How much power do you want/need?
11-14-2017, 01:24 PM
#1
Race Director
Thread Starter
How much power do you want/need?
Seriously, my car has 505 horsepower, and it spins the tires in first and second if I floor it (at least in cool weather; I haven't driven it with the temperature below freezing yet). If I push it hard in third, I'm going so fast that I risk jail time.
Do you feel like you need 755 horsepower, like in the new ZR1? I just wonder what I would do with it.
Sure, I know that more is always better, but I'm being serious here. How much horsepower is really useful?
Do you feel like you need 755 horsepower, like in the new ZR1? I just wonder what I would do with it.
Sure, I know that more is always better, but I'm being serious here. How much horsepower is really useful?
11-14-2017, 01:42 PM
#3
Safety Car
Fair question... and I guess the answer is different for all of us, based on many factors, some of which include: driving environment (race track, drag strip, street, daily in traffic, country roads, mountain twisties, etc) and style (cruiser, "playful").
So you buy/mod a car that has as much HP as you want in your particular case. Remember, we all got by with 130hp grocery getters in the early 80s.
For me, given I do not drag race as much as I did 15-20 yrs ago (which was every weekend, almost), I probably don't "need" as much power as my Vettes make/will make, but I still enjoy the thrill of full throttle episodes from time to time. And for me, the question I ask is "when is enough more than I can really handle, or the car can put to the ground."
As you pointed out, if the tires cannot hook up, you're accelerating slower than you could (in many cases) than if you made a little less power ... at least until the tires grab and then the more powerful car will be more fun.
I run drag radials on my TTC5Z and it makes 650+rwhp/620+rwtq, and even putting a ZR1-spec trans in it (effectively reducing TQ multiplication vs. stock C5Z gearing), it can still spin the tires from a 40mph roll, but it hooks great for the most part. I'm probably not going to take my ZR1 to that level, but it will be close. Neither car will win a 200mph highway race with 1000hp+ cars, but that's not anything I do in Mexico, so I don't "need" that.
YMMV.
So you buy/mod a car that has as much HP as you want in your particular case. Remember, we all got by with 130hp grocery getters in the early 80s.
For me, given I do not drag race as much as I did 15-20 yrs ago (which was every weekend, almost), I probably don't "need" as much power as my Vettes make/will make, but I still enjoy the thrill of full throttle episodes from time to time. And for me, the question I ask is "when is enough more than I can really handle, or the car can put to the ground."
As you pointed out, if the tires cannot hook up, you're accelerating slower than you could (in many cases) than if you made a little less power ... at least until the tires grab and then the more powerful car will be more fun.
I run drag radials on my TTC5Z and it makes 650+rwhp/620+rwtq, and even putting a ZR1-spec trans in it (effectively reducing TQ multiplication vs. stock C5Z gearing), it can still spin the tires from a 40mph roll, but it hooks great for the most part. I'm probably not going to take my ZR1 to that level, but it will be close. Neither car will win a 200mph highway race with 1000hp+ cars, but that's not anything I do in Mexico, so I don't "need" that.
YMMV.
Last edited by WA 2 FST; 11-14-2017 at 01:43 PM.
11-14-2017, 02:01 PM
#4
Seriously, my car has 505 horsepower, and it spins the tires in first and second if I floor it (at least in cool weather; I haven't driven it with the temperature below freezing yet). If I push it hard in third, I'm going so fast that I risk jail time.
Do you feel like you need 755 horsepower, like in the new ZR1? I just wonder what I would do with it.
Sure, I know that more is always better, but I'm being serious here. How much horsepower is really useful?
Do you feel like you need 755 horsepower, like in the new ZR1? I just wonder what I would do with it.
Sure, I know that more is always better, but I'm being serious here. How much horsepower is really useful?
11-14-2017, 02:54 PM
#6
What I *need* is what my wife's Prius offers... enough to not get run over when merging. 
What I want is right about what I have now - high fives at the wheel. It's fun, but not crazy expensive.
What I want is right about what I have now - high fives at the wheel. It's fun, but not crazy expensive.
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LS1Steve (11-14-2017)
11-14-2017, 03:43 PM
#8
Le Mans Master
Keep it under 700-800wtq and you should be able to hook on most roads. I believe anything more than that is just a waste of time.
I don't need the extra power to get to and from work. I want the extra power to achieve goals on the drag strip and break some hearts in Mexico.
I don't need the extra power to get to and from work. I want the extra power to achieve goals on the drag strip and break some hearts in Mexico.
11-14-2017, 04:20 PM
#11
Currently I am at between 465-485 rear wheel depending on the dyno. My goal is 550. Thinking about a mild cam and a Mamo ported MSD an head porting. I cant do headers as I need to stay Cali legal.
11-14-2017, 05:43 PM
#13
Keep it under 700-800wtq and you should be able to hook on most roads. I believe anything more than that is just a waste of time.
I don't need the extra power to get to and from work. I want the extra power to achieve goals on the drag strip and break some hearts in Mexico.
I don't need the extra power to get to and from work. I want the extra power to achieve goals on the drag strip and break some hearts in Mexico.
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jayyyw (11-14-2017)
11-14-2017, 08:45 PM
#14
Racer
I get it, but at 49, I've realized I'll never be "satisfied" until I decide to be satisfied. I suspect it would be sweet relief to be just "done" with chasing the next mod or upgrade.......and enjoy what I have
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corvettenutz (11-18-2017)
11-15-2017, 12:28 AM
#19
Racer
I got 650 now and it feels like more than enough hp BUT I am sending my 2018 Z06 to Callaway in a couple weeks now why Well I guess if a new ZR-1 pulles up beside and gives me that look I can give it back in spades 777FPT ha.
11-15-2017, 09:04 AM
#20
Race Director
Thread Starter
Don't get me wrong; I ABSOLUTELY LOVE making that LS7 roar! I just have to be careful because I might be buying a lot of rear tires!
