How much hp is too much?

[Mr. Rustypwnz]

Here is my thought on the subject without getting into specific numbers. I have had several friends 'build' (take it to a shop and have someone do it for them) High Horse Power cars. Not just Mustangs. Everytime I see them they are in the daily beater not the built car. Its always broken, waiting on another part, caught fire, not tuned right, ad etc.... What the hell is the point of having a fun car if you cant take it out and drive it? They are always touting how much HP the car is pushing and I will say, "Lets run'em." But they dont have their cars with them.

Now Track only cars, thats another story....

I know a couple people, that have 60-70K$ in a FOX mustang and only have maybe 500 miles on the car total after the build, and are on the 5th or so motor, not because the others had problems either, its crazy, but they usually want everything perfect, and wont drive it if it gets a scratch or something. Generally anal people lol.

There is no reason you should build a car, and not be able to daily drive the damn thing, or take it out regularly. I understand bad luck, but some people, will have the car down 2+ years, put thousands of dollars into it, and then get it running for maybe a week, and then tear it down again, just because, they got different heads or something, and it sit for another year. makes no sense! But I'm a driver.

 

[90lxcoupe]

There is no reason you should build a car, and not be able to daily drive the damn thing, or take it out regularly.

Agreed, if you pay the wrong person to do the work, you can run into problems.

 

[Sharad]

"..a true hotrodder would'nt be content untill he had created a car so violent, so totally sick that the act of dropping the hammer would result in instant death. Anything less results in the need to go faster." Tony DeFeo



This thread caught my attention because I suppose I'm partially responsible for this phenomenon:

http://www.mustang50magazine.com/featuredvehicles/m5lp_0812_1989_ford_mustang_lx/index.html

http://www.mustang50magazine.com/techarticles/m5lp_0910_1989_mustang_lx_upgraded/index.html

http://www.mustang50magazine.com/te..._sheetmetal_9_inch_housing_rearend/index.html

http://www.mustang50magazine.com/techarticles/m5lp_1005_fox_lx_1000_horsepower_engine/index.html

http://www.mustang50magazine.com/te...ont_suspension_installation_part_5/index.html


There are plenty of cars that dead hook on the street with over 1000rwhp. One of my favorites is "BoostedGT". Search him and/or Cash Days on Youtube. Novi357 is another good one. His vids are on streetfire.

The person that mentioned Larry Larson hit the nail on the head. Anyone that says a car is nonfunctional on the street if it has over 1000hp has to eat their words after they watch Larson run over 1000 miles in five days on the street, rain and shine, and then click off a 6.95@200.

 

[2000xp8]

There are plenty of cars that dead hook on the street with over 1000rwhp. One of my favorites is "BoostedGT". Search him and/or Cash Days on Youtube. Novi357 is another good one. His vids are on streetfire.

So what you are saying is that there are plenty of 1000hp cars that "dead hook" on the street?
First off, a "dead hook" would yield quite the wheel stand on a car with that much power, second of all the tires would require alot of heat, not sure the last time i seen someone heating up their tires at a stop light, finally the track has tons of rubber already layed down and guys that run drag radial for a living still spin the tires.

So i think the term "dead hook" is an overstatement.

I was pretty bored so i looked up the videos of the people who you were talking about.
What in gods name do any of them have to do with hooking on the street?
The 347 one actually shows the car not hooking each time he hits the throttle, says it's a 1/4 throttle.
If anything those videos made the point against a 1000hp street car, not for it.

 

[Sharad]

So what you are saying is that there are plenty of 1000hp cars that "dead hook" on the street?
First off, a "dead hook" would yield quite the wheel stand on a car with that much power, second of all the tires would require alot of heat, not sure the last time i seen someone heating up their tires at a stop light, finally the track has tons of rubber already layed down and guys that run drag radial for a living still spin the tires.

So i think the term "dead hook" is an overstatement.

I was pretty bored so i looked up the videos of the people who you were talking about.
What in gods name do any of them have to do with hooking on the street?
The 347 one actually shows the car not hooking each time he hits the throttle, says it's a 1/4 throttle.
If anything those videos made the point against a 1000hp street car, not for it.

