

HP/displacement is a ricer argument, in my opinion. No offense is meant by that, it's just that it is a meaningless metric. Displacement doesn't reflect physical size, fuel consumption, or anything really particularly important.

That said, if you want a 400+whp C4 that drives and idles smooth as silk, there is no doubt an LT5 is a great starting point.

[todesengel]

Originally Posted by Aurora40

HP/displacement is a ricer argument, in my opinion. No offense is meant by that, it's just that it is a meaningless metric. Displacement doesn't reflect physical size, fuel consumption, or anything really particularly important.

That said, if you want a 400+whp C4 that drives and idles smooth as silk, there is no doubt an LT5 is a great starting point.

Im not going to argue the ricer standpoint, because what I have seen from the board there is not a 350, or 441 for that matter, on here that can bag on my imports (except maybe the Audi, it is my least powerful one, and still runs a 12.1

Choice is a flavor. Some want lumpy cams, big carbs to make power, some a power adder, others a big block punched way out, and still others a quad cam v-8. None of this changes the fact that it is apples to oranges. It is however a perfect example of two different paths to the same goal, and each can make their own personal argument on why theirs is better to THEM.

[Aurora40]

Originally Posted by todesengel

Im not going to argue the ricer standpoint, because what I have seen from the board there is not a 350, or 441 for that matter, on here that can bag on my imports (except maybe the Audi, it is my least powerful one, and still runs a 12.1

Sounds like you took offense. I wasn't suggesting imports can't be fast. Rather, generally speaking the people who care about hp/liter are the ones who don't have much hp.

It isn't a metric that has any real world significance.

[todesengel]

Originally Posted by Aurora40

Sounds like you took offense. I wasn't suggesting imports can't be fast. Rather, generally speaking the people who care about hp/liter are the ones who don't have much hp.

It isn't a metric that has any real world significance.

Nope, I didn't take offense at all. Other peoples input, and/or opinions of what I own mean very little to me. if I spent all my time looking for approval, or pleasing others I would have no time to please myself.

My only point is that people build different cars for different reasons. While others may not be able to see the logic behind their build, they do.

An example of this is any car that I build has to have the ability to easily make a cross country trip at a moments notice, while leaving me with all the creature comforts and acceptable fuel economy. My next door neighbor has a 469 bbb chevelle (I think that is waht he said it is stroked to), with a hug cam, manual brakes, manual steering, no air, etc. His car dyno's at 750 ish hp, while I have 3 cars that exceed that, and still meet my criteria.

He wouldn't build a car similar to mine, nor would I build a car like his. Each have their place, just not in the others world.

I will however say the rice card is almost as overplayed anymore as the race card, just mho.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by todesengel

Im not going to argue the ricer standpoint, because what I have seen from the board there is not a 350, or 441 for that matter, on here that can bag on my imports (except maybe the Audi, it is my least powerful one, and still runs a 12.1

Choice is a flavor. Some want lumpy cams, big carbs to make power, some a power adder, others a big block punched way out, and still others a quad cam v-8. None of this changes the fact that it is apples to oranges. It is however a perfect example of two different paths to the same goal, and each can make their own personal argument on why theirs is better to THEM.

the point, you missed it

[Paul Workman]

Originally Posted by Kevin

the point, you missed it

Yep, they did!

[todesengel]

The point wasn't missed.

You went on in a post after Franks talking about drivability. The definition of that is going to be based upon a persons own goals, not someone elses.

There are many 500 hp pushrod engines that don't idle like the examples shown.

[Aurora40]

I don't know if you mean shelving the LT5, or shelving the premium V8?

Shelving the LT5, it sounds like that may have been the right move for the base Corvette. It's too bad they didn't at least build the '95 engine and have the C4 go out with a huge bang.

I think shelving the premium V8 is a really poor move. I've no idea what Cadillac expects to sell car-wise besides CTS's in the future. With no premium V8, they really will be at a loss in the large lux car market. At this point, even Hyundai has a DOHC V8, and it makes 430hp to boot.

GM had really neglected the Northstar along the way, so it was probably a huge endeavor to update it. Back in 1992, it made 295hp. By the last redesign, 14 years later, it was only up to 330.

[Pete]

To add a couple of things.

The LT5 is about 30 year old technology and with some of todays technics and tricks we see LT5's potential we get up to 450 whp with stock cams very docile N/A on todays crappy pump gas.
Today they do it with 77 more cubes.
Not too shaby for a 30 year old motor.

HP can be made in all sorts of ways and if raw HP is your game bring some CA$H.

Now some of my thoughts, power adders are doing it the easy way it's like "Power for Dummies" book is coming out soon LOL

Also street cars use crappy pump gas, cars that use race gas are just that race cars.
"Show me on 87 octane",i'm from Missouri

Now lets take the turbo/power adders out use crappy pump gas again "show me"

I need to move to Missouri.
My new motto "10's on 87"

Pete