How much HP is fun
How much HP is fun I know everyone has different opinions but I am just trying to not get hung up on hp numbers. So I am curious to hear what people have to say about na vs boost. What amount of hp is fun to you? My car will be mostly street driven to shows/cruises and occasionally go to the strip. I'm planning on doing a 383 LT1 na with a FLT trans and still researching rear ends.
I've done it with 425 rwhp SAE in a 3800 lb car. But that is with a near-perfect track setup of suspension, gearing, and TC. Figure on 450 rwhp with a less optimized track setup.
I would say 450-500rwhp for 10's. And a car that is set up for traction.
I have around 325rwhp and prob 340ish rwtq. The torque is whats fun on the street.
Drove a 430 hp coyote mustang and it felt slow. Hp def isnt everything.
Build that 383 and the torque will be awesome and fun on the street.
I have around 325rwhp and prob 340ish rwtq. The torque is whats fun on the street.
Drove a 430 hp coyote mustang and it felt slow. Hp def isnt everything.
Build that 383 and the torque will be awesome and fun on the street.
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A 383 with a mild (218/224) cam can easily make 375 RWHP and 390 RWTQ which can be quite "fun" on the street and also pass emissions if that is a concern. A bigger cam (230 ish) gets you 4xx range at the wheels...
How fast you are at the track not only involves motor but also the right gearing, suspension and tire to get the best ET/MPH out of a motor
How fast you are at the track not only involves motor but also the right gearing, suspension and tire to get the best ET/MPH out of a motor
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My old z28 was a bolt on 6 speed car and it laid down 320 to the tire which netted 12.9 with 3000' DA. Once the NX 150 shot was activated she would run 11.30s off the bottle in 4th gear. The car was typically underrated by the uneducated and that made it much more fun for me especially on the street.
What is fun to you? I had tons of fun when I first bought my car stock. Did some bolt ons and it was more fun and made more noise. Still bolt on, but have gears and a high stall converter and it's a blast even though it might only put~300hp to the wheels. I've found a new appreciation for the car recently since I attended an autocross style track day. I've had the car for 11 years and just now found a whole new world of upgrades that need to be done. So really it depends what you're into and what your used to.
When i first started with f bodys i think the most fun i had was a stock 2000 camaro a4 with a 150 shot (DRY), flowmaster muffler, QA1 front coil overs and mt 26X12.50x16 on stock wheels, sleeper as **** and hooked liked a ****, hung the hoops for at least 15 feet off the hit.
300 is fun when you DD something with less than 200. Hell 200 is fun if you DD something with 100. Miatas are regarded as some of the most fun cars to drive and they have less than 200, it's not all about HP, sometimes is a change from the norm and being able to fly around corners. If it's a toy, it'll be fun when you get to drive it, because it's better than your DD. My 900lb Vulcan 1600 with full bags and a trunk is fun compared to my c240, for 2-3 days, then the c240 is fun when it rains compared to the bike.
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Intake, full exhaust and a tune. Setup the suspension for handling at autocross and let me know how much fun it is 
I know you said drag strip, but boooo to that. Autocross SOMEWHAT takes the HP variable out of the equation.
I personally will be shooting for 400/400+ from the new motor I want to build. I'm about 310/340 now.
The degree of fun in relation to horsepower is proportional to the drivers ability to handle it.
I know you said drag strip, but boooo to that. Autocross SOMEWHAT takes the HP variable out of the equation.
I personally will be shooting for 400/400+ from the new motor I want to build. I'm about 310/340 now.
The degree of fun in relation to horsepower is proportional to the drivers ability to handle it.
Intake, full exhaust and a tune. Setup the suspension for handling at autocross and let me know how much fun it is
I know you said drag strip, but boooo to that. Autocross SOMEWHAT takes the HP variable out of the equation.
I personally will be shooting for 400/400+ from the new motor I want to build. I'm about 310/340 now.
The degree of fun in relation to horsepower is proportional to the drivers ability to handle it.
I know you said drag strip, but boooo to that. Autocross SOMEWHAT takes the HP variable out of the equation.
I personally will be shooting for 400/400+ from the new motor I want to build. I'm about 310/340 now.
The degree of fun in relation to horsepower is proportional to the drivers ability to handle it.
What do you normally drive or is this car your DD? As someone mentioned it's all relative. I've driven the same pickup for 10 years, my wifes factory turbo VW's (GTI's, GOLF R) have always felt quick for a bit after I hadn't been in one for awhile. My TA feels like an animal after months of not being in it even though it really isn't. I've driven a HCI Blower car - that was creeping past fun into fng scary. I thought the 5.0 Mustang I bought 20 years ago was evil until I drove it for a few days. Again, it's all relative.
One factor that can make a car fun is the ability to break the tires loose. Makes it feels faster than it is. Which is why 20 years ago people saw me doing crazy candy cane burnouts etc with my full exhaust Mustang and were like holy ****. Feels bad ***. Burning out - it turns out - doesn't feel as good as hooking. I never had a car that hooked at all until I put tires on my current car. Dumping the clutch on a set of sticky drag radials literally made me chuckle the first few times. (Be quiet 10 bolt. Take the pain, TAKE THE PAIN!)
But everything gets old. That's why some dudes drive 1K HP cars. They've worked their way up.