I'm too tired to issue a full rebuttal tonight. For now, here's a pic of Chris "BoostedGT" DEAD HOOKING on the street in an 8 second car.

http://www.1320video.com/gallery/CDVI/DSC08938



I'll add more tomorrow.

 

[tannerc91gt]

I'm sorry but that doesn't look like a regular road to me. You can plainly see Plenty of rubber on the ground. Not saying it's not possible, I watched a friend of mine pull the wheels up driving past my house one day on an unprepped street but it wasn't that excessive and it's a 600hp car so there's a different

 

[FastDriver]

Pulling the wheels up on the street isn't hard to do... Your suspension just has to be set up wrong.

 

[90lxcoupe]

I'm sorry but that doesn't look like a regular road to me. You can plainly see Plenty of rubber on the ground. Not saying it's not possible, I watched a friend of mine pull the wheels up driving past my house one day on an unprepped street but it wasn't that excessive and it's a 600hp car so there's a different

He didnt say it was an unprepped stoplight in the middle of a crowded intersection... Theres plenty of street cars that work well in a street race where somone has laid pimp juice or VHT down and prepped the surface. Its coming back to the statement in this thread that anything over 500 hp is useless in a street car, which is untrue and has been proven wrong over and over. Its just a stupid argument. many 1000+ hp cars have completed 1000+ miles of drag week with impressive timeslips. If that dosent prove it to you than nothing will. I'm not talking about 1000hp vipers or lambos here...

 

[I candy]

ive driven plenty of 600+ cars on the street nothing wrong with how they drove when acting like a normal person. hell the last one i drove was a 2011 GT500 and me and the owner raced from 40-140 with his GTR. did it spin? f'in right it did... did i lift enough to keep it from getting away from me? damn right i did.

putting a skilled driver behind the wheel of a 1000hp street car is no more dangerious then putting a 65 year old asain lady in a honda civic on a bright sunny day

you must gave attended UCLA. I'm almost offended.


On another note this thread is awesome its like 4 stories in one.

I think everyone should have a 1k hp car. Darwin ism at its best.

 

[1991notchbackLX]

Asking a question with an answer so subjective and relative was just begging for an argument. I see both sides of the issue. I own a mild muslce car now for cruising on a pretty Sunday, but I've owned street monsters that scared the ever-loving **** out of me EVERY time I stomped on the gas. Personally, if you gave me 1000 horsepower, I'd have fun on the first drive and then come home wanting 2,000. It's just how I am. Interpret that however you like.

 

[2000xp8]

He didnt say it was an unprepped stoplight in the middle of a crowded intersection... Theres plenty of street cars that work well in a street race where somone has laid pimp juice or VHT down and prepped the surface. Its coming back to the statement in this thread that anything over 500 hp is useless in a street car, which is untrue and has been proven wrong over and over. Its just a stupid argument. many 1000+ hp cars have completed 1000+ miles of drag week with impressive timeslips. If that dosent prove it to you than nothing will. I'm not talking about 1000hp vipers or lambos here...

Well street driving involves driving on regular pavement.
If it's an illegal drag strip, it might as well be a race track with a race car.
Come on seriously look at the pavement in that picture, what about that reflects anything relative to driving the car around on the street. I'm sure it got a healthly burnout too. It's a controlled environment like a lab experiment, something that's not going to be duplicated just cruising around.

The 1000hp thing is subjective, i personally don't think it's worth it or you can make full use of the power, obviously others think they can, that's cool, just not my thoughts.

 

[darthcual]

This is an awesome thread with every side of the argument having valid points. Lets not devolve into name calling. Their are some ppl who just have NO business behind the wheel of a 500 hp car, much less a 1000 hp. I know an aquiantance building a Turbo charged WS6 Trans Am. He's looking to put down between 900-1100 hp. I've seen him race, he wont quit no matter how sideways he gets. He's going to total the car, kill himself, or kill someone else. Even though he has a good head on his shoulders, when he gets behind the wheel he has that false sense of indestructability.

