Torque at Low Revs or BHP with High Revs

[Chewy]

I seem to be in a minority on the forum regarding High revving engines in that I believe torque is more important than bhp at high revs in an Ultima. Don’t get me wrong as I am envious of some of you guys out there with 500 – 600+ bhp engines that rev to 7500rpm (but I’d restrict them if I had them).
It has been suggested that a High revving engine suits the car better than one with good torque that perhaps runs out of steam at 6000rpm.
BHP seems to be the bench mark for comparing how quick each car will be.
The gearbox may be designed for a higher revving engine but unless your prime target is top speed such as breaking the 200mph limit I do not see the benefits of revving the engine so high, but I do see the gains in not doing so– mainly reliability and longevity.
I did want to break the 200mph barrier but have sacrificed this ambition for a much more drivable car on road and track. Even with high revs and loads of bhp the only real place to hit 200mph is on runways and even then it’s difficult – I have done about 170mph which felt Quick. I can say that with good torque across the revs the car is quicker on track and much easier and relaxing to drive both on track and road. Whilst racing I was able to shift gear early and still be in the power band hold the taller gears much longer and even through the corners – less gear changes helped keep corner entry and exit much smoother and quicker.

[CanAm Dave]

Hi Glyn

I have to agree that although it is nice to be able to push the revs in each gear for a high speed run, in reality torque is much more of a friend. I went against the trend and built my engine for torque as it is going to spend most of its time on the road. After my dyno run yesterday I now have over 450lb/ft at 1600rpm extending to 690lb/ft at 4000rpm. So now at any speed in any gear there is plenty to play with. Short shifting is for me.

Regards Dave

[Boosted LS1]

Torque is also what I take as accelleration. You can feel it

[TuxMan]

i agree as a good road engine i went for lots of torque with a decent red line ,made 420lbft at 4800 with a good spread from 2000 oupwards ,drives nice too and is bloody quick !!!! as a result of going EFI i lost peak hp and gained mid range torque not sure why but you sure notice it on the road .

Edited by TuxMan on Sunday 16th December 18:04

[Wilder]

Well the great Carol Shelby said "BHP sell cars, but torque wins races"
theres a man who should know.

[GTRCLIVE]

Torque is great but needs the right gearing to take full advantage of, bhp and revs is what these porsche gearboxes where designed for.....

[andygtt]

I'm definatelly from the power up high camp rather than down low.
The problem with having high power down low is that in a lightweight car you can just end up spinning the wheels..... if you build the power with revs then you tend not to have the same problem.

but it is definatelly the whole package that matters rather than just a high reving engine.... and to be brutally hounest with such a big engine and so much power you are unlikelly to get it majorly wrong.....