You need more power these days.

[Uncle_Bob]

Sorry not here in Buffalo, more like 30% 40%percent maximum.

[Skier]

While those old '60's engines were all normally aspirated, I imagine some could take some add-ons. Some of the modifications you suggested produced huge horsepower increases back in the day, too. It was not uncommon then to tune a 426 hemi up to 1500hp+ for the drags, and Mopar still sells the engine block to the build your own funnycar and fuel dragster crowd. Not sure, haven't followed it for years.
Engineering marches on, and there are a lot of years that have gone by since the '60's. It's only natural that new performance technologies develop. What seems odd is that it hasn't produced more power than it has. I'm guessing, but wouldn't be surprised if the modern high performance engines are engineered and built at a higher state of tune than in the old days, too.

You want to see engineering progressing? Take a ride in my mom's 2002 Camaro Z28. She has the LS1 motor with a T56 transmission (that's six, count them six, forward gears). Chevy advertises 310HP/340TQ at the flywheel, if I recall correctly, and she still gets 30 MPG on the freeway.

That's what I call progress.

(edit) Regarding the Mopar 426 Hemi engine block, it's not the same engine used in today's Top Fuel cars, nor funny cars. They have hemispherical combustion chambers and are loosely based off the 426 design, but are not the same block.

Not that the 426 isn't an impressive motor, though. If I'm ever stupidly rich, I'd buy a classic Mopar with one in it. Until then, I'll stick with my 340, the "baby Hemi."

[Ninja Geoff]

While those old '60's engines were all normally aspirated, I imagine some could take some add-ons. Some of the modifications you suggested produced huge horsepower increases back in the day, too. It was not uncommon then to tune a 426 hemi up to 1500hp+ for the drags, and Mopar still sells the engine block to the build your own funnycar and fuel dragster crowd. Not sure, haven't followed it for years.
Engineering marches on, and there are a lot of years that have gone by since the '60's. It's only natural that new performance technologies develop. What seems odd is that it hasn't produced more power than it has. I'm guessing, but wouldn't be surprised if the modern high performance engines are engineered and built at a higher state of tune than in the old days, too.

Oh yes, i definatly understand this. I was trying to make the point that American V8's havn't changed all that much yet still can make tons of power. What ain't broke... And also to say that it's harder to get lotsa power out of japanese motors. BUT if they (read: the USA big 3) started putting DOHC, variable timing, etc. into their V8's, THEN built the "pee" outa them, just imagine what they could do. Like take Nissan's 5.6 litre V8. Sure, it's not as much power as the Hemi Rams, but it's got more torque. Oh yeah, it's a truck motor! 305 HP and 378 lb-ft. All on lower gearing for towing and stuff. It's not tuned from the factory the way the 350Z's motor is. Imagine what it could do in a sports car? Can you say 560Z?
EDIT: Nissan DOES have a V8 in a sportyish car. It's in their Infiniti M45. A 4.5 litre V8 with 335 HP and 340 lb-ft! Out of a little 4.5! Chevy's closest motor (4.8L V8) pushes 285 HP and 295 lb-ft. Close to Nissan's 3.5 V6 in the 350Z...The 5.3L V8 in Chevy's Impala SS is 303 HP and 323 lb-ft. Bigger displacment than the M45, yet less HP and TQ.

[jmillheiser]

Ford has added DOHC to their V8s. Look at the GT, mustang cobra, mustang mach . The mod motors can make considerably more power than the old small blocks.

The GT is 500hp with daily driver reliability, and only a small supercharger that was added to simply keep a more user friendly powerband. The engine would easily have pushed 500hp without the blower.

Look at a ford trans am car, 750hp out of a 5.0L DOHC v8 and only needs 8,000RPM to make that power (nextel cup cars put out less power at higher RPMS), and they are pretty rock solid motors.

An Import engine can produce equal performance to a large v8. remember the typical import car is lighter so the engine has less car to move.

The 2.0L 4 banger in the new civic SI put out 200hp which is equal in specific output to a 5.0L engine putting out 500hp. It will do this for over 200k miles.

Yes the civic is slower than a 500hp mustang but that is because its a 2800lb car so its not much lighter than the mustang. Put this same engine into a 2000lb car and you have a real screamer on your hands.

some examples. A VW bug which weighs 1600-1900lbs depending on year, will show a 5.0L mustang its tailights with 120hp, will show a Z28 taillights at 150hp, and can embarass most exotics with 200hp, 250hp and its keeping up with 600 supersports. And yes these power outputs are quite doable with the VWs engine (200hp is doable N/A, 250hp is easy with a turbo).

[2006schoolbusyellow250R]

Even smaller bikes are surprisingly capable if ridden properly.

Do you know where your horsepower and torque peaks are?

Yes, they are.

My power starts coming on the cam at 7K upwards, and at 11K, she screams...

[9000white]

All the smart Europeans moved to Africa [/quote]

then there aint enough of them to start a fight.

[sapaul]

All the smart Europeans moved to Africa

then there aint enough of them to start a fight. [/quote]

Yes you are quite right, we become colonialists who have gotten fat off the land, enjoy sundowners at dusk and have our live in maids turn down our bed covers before retiring for the night and our casuals make sure the bikes are washed and polished for when we wish for a jaunt into the bush. We no longer have a need to fight as we live in a democracy that embraces all colours, creeds and and sexual oriantations and we also control all the f@#cking money.

Get a life

[Jamers!]

You guys need to ride in Los Angeles for a month, then give your opinions. Sure, we've all adjusted to lower powered bikes. But if you ride every day, rain or shine, with the maniacs on the roads here, well, walk a mile in my friggin shoes. I don't drive a car these days. I ride to Joshua Tree for camping, Santa Barbara to pamper my girlfriend. Ride for ten minutes in Los Angeles and you'll see five different climate changes.

So, don't give me some pompous lecture about torque curves, weekend bikers.

Joshua tree is a great place to camp. And while i do think that our traffic is some of the worst. Id have to say the worst traffic was dallas. OH man, that place was maddness pure maddness, possibly even worse than LA traffic. As for torque and power and crap. I donno it all. I know how to get from point A to B. I dont race, i dont go to fast to often so it doesnt matter to me. Im content with the power ive got. Even being a fairly unskilled rider on a small bike (EX500) i can beat just about everything off the line and in a race.



JWF

[skoebl]

The GT is 500hp with daily driver reliability, and only a small supercharger that was added to simply keep a more user friendly powerband. The engine would easily have pushed 500hp without the blower.

A VW bug which weighs 1600-1900lbs depending on year, will show a 5.0L mustang its tailights with 120hp, will show a Z28 taillights at 150hp, and can embarass most exotics with 200hp, 250hp and its keeping up with 600 supersports. And yes these power outputs are quite doable with the VWs engine (200hp is doable N/A, 250hp is easy with a turbo).

Heh...as they showed in Top Gear...I wouldn't really say the GT could be used as a daily driver unless you had a fuel truck following you (spy hunter style ) He (the guy on top gear) was able to go 73 miles with one tank of gas.

I totally agree with the VW stuff...I had an 84 Rabbit that I dropped a Corrado G60 engine into. Was soo much more fun to drive than my 90 5.0L Mustang. Crazy amounts of torque, probably equal HP...just insane. Too bad I don't have that anymore. Here in San Diego we don't have the hills and fun mountain passes that I had at my disposal in Northern California / Southern Oregon. Makes me wish I bought my bike up there