What is "streetable"?
11-01-2006, 03:18 AM
#1
12 Second Club
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 995
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
What is "streetable"? I have been reading about cams and everyone says that one isn't very streetable or this one is. What do you concider streetable? Whats makes a car streetable or not?
11-01-2006, 03:32 AM
#2
TECH Addict
It's very much personal. Like asking what is large or what is heavy.
There are some rules/guides you can follow. Less streetable setups tend to have poor idle (maybe even stall often), be a complete bugger to drive in traffic or at low speeds, surging, spluttering, rediculas mpg. Very cammy, meaning that it will be dead below a certain rpm then suddenly very violent once it comes on cam. Excessive noise, heat, vibration, fuel requirements, rpm range (if you need to keep it above 5000rpm to make the most of it, then on the street it will be hard work).
At what level all of these factors become important is up to you and what you use the car for. If you drive a 100 miles a day in it, in all conditions, heavy traffic and lots of stop and go conditions then you want something that is fairly friendly and easy to drive. A milder cam such as a TR224/224 would probably suit better, combined with some awesome heads it will still make greta HP.
If the car is used for far less milage and in better driving conditions and you are more tolerable to something a little extreme then a wilder cam like a TSP V3/MS4 TR Trak or even a Trex could be used. All of these cams will have a lumpy idle and will require a very good tune to have good street manors. They will also be more of a beast to drive. Ultimatley they will produce more HP and should be faster in a straight line.
BUT - in the twistys or lower rpm conditions they may be a hinderance due to where they make the power.
Think hard about your character and the intended use of the car. Personally I like extreme OTT setups but I know it's not for everyone. Forced induction is often a great option as you can retain full stock like driveability but make monsterous power.
Cammed or h/c setups tend to be a little wilder if you are shooting for big numbers.
There are some rules/guides you can follow. Less streetable setups tend to have poor idle (maybe even stall often), be a complete bugger to drive in traffic or at low speeds, surging, spluttering, rediculas mpg. Very cammy, meaning that it will be dead below a certain rpm then suddenly very violent once it comes on cam. Excessive noise, heat, vibration, fuel requirements, rpm range (if you need to keep it above 5000rpm to make the most of it, then on the street it will be hard work).
At what level all of these factors become important is up to you and what you use the car for. If you drive a 100 miles a day in it, in all conditions, heavy traffic and lots of stop and go conditions then you want something that is fairly friendly and easy to drive. A milder cam such as a TR224/224 would probably suit better, combined with some awesome heads it will still make greta HP.
If the car is used for far less milage and in better driving conditions and you are more tolerable to something a little extreme then a wilder cam like a TSP V3/MS4 TR Trak or even a Trex could be used. All of these cams will have a lumpy idle and will require a very good tune to have good street manors. They will also be more of a beast to drive. Ultimatley they will produce more HP and should be faster in a straight line.
BUT - in the twistys or lower rpm conditions they may be a hinderance due to where they make the power.
Think hard about your character and the intended use of the car. Personally I like extreme OTT setups but I know it's not for everyone. Forced induction is often a great option as you can retain full stock like driveability but make monsterous power.
Cammed or h/c setups tend to be a little wilder if you are shooting for big numbers.
11-01-2006, 09:01 AM
#3
TECH Fanatic
A non-streetable cam story:
As you sit at the stoplight the car shakes violently at idle and almost allows you to hear the firing of each piston as it struggles to stay running. Pedestrians were a bit concerned when the light turned yellow because they noticed that your brakes didn't seem to be functioning properly. The total lack of vaccum at idle has turned braking into an adventure second only to your gasoline bill. Now the engine stalls, and the air reaks of unburned fuel. Soccer moms roll down the window of their mini-van and try to yell over the noise, attempting to inform you that your car needs a tuneup. You fire it up again, and blip the throttle to clean out the cylinders. The soccer mom quickly rolls up her window to keep the fumes out and to slow the bleeding from her ears. The light turns green, and you attempt to pull forward. The car is now bucking like a bronc, and you almost rear-end a Civic as you attempt to keep it running. Finally, the engine RPM rises above some magic number, and stumbling engine quickly smooths out. The engine screams as the ***-end breaks loose, and out of the corner of your eye you see a mother grabbing the hand of her son on the sidewalk to protect him. You realize that you are now going over 100 M.P.H. and there is another stop light ahead! You say a quick prayer and reach for the emergency brake...
