How much BHP in a CEC to get BEC performance?
Discussion
As per previous answers... it depends (on weight, gearing, tyres, torque spread and, in the higher speed ranges, aerodyanmics, amongst other things).
My K-series CEC Westfield is quicker than most BECs, with <190bhp.
A much heavier CEC with, say, a Cosworth or Rover V8 engine might need 250+ bhp to match the BEC's performance figures, but it would deliver the performance in a much more relaxed and accessible manner (but, there again, it wouldn't be as nimble around a track as a BEC...).
Bear in mind that weight has a much bigger influence on performance for the relatively low powered lightweights, too. Tested 2-up, Autocar only managed 4.5 second to 60 and 10.2 seconds to 100 in my Westy, whereas 1-up, the same car was timed as mid-3 seconds to 60 and 8 seconds to 100... something like a TVR Tuscan would barely notice the difference with a passenger.
Over about 80mph, aeroscreens instead of a full windscreen or an aerodynamic bodyshell (eg. Sylva Phoenix) can make a big difference. My Sylva will easily pull 135mph on an engine that would struggle to pull much more than about 120mph in a 'Seven', with commensurate increase in top-end acceleration.
Don't get too fixated with numbers, though... there's always someone with a bigger willy than yours!
My K-series CEC Westfield is quicker than most BECs, with <190bhp.
A much heavier CEC with, say, a Cosworth or Rover V8 engine might need 250+ bhp to match the BEC's performance figures, but it would deliver the performance in a much more relaxed and accessible manner (but, there again, it wouldn't be as nimble around a track as a BEC...).
Bear in mind that weight has a much bigger influence on performance for the relatively low powered lightweights, too. Tested 2-up, Autocar only managed 4.5 second to 60 and 10.2 seconds to 100 in my Westy, whereas 1-up, the same car was timed as mid-3 seconds to 60 and 8 seconds to 100... something like a TVR Tuscan would barely notice the difference with a passenger.
Over about 80mph, aeroscreens instead of a full windscreen or an aerodynamic bodyshell (eg. Sylva Phoenix) can make a big difference. My Sylva will easily pull 135mph on an engine that would struggle to pull much more than about 120mph in a 'Seven', with commensurate increase in top-end acceleration.
Don't get too fixated with numbers, though... there's always someone with a bigger willy than yours!
Regardless of power, a much more relevant question is what you want to use it for. I bought my Fireblade Fury (which was described by Chris at Fisher as "very driveable for a BEC") with the intention of taking it to work when the weather was fine, and using it as much as possible when the weather was good. BEC's don't do relaxed, sitting in a queue for the last 15minutes of my commute ruined the experience, and when wanting to avoid the attention of Gendarme on route to Croix in Northern France it was down right infuriating not being able to boot it.
That said, on a clear road, or track day it was utterly joyous. In terms of straight line speed I doubt there is much difference between it and my colleagues' ~170bhp CEC Tigers. The sequential box made hooning enormous fun. I loved the idea that I could have relatively little respect for the red line and if it ever let go it was £400 for a replacement engine and a days work to swap everything over.
I have recently bought a part (re)built Pinto powered locost in the hope that I can use it more often. That said with weather gear on 7's are a nuisance to drive so I've ditched the windscreen for an aeroscreen, thus taking the first step away from cicvilization already! Once it's on the road it will be an interesting comparison.
That said, on a clear road, or track day it was utterly joyous. In terms of straight line speed I doubt there is much difference between it and my colleagues' ~170bhp CEC Tigers. The sequential box made hooning enormous fun. I loved the idea that I could have relatively little respect for the red line and if it ever let go it was £400 for a replacement engine and a days work to swap everything over.
I have recently bought a part (re)built Pinto powered locost in the hope that I can use it more often. That said with weather gear on 7's are a nuisance to drive so I've ditched the windscreen for an aeroscreen, thus taking the first step away from cicvilization already! Once it's on the road it will be an interesting comparison.
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