 

[Sharad]

Someone pointed out that Brian's car "Novi357" was spinning on the street. Correct. When I made my post late last night, my brain was partially disengaged from lack of sleep. The reason I brought up Brian's car is because it has over 1000hp and is driven everywhere. Like me, he doesn't even own a truck and trailer. Years ago he drove that car hundreds of miles to a True Street event in PA, won the event, then drove it hundreds of miles back home. His car is proof positive that 1000hp isn't useless on the street. He drives that car all over the place and enjoys it. Does he leave each traffic light at redline on the transbrake? Of course not. But the car functions quite nicely as a street car, then runs 8s in the quarter mile on the same 17" radials that got him there.

Any car with 1000hp CAN spin the tires at will. (yes, even those ridiculously expensive AWD cars that keep getting brought up)

My point was that you CAN plant 1000 horsepower on the street if your car is setup for that.

I'm sorry but that doesn't look like a regular road to me. You can plainly see Plenty of rubber on the ground. Not saying it's not possible, I watched a friend of mine pull the wheels up driving past my house one day on an unprepped street but it wasn't that excessive and it's a 600hp car so there's a different

Let's be realistic. I'm not saying a 1000hp car is going to drag the bumper on chip & seal asphalt... And yes, usually when people bring out their high dollar cars to race on the street, they'll spray some VHT or Pimp Juice. What I am saying is that with the proper chassis setup and the right tune in the 7531, you can plant 1000hp on the street.

Here's a video of Chris planting over 1000hp on an unprepped highway (at 1:40 & 2:14 & 2:50)

YouTube - "Im a Street Car!"

Pulling the wheels up on the street isn't hard to do... Your suspension just has to be set up wrong.

Wrong?? I don't condone illegal street racing, but I've seen people make $12,000+ in one night with their suspension set up "wrong."

He didnt say it was an unprepped stoplight in the middle of a crowded intersection... Theres plenty of street cars that work well in a street race where somone has laid pimp juice or VHT down and prepped the surface. Its coming back to the statement in this thread that anything over 500 hp is useless in a street car, which is untrue and has been proven wrong over and over. Its just a stupid argument. many 1000+ hp cars have completed 1000+ miles of drag week with impressive timeslips. If that dosent prove it to you than nothing will. I'm not talking about 1000hp vipers or lambos here...

^^yup

Personally, if you gave me 1000 horsepower, I'd have fun on the first drive and then come home wanting 2,000. It's just how I am. Interpret that however you like.

^^That's what I'm talking about.

Well street driving involves driving on regular pavement.
If it's an illegal drag strip, it might as well be a race track with a race car.
Come on seriously look at the pavement in that picture, what about that reflects anything relative to driving the car around on the street. I'm sure it got a healthly burnout too. It's a controlled environment like a lab experiment, something that's not going to be duplicated just cruising around.

The 1000hp thing is subjective, i personally don't think it's worth it or you can make full use of the power, obviously others think they can, that's cool, just not my thoughts.

You can use 1000hp on a prepped or unprepped surface. I've shown examples of both.

[DISCLAIMER]I have not yet driven/raced my car with 1000hp. I had a 600hp '92 Coupe that was a handful... I can't imagine what 1000hp is gonna feel like! At least my current chassis is up to the challenge. I'll report back in a couple weeks to let you all know how it works out.

 

[90lxcoupe]

Still a big difference in a prepped track and a street thats been prepped for a street race. If your in a race, why wouldnt you do a burnout first? Yea its not real world driving conditions but its still a street, and the car is hooking on it. Its kinda common sense that a big power car is just gonna smoke the tires from a roll on a regular street. I can do it in my car with about 400hp.

Come on seriously look at the pavement in that picture, what about that reflects anything relative to driving the car around on the street. I'm sure it got a healthly burnout too. It's a controlled environment like a lab experiment, something that's not going to be duplicated just cruising around.

 

[2000xp8]

If your in a race, why wouldnt you do a burnout first?

You have pulled up next to random people at a stoplight and had them heat of the tires? That's something i've never seen.

The comments on organized racing have little relevance to what is too much for a car.
If it's racing you want, the skies the limit.

You guys keep repeating things about what can be done at at back street race, that's as good as a race track in some cases.
I'm well aware you can heat up the tires, prep the surface, but it still has nothing to do with how well a car hooks up at a stop light.