As you sit at the stoplight the car shakes violently at idle and almost allows you to hear the firing of each piston as it struggles to stay running. Pedestrians were a bit concerned when the light turned yellow because they noticed that your brakes didn't seem to be functioning properly. The total lack of vaccum at idle has turned braking into an adventure second only to your gasoline bill. Now the engine stalls, and the air reaks of unburned fuel. Soccer moms roll down the window of their mini-van and try to yell over the noise, attempting to inform you that your car needs a tuneup. You fire it up again, and blip the throttle to clean out the cylinders. The soccer mom quickly rolls up her window to keep the fumes out and to slow the bleeding from her ears. The light turns green, and you attempt to pull forward. The car is now bucking like a bronc, and you almost rear-end a Civic as you attempt to keep it running. Finally, the engine RPM rises above some magic number, and stumbling engine quickly smooths out. The engine screams as the ***-end breaks loose, and out of the corner of your eye you see a mother grabbing the hand of her son on the sidewalk to protect him. You realize that you are now going over 100 M.P.H. and there is another stop light ahead! You say a quick prayer and reach for the emergency brake...
11-01-2006, 05:40 PM
#6
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (7)
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: World
Posts: 1,309
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by JohnnyC
A non-streetable cam story:
As you sit at the stoplight the car shakes violently at idle and almost allows you to hear the firing of each piston as it struggles to stay running. Pedestrians were a bit concerned when the light turned yellow because they noticed that your brakes didn't seem to be functioning properly. The total lack of vaccum at idle has turned braking into an adventure second only to your gasoline bill. Now the engine stalls, and the air reaks of unburned fuel. Soccer moms roll down the window of their mini-van and try to yell over the noise, attempting to inform you that your car needs a tuneup. You fire it up again, and blip the throttle to clean out the cylinders. The soccer mom quickly rolls up her window to keep the fumes out and to slow the bleeding from her ears. The light turns green, and you attempt to pull forward. The car is now bucking like a bronc, and you almost rear-end a Civic as you attempt to keep it running. Finally, the engine RPM rises above some magic number, and stumbling engine quickly smooths out. The engine screams as the ***-end breaks loose, and out of the corner of your eye you see a mother grabbing the hand of her son on the sidewalk to protect him. You realize that you are now going over 100 M.P.H. and there is another stop light ahead! You say a quick prayer and reach for the emergency brake...
As you sit at the stoplight the car shakes violently at idle and almost allows you to hear the firing of each piston as it struggles to stay running. Pedestrians were a bit concerned when the light turned yellow because they noticed that your brakes didn't seem to be functioning properly. The total lack of vaccum at idle has turned braking into an adventure second only to your gasoline bill. Now the engine stalls, and the air reaks of unburned fuel. Soccer moms roll down the window of their mini-van and try to yell over the noise, attempting to inform you that your car needs a tuneup. You fire it up again, and blip the throttle to clean out the cylinders. The soccer mom quickly rolls up her window to keep the fumes out and to slow the bleeding from her ears. The light turns green, and you attempt to pull forward. The car is now bucking like a bronc, and you almost rear-end a Civic as you attempt to keep it running. Finally, the engine RPM rises above some magic number, and stumbling engine quickly smooths out. The engine screams as the ***-end breaks loose, and out of the corner of your eye you see a mother grabbing the hand of her son on the sidewalk to protect him. You realize that you are now going over 100 M.P.H. and there is another stop light ahead! You say a quick prayer and reach for the emergency brake...
