"If you question "why the need for speed", then any answer given is not going to make sense to you....either you "have the need" or you don't."

That's not true, I "get it."

 

A friend of mine from FL who mostly modifies hondas and races them, used to say that to me, back when I was looking for a car.

He said a car can be 2 of 3 things.

Fast
Cheap
Reliable

Pick two, and go with it. Now, some of you will decry his use of civics to go racing, but he prefers them, as they are light (an EG hatch from the 90s weights 2,300lbs, WITHOUT being gutted), cheap (that same EG from the 90s runs about 2 grand, tops, though it'll have 250K miles on the clock, lol), and reliable (which, in my opinion, is an OPINION. His cars we NOT reliable, he was just really good at fixing them). After swapping a motor (back when B18s were cheap and plentiful), gutting the interior, and slapping on wider wheels and fatter tires, those things were pretty quick. Formula one grand prix? No. But on an autocross course, they could get around mighty fast, and some will likely call foul on autocross, as it's in a parking lot, with top speeds usually below 60-70mph, etc, and say it's "not real racing". I used to drive some of his creations, we even got onto the Bradenton International Speedway, once, in his turbo charged Integra, and let me tell you, that was all kinds of fun...it's where I got bit by the fast bug. Autocross never really cut the muster after that. Was his Integra fast? Who am I to say. I wager it was a good deal faster than my vette, as it currently sits...but we got overtaken by an LS1 944 porsche (a friend of his), with relative ease. THAT car was FAST. But so was his Integra, for what he used it for. That integra would probably tear the 944 up on an autocross course, based on nothing more than it only weighted 2000 pounds, and made 230 some odd hp. Sure, it was wrong wheel drive, and sure, it had some problems getting on the power coming out of a fast turn...but in real tight sections, that car was a beast. It was "fast". But it never once would press my head back quite like my corvette does, when I hit the beans.

 

If you get it, then why ask?

"Because I can" is a perfectly acceptable answer to, say, someone adding twin turbos to a 555 motor.

"Because 800hp just wasn't doing it for me" is another perfectly fine answer. Everyone has different desires, different flavor icecream they like. Me? I like peanut butter chocolate chip ice cream, and my ideal car would have between 400-500hp, with similar torque numbers, weight 3000 pounds or even a little less, have a 6 speed MANUAL tranny(no formula paddle crap), 315 or wider rear tires, and 275 or wider fronts, with matte black/grey paint, and a darker matte black stripe down the middle, flared fenders, but NO L88 hood, stock if I could swing it, etc etc etc etc.


Why? i don't know....because I think it would be cool, and because I think peanut butter chocolate chips is delicious.

 

And last, I am a budget guy. I had a stock gen 1 350 with 102K miles on the clock, it was tired, etc. I lacked the money needed to REALLY do a proper engine build, so, I decided to do the next best thing, on the advice of people like Durango Boy, and others...and that was a budget friendly top end rebuild, with vortec heads. Got the heads for 150 bucks, got a slightly used aluminum intake for 200 bucks, or something like that, new headers to 250, I think, new cam and lifter kit for 180, double cam gear set to match for another 50 bucks, new valve covers for 30, hoses, gaskets, etc, say another 200 bucks or so, and called it a day. I'm sure there was more odds and ends I spent money on, but all said in the done, I was in the 1 grand mark, and had a set up that COULD, MAYBE, see me to around 300hp to the wheels. Till I get my timing issue down, I simply won't know...but do I expect this hodge podge combo of used parts to last forever? Of course not...I would LIKE it to last me at least 5 years or so, until I have money saved up for a good 383 build. If it lasts LONGER, great, I can add a TKO500 to the list. I'd LIKE to be able to do a new motor AND new tranny at the same time. But we'll see. Long story short, that grand I spent, in my opinion, we WELL spent, as it gave me something to do, I learned a lot, and while it may not be as reliable as something with forged internals, and APR studs and bolts all over the place, etc...I think it'll hold me over, both reliability wise, and power wise, till I can do something better.

If we were all so wealthy, we'd all have super charged LS3s under the hood.

 

Actually, "because I or we can" is a real answer. May not be a right answer for some, but works for most. Including me.

And as far as why have a powerful car on the streets? Low end grunt, good driveability at more ranges than just "slow", ability to deal with traffic conditions easily, and having that deep reserve of power when you need it for passing, emergencies, accident avoidance. If you have always driven some kind of powerful car your entire life and have driven someone elses econobox for an afternoon, you know what I mean.

And sometimes one needs the power just for the fun of it.

Good discussion.
Tom

 

I've always driven a hot rod or a fast M/C.
I don't know why the auto company's haven't always built the best car they could. I'm not talking reliability, I'm talking smooth power, better gas mileage and better performance.

You know they know how. The cars are much more enjoyable to drive.
I have a 454 car engine in my 27' motor home.
Edelbrock RV cam, Performer intake and Doug Thourly headers and 2 1/2" dual exhaust.
On the way to a Men's Retreat a friend said" This is the 1st time I was ever sucked back in the seat of a motor home.

It's safer to drive in traffic, Hills are not an issue and it's gained over 4mpg.

I love power, it makes me smile. That's my Because .....

Ralph

 

That is what hotrodding is all about.

 

Fixed it for you...

And who the heck would be crazy enough to add twin turbo's to a 555" for the street???

JIM