What is the best RPM range that you would want your horsepower and torque powerband to fall between for a street driven car. I am trying to select a camshaft and intake manifold. I would think between 4,000 to 6,000 RPM. Hope this question makes sense!
I guess you need to define street driven car? I have my 82 Capri that is a street driver however it is something I do not drive for my work day trips. I do drive it on the weekend and on the track. With that being said since most street cars live int he 2 to 3 grand range most of their time I would wamt my torque to come on in this range with peak HP around the mid 5 grand range. At least when I was cruising most racing was stop light to stop light. This is where the Street Fighter 347s live and do most of their battles. This is where my Capri does most of its fighting too although my 302 will spin to 7 grand most of my power is done at 5800 which is where I shift and fall back in to my torque range.
Street car would usually be between 2k and 4k since not many people (ahem...that being typical non-car people) shift after 4k on the street. Most "street" cams are going to make most power in the lower to mid range.
my combo works great on the street, i cant really tell where it "starts" pulling, it had great low end with the b-cam advanced 4 degrees. it has some power. you can feel it come on a little stronger at 3k and then i shift at 5500 or so.
for a pure street car keep it 1500-5500, no need for 6k +
i think the reason a stock 5.0 is always a good street engine, it made perfect for the street. a modest cam that makes power but doesnt dog down low at all. the decent heads from the factory with small valves, to achieve good air velocity and get torque building fast. and the long runner stock intake which helps low end. it works great for the steet.
A factory cam is actually a decent cam for a street engine....the biggest choker on a stock engine are the heads and intake. Get good heads and a matching intake and the stock cam will make great torque...there are better cams but it's not bad for bottom end.
If building a 393 stroker, does anything change? I know the engine will make monster torque from 0 RPM. Would my HP powerband still need to come on around the 2 - 3 K mark?
You want your torque to begin to come on as low as possible. Most street driven cars are shifted at around 2000-3000RPM, so the sooner the torque builds, the better.