Other notables:
-Idle vibrates enough to set off car alarms down the street. Or makes change in the cup holder rattle enough to be annoying (2 cars behind you)
Originally Posted by giant016
For me it's simple: Streetable = Street Legal.
11-01-2006, 05:59 PM
#7
11 Second Club
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
Posts: 257
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by JohnnyC
A streetable cam story:
As you sit at the stoplight the car shakes violently at idle and almost allows you to hear the firing of each piston as it struggles to stay running. Pedestrians were a bit concerned when the light turned yellow because they noticed that your brakes didn't seem to be functioning properly. The total lack of vaccum at idle has turned braking into an adventure second only to your gasoline bill. Now the engine stalls, and the air reaks of unburned fuel. Soccer moms roll down the window of their mini-van and try to yell over the noise, attempting to inform you that your car needs a tuneup. You fire it up again, and blip the throttle to clean out the cylinders. The soccer mom quickly rolls up her window to keep the fumes out and to slow the bleeding from her ears. The light turns green, and you attempt to pull forward. The car is now bucking like a bronc, and you almost rear-end a Civic as you attempt to keep it running. Finally, the engine RPM rises above some magic number, and stumbling engine quickly smooths out. The engine screams as the ***-end breaks loose, and out of the corner of your eye you see a mother grabbing the hand of her son on the sidewalk to protect him. You realize that you are now going over 100 M.P.H. and there is another stop light ahead! You say a quick prayer and reach for the emergency brake...
As you sit at the stoplight the car shakes violently at idle and almost allows you to hear the firing of each piston as it struggles to stay running. Pedestrians were a bit concerned when the light turned yellow because they noticed that your brakes didn't seem to be functioning properly. The total lack of vaccum at idle has turned braking into an adventure second only to your gasoline bill. Now the engine stalls, and the air reaks of unburned fuel. Soccer moms roll down the window of their mini-van and try to yell over the noise, attempting to inform you that your car needs a tuneup. You fire it up again, and blip the throttle to clean out the cylinders. The soccer mom quickly rolls up her window to keep the fumes out and to slow the bleeding from her ears. The light turns green, and you attempt to pull forward. The car is now bucking like a bronc, and you almost rear-end a Civic as you attempt to keep it running. Finally, the engine RPM rises above some magic number, and stumbling engine quickly smooths out. The engine screams as the ***-end breaks loose, and out of the corner of your eye you see a mother grabbing the hand of her son on the sidewalk to protect him. You realize that you are now going over 100 M.P.H. and there is another stop light ahead! You say a quick prayer and reach for the emergency brake...
the car was on the road wasn't it?
Trending Topics
11-01-2006, 06:21 PM
#8
To me streetable is any car that can pass the local inspection/emmissions tests whether the parts on it are "street legal" or not. For example, LT headers are illegal for street use, period. In all 50 states. This is because to use LT's you have to move the stock cat location which is illegal and violates some federal mandated rule about polution controlled vehicles. You might still pass a sniffer test if you put after market cats on and in some areas all you have to do is get hooked up to a diagnostic computer and not be throwing codes.
In my area they don't even do a visual on cars built after 1996. They just hook it up to the OBDII port and if your not throwing codes you pass. I'm lucky in that I drive my car less than 5k miles per year so I'm emmisions exempt anyway.
As stated above this is really a matter of personal opinion but any car that can pass local inspection and emissions tests is "streetable" in my opinion.
In my area they don't even do a visual on cars built after 1996. They just hook it up to the OBDII port and if your not throwing codes you pass. I'm lucky in that I drive my car less than 5k miles per year so I'm emmisions exempt anyway.
As stated above this is really a matter of personal opinion but any car that can pass local inspection and emissions tests is "streetable" in my opinion.