One factor that can make a car fun is the ability to break the tires loose. Makes it feels faster than it is. Which is why 20 years ago people saw me doing crazy candy cane burnouts etc with my full exhaust Mustang and were like holy ****. Feels bad ***. Burning out - it turns out - doesn't feel as good as hooking. I never had a car that hooked at all until I put tires on my current car. Dumping the clutch on a set of sticky drag radials literally made me chuckle the first few times. (Be quiet 10 bolt. Take the pain, TAKE THE PAIN!)
But everything gets old. That's why some dudes drive 1K HP cars. They've worked their way up.
Also depends on how you make the power, a high rev peak power will feel slow unless you launch hard off the light every time, whereas a down low heavy torque motor will throw you in your seat.
Intake, full exhaust and a tune. Setup the suspension for handling at autocross and let me know how much fun it is
I know you said drag strip, but boooo to that. Autocross SOMEWHAT takes the HP variable out of the equation.
I personally will be shooting for 400/400+ from the new motor I want to build. I'm about 310/340 now.
The degree of fun in relation to horsepower is proportional to the drivers ability to handle it.
I know you said drag strip, but boooo to that. Autocross SOMEWHAT takes the HP variable out of the equation.
I personally will be shooting for 400/400+ from the new motor I want to build. I'm about 310/340 now.
The degree of fun in relation to horsepower is proportional to the drivers ability to handle it.
What do you normally drive or is this car your DD? As someone mentioned it's all relative. I've driven the same pickup for 10 years, my wifes factory turbo VW's (GTI's, GOLF R) have always felt quick for a bit after I hadn't been in one for awhile. My TA feels like an animal after months of not being in it even though it really isn't. I've driven a HCI Blower car - that was creeping past fun into fng scary. I thought the 5.0 Mustang I bought 20 years ago was evil until I drove it for a few days. Again, it's all relative.
One factor that can make a car fun is the ability to break the tires loose. Makes it feels faster than it is. Which is why 20 years ago people saw me doing crazy candy cane burnouts etc with my full exhaust Mustang and were like holy ****. Feels bad ***. Burning out - it turns out - doesn't feel as good as hooking. I never had a car that hooked at all until I put tires on my current car. Dumping the clutch on a set of sticky drag radials literally made me chuckle the first few times. (Be quiet 10 bolt. Take the pain, TAKE THE PAIN!)
But everything gets old. That's why some dudes drive 1K HP cars. They've worked their way up.
One factor that can make a car fun is the ability to break the tires loose. Makes it feels faster than it is. Which is why 20 years ago people saw me doing crazy candy cane burnouts etc with my full exhaust Mustang and were like holy ****. Feels bad ***. Burning out - it turns out - doesn't feel as good as hooking. I never had a car that hooked at all until I put tires on my current car. Dumping the clutch on a set of sticky drag radials literally made me chuckle the first few times. (Be quiet 10 bolt. Take the pain, TAKE THE PAIN!)
But everything gets old. That's why some dudes drive 1K HP cars. They've worked their way up.
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Joined: May 2016
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From: Rochester, NY
James May once said on an episode of Top Gear that cars are the most fun when they can be driven at their limit. I agree with that. Last summer I was driving my 94 z28 6 speed that was bone stock down to the paper filter. I had so much fun because I had always wanted an LT1 and the manual transmission let me rev the motor to its limit up to a safe speed. I didn't feel like I needed more power. My other car is a 2015 Infiniti Q50 that was probably faster than my 94, but the Camaro felt more fun because it was a much more visceral experience. I always felt like the noise, the air from the t tops, and the shifting of the 6 speed added so much to the driving experience--it felt like I was constantly at the limit of what the car could do when I was shifting at 57-6000 RPM and feeling ALL of it.
OP's question is great, but it's very subjective! My answer is reflected in what I'm doing to my car: a bit more power than stock and make sure that it can hook up. To me, a full bolt-on engine, good shocks, standard ride height, lower control arms, LCA relocation brackets and a panhard bar is the perfect setup. But then again, I DD my car in the summer and will rarely ever take it to the track.
As an aside, I have no problem with 10 second cars being on the street, but I think that running a 10.xx quarter on the road (or even attempting to) is irresponsible and dangerous.
OP's question is great, but it's very subjective! My answer is reflected in what I'm doing to my car: a bit more power than stock and make sure that it can hook up. To me, a full bolt-on engine, good shocks, standard ride height, lower control arms, LCA relocation brackets and a panhard bar is the perfect setup. But then again, I DD my car in the summer and will rarely ever take it to the track.
As an aside, I have no problem with 10 second cars being on the street, but I think that running a 10.xx quarter on the road (or even attempting to) is irresponsible and dangerous.
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From: Houston
How much HP is Fun?
Fun for me is any setup where dropping the hammer in second gear makes the *** slide down the road until you get too bored, or too sideways, to stay in it.
It doesn't have to be a horsepower number for me though. It could be a 300 rwhp car with super skinny rear tires being turned by 4.56's, as long as second gear can get sideways and stays sideways.
Fun for me is any setup where dropping the hammer in second gear makes the *** slide down the road until you get too bored, or too sideways, to stay in it.
It doesn't have to be a horsepower number for me though. It could be a 300 rwhp car with super skinny rear tires being turned by 4.56's, as long as second gear can get sideways and stays sideways.