1989GTA

Under the curve for me.

Formulated

iTrader: (16)

Under the curve is great for driving around on the street, but it's not the fastest in ideal situations.

Go for peak power, and gear the car accordingly. Nothing will be faster. Besides, even a weak LSx has plenty of low end grunt to get around.

00slowredz

i voted under the curve

1CAMWNDR

iTrader: (21)

Under the curve. I'd much rather have 400 hp at 6000 rpm with 400 ft.-lbs. than have 425 hp at 6800 rpm with 375 ft.-lbs.

cantdrv65

iTrader: (3)

Neither....I prefer an engine that makes the most possible average horsepower between my shift points.

GMC_DUDE

Mine's a truck, so I definitely need under the curve to get this stupid pig rollin'.

N4cer

iTrader: (11)

Some of you guys aren't aware of what "under the curve" means aparently. Under the curve is under 5250 rpm.

1989GTA

Who came up with that rule?


Actually I agree with cantdrv65 but I consider it still to be under the curve. Not a peak like an inverted V.

blue2002

I do as well. 1000 hp Supra power curves do not impress me for this reason.

N4cer

iTrader: (11)

Most every cam guru in the world is all. I think Predator-Z or PatG or someone on here just commented on it a few days ago in fact.

Why? What curve are you talking about having power under?

1989GTA

I consider the "practical" max power under the curve to be the maximum rpm shift point and the rpm the motor drops to after the shift. The maximum rpm shift point can be determined by the safe limit of the motor, it could be the valves, it could be a sharp drop off in horsepower or other limiting factors.

That is making use of the horsepower available. Setting the limit at 5250 rpm makes no sense to me at all. If that was the case we would still be running TPI motors.

WolfgangX

iTrader: (3)

5252 rpms is when torque = horsepower

N4cer

iTrader: (11)

That's average power per gear. Not power under the curve. And nobody said ANYTHING about setting a rev limiter at that intersection at 5250 (yes, actually 5252).

So yes, power under the curve is the term commonly used to discuss torque numbers before HP numbers come into play. Although I like the other definition I've seen a little better: that being just simply torque. Which after 5252 is "under" HP "curve". Don't get mad just for clarifying. Heck, look at this one post. It's discussing 2 things not even related to the discussion! Average HP per gear, and rev limiter, which have nothing to do with power under the curve.

N4cer

iTrader: (11)

Here's an example of a better example. I like this better than the one I've seen the cam guys use anyway. It's not exactly what I want, but it's late and I'm too tired. So anyway, the red one has more area under the curve than the blue one. I like that way better. Although there's too many interpretations I guess. So nevermind. But the original poster might want to define what he means since apparently there are so many ways to view it.

miamifan3413

iTrader: (1)

Under the curve for sure

Krab

iTrader: (28)

I'd rather have the power under my hood.

97blkz

iTrader: (1)

Curveball

97blkz

iTrader: (1)

And I'd rather have applied to the pavement correctly .

BriancWS6

iTrader: (18)

Between those two, under the curve no doubt. But it's nice to have both, which is why I LOVE my setup. It has great power under the curve without sacrificing top-end. Add a FAST 90/90 setup and it would wake up even more.

DONAIMIAN

iTrader: (18)

I guess ill be the one who steps out of the box, but I like a violent top end. As long as I have enough power to drive at 65mph @1500rpm in 6th gear im happy. If I need more TQ, (or tq multiplication for that matter) ill down shift.