11-01-2006, 10:12 PM
#9
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Jersey Shore
Posts: 1,734
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Streetable means that you can back it out of your garage, drive it down the road to do a few errands, have it back home a few hours later with nothing breaking and in one piece.
11-02-2006, 09:06 AM
#10
TECH Fanatic
Originally Posted by chris93266
you had a typo, let me correct that for you.
the car was on the road wasn't it?
the car was on the road wasn't it?
Just learn how to deal with those pesky brake issues, and take some driving lessons...
11-02-2006, 10:23 AM
#12
TECH Apprentice
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Las Vegas, NV.
Posts: 352
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by JohnnyC
A non-streetable cam story:
As you sit at the stoplight the car shakes violently at idle and almost allows you to hear the firing of each piston as it struggles to stay running. Pedestrians were a bit concerned when the light turned yellow because they noticed that your brakes didn't seem to be functioning properly. The total lack of vaccum at idle has turned braking into an adventure second only to your gasoline bill. Now the engine stalls, and the air reaks of unburned fuel. Soccer moms roll down the window of their mini-van and try to yell over the noise, attempting to inform you that your car needs a tuneup. You fire it up again, and blip the throttle to clean out the cylinders. The soccer mom quickly rolls up her window to keep the fumes out and to slow the bleeding from her ears. The light turns green, and you attempt to pull forward. The car is now bucking like a bronc, and you almost rear-end a Civic as you attempt to keep it running. Finally, the engine RPM rises above some magic number, and stumbling engine quickly smooths out. The engine screams as the ***-end breaks loose, and out of the corner of your eye you see a mother grabbing the hand of her son on the sidewalk to protect him. You realize that you are now going over 100 M.P.H. and there is another stop light ahead! You say a quick prayer and reach for the emergency brake...
As you sit at the stoplight the car shakes violently at idle and almost allows you to hear the firing of each piston as it struggles to stay running. Pedestrians were a bit concerned when the light turned yellow because they noticed that your brakes didn't seem to be functioning properly. The total lack of vaccum at idle has turned braking into an adventure second only to your gasoline bill. Now the engine stalls, and the air reaks of unburned fuel. Soccer moms roll down the window of their mini-van and try to yell over the noise, attempting to inform you that your car needs a tuneup. You fire it up again, and blip the throttle to clean out the cylinders. The soccer mom quickly rolls up her window to keep the fumes out and to slow the bleeding from her ears. The light turns green, and you attempt to pull forward. The car is now bucking like a bronc, and you almost rear-end a Civic as you attempt to keep it running. Finally, the engine RPM rises above some magic number, and stumbling engine quickly smooths out. The engine screams as the ***-end breaks loose, and out of the corner of your eye you see a mother grabbing the hand of her son on the sidewalk to protect him. You realize that you are now going over 100 M.P.H. and there is another stop light ahead! You say a quick prayer and reach for the emergency brake...
11-04-2006, 10:51 AM
#14
Originally Posted by JohnnyC
A non-streetable cam story:
As you sit at the stoplight the car shakes violently at idle and almost allows you to hear the firing of each piston as it struggles to stay running. Pedestrians were a bit concerned when the light turned yellow because they noticed that your brakes didn't seem to be functioning properly. The total lack of vaccum at idle has turned braking into an adventure second only to your gasoline bill. Now the engine stalls, and the air reaks of unburned fuel. Soccer moms roll down the window of their mini-van and try to yell over the noise, attempting to inform you that your car needs a tuneup. You fire it up again, and blip the throttle to clean out the cylinders. The soccer mom quickly rolls up her window to keep the fumes out and to slow the bleeding from her ears. The light turns green, and you attempt to pull forward. The car is now bucking like a bronc, and you almost rear-end a Civic as you attempt to keep it running. Finally, the engine RPM rises above some magic number, and stumbling engine quickly smooths out. The engine screams as the ***-end breaks loose, and out of the corner of your eye you see a mother grabbing the hand of her son on the sidewalk to protect him. You realize that you are now going over 100 M.P.H. and there is another stop light ahead! You say a quick prayer and reach for the emergency brake...
As you sit at the stoplight the car shakes violently at idle and almost allows you to hear the firing of each piston as it struggles to stay running. Pedestrians were a bit concerned when the light turned yellow because they noticed that your brakes didn't seem to be functioning properly. The total lack of vaccum at idle has turned braking into an adventure second only to your gasoline bill. Now the engine stalls, and the air reaks of unburned fuel. Soccer moms roll down the window of their mini-van and try to yell over the noise, attempting to inform you that your car needs a tuneup. You fire it up again, and blip the throttle to clean out the cylinders. The soccer mom quickly rolls up her window to keep the fumes out and to slow the bleeding from her ears. The light turns green, and you attempt to pull forward. The car is now bucking like a bronc, and you almost rear-end a Civic as you attempt to keep it running. Finally, the engine RPM rises above some magic number, and stumbling engine quickly smooths out. The engine screams as the ***-end breaks loose, and out of the corner of your eye you see a mother grabbing the hand of her son on the sidewalk to protect him. You realize that you are now going over 100 M.P.H. and there is another stop light ahead! You say a quick prayer and reach for the emergency brake...
what about the backfire at downshift that leaves gangbangers diving for cover lmao
11-05-2006, 05:54 PM
#15
TECH Apprentice
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Southampton, MA
Posts: 327
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by giant016
For me it's simple: Streetable = Street Legal.
For me it's simple: Streetable = Street Legal.
Originally Posted by Zymosis
Lame
11-06-2006, 12:09 AM
#16
12 Second Club
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 995
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by JerseyLS1TA
Streetable means that you can back it out of your garage, drive it down the road to do a few errands, have it back home a few hours later with nothing breaking and in one piece.
11-06-2006, 06:12 AM
#17
On The Tree
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Shreveport, LA.
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Streetable to me is being able to drive a few hundred miles and not break anything, overheat, stall out, or burn an unneccessary amount of gas. (A bolt-on car, mild h/c car, or low boost supercharged or turbo car)
11-06-2006, 12:37 PM
#18
Originally Posted by JohnnyC
A non-streetable cam story:
The car is now bucking like a bronc, and you almost rear-end a Civic as you attempt to keep it running. Finally, the engine RPM rises above some magic number, and stumbling engine quickly smooths out.
The car is now bucking like a bronc, and you almost rear-end a Civic as you attempt to keep it running. Finally, the engine RPM rises above some magic number, and stumbling engine quickly smooths out.
11-07-2006, 10:10 AM
#19
12 Second Club
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 195
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
When you can bust all your buddys bubbles at the drag strip until they swear that you got to be spraying it. So you open the hatch and show them that the only thing back there are 2 folding chairs, an air compressor, air gun and 8 Budwizers cooled to perfection. And then you crank up, turn your air on and make a beer run, come back, wait 20 mins then go bust there asses again. Now thats a street car! No urge to surge and the hooker catback has it so quiet that unless you kick it no one is the wiser.
11-07-2006, 12:34 PM
#20
TECH Fanatic
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,044
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
JohnnyC: Sounds like a poorly tuned engine.
That said, a streetable car is one that passes cop inspection of wipers, lights, turn-signals. Other than that, it's what the driver can tolerate. I drove the wheels off a 541hp carb'd, small-block Ferd with a .680" cam. Lumpy: YUP! Cantancorous: YUP!
A blast to flat pedal and instantly change lanes.... unintended? HELLLLLL YEAH!
JMO
SC-
That said, a streetable car is one that passes cop inspection of wipers, lights, turn-signals. Other than that, it's what the driver can tolerate. I drove the wheels off a 541hp carb'd, small-block Ferd with a .680" cam. Lumpy: YUP! Cantancorous: YUP!
A blast to flat pedal and instantly change lanes.... unintended? HELLLLLL YEAH!
JMO
SC-