I bet there are cars out there that make 1000rwhp and would lose to the identical car that only makes 600rwhp.
If you have to get out of the throttle to keep a car straight, it's too late, you already lost.

It would appear stangnet has an abundance of members that feel they are proficient enough to handle a car that makes 1000rwhp on the street, yet i don't see any that actually even own one, in fact the majority of people have less than 350rwhp.
The best drivers in the world must all be on this forum.

Funny, a good portion of the guys here that make a good amount of power realize there is a limit, and the guys that make lower numbers seem to think a grand is useful, go figure. Probably a little something called experience.

I went from about 340rwhp to 480rwhp, and i assure you, there was a learning curve, a curve at times still can catch me off guard.
While i feel 500rwhp is probably fine, ii could see stretching it to 600, but not double to a 1000rwhp.

 

[SVT32VDOHC]

My old 96 Cobra had 400rwhp. Easily streetable, win most races. Then around 2008, some real fast stuff started coming out from the factory, so that simply wasn't enough anymore. Current Terminator has around 600rwhp. That wins a lot of races now, but there are still cars that give it a run for it's money. I haven't lost to anything, cause if I know I'll lose, I won't bite back, or pick at someone. LOL There are certainly cars out there that are much faster.

You almost need 800rwhp nowadays to beat cars around here. We are the Motor City. It's what we do. 800rwhp cars are easily streetable as well.

No amount of HP is too much HP around here. There is always someone faster....always.

 

[mkhalil83]

You have pulled up next to random people at a stoplight and had them heat of the tires? That's something i've never seen.

The comments on organized racing have little relevance to what is too much for a car.
If it's racing you want, the skies the limit.

You guys keep repeating things about what can be done at at back street race, that's as good as a race track in some cases.
I'm well aware you can heat up the tires, prep the surface, but it still has nothing to do with how well a car hooks up at a stop light.

I bet there are cars out there that make 1000rwhp and would lose to the identical car that only makes 600rwhp.
If you have to get out of the throttle to keep a car straight, it's too late, you already lost.

It would appear stangnet has an abundance of members that feel they are proficient enough to handle a car that makes 1000rwhp on the street, yet i don't see any that actually even own one, in fact the majority of people have less than 350rwhp.
The best drivers in the world must all be on this forum.

Funny, a good portion of the guys here that make a good amount of power realize there is a limit, and the guys that make lower numbers seem to think a grand is useful, go figure. Probably a little something called experience.

I went from about 340rwhp to 480rwhp, and i assure you, there was a learning curve, a curve at times still can catch me off guard.
While i feel 500rwhp is probably fine, ii could see stretching it to 600, but not double to a 1000rwhp.

I want to start off first by saying I own a 500 hp car and driven 700hp cars before but for you to say that 1000 isnt doable I am guessing you have never been to Texas 2k meet before? Me and my buddy went in his 700hp coupe and when your running 1000 to 1300 hp cars on the street that 700hp feels real slow and I am not just talking about the lambos or vipers but a short bed sierra truck with 1200hp pulling hard away from us. I agree it takes experience to tame it on the street but I think its more a money factor, if you got cash like that then 1000 hp on the street is definitely doable. As far as you saying that 1000hp losing to a 600hp NOPE seen it happen and let me tell you we got raped that night by all those high hp cars.

 

[2000xp8]

I want to start off first by saying I own a 500 hp car and driven 700hp cars before but for you to say that 1000 isnt doable

When did i say it wasn't doable?

My point was that is not really wise or necessary.

Don't exactly know how everyone puts down 1000hp to the ground during normal street condition in a foxbody, but i guess there are ways.

Could be my personal taste, but i prefer a real street car over a race car you drive on the street.

 

[Sharad]

You have pulled up next to random people at a stoplight and had them heat of the tires? That's something i've never seen.

The comments on organized racing have little relevance to what is too much for a car.
If it's racing you want, the skies the limit.

You guys keep repeating things about what can be done at at back street race, that's as good as a race track in some cases.
I'm well aware you can heat up the tires, prep the surface, but it still has nothing to do with how well a car hooks up at a stop light.

I bet there are cars out there that make 1000rwhp and would lose to the identical car that only makes 600rwhp.
If you have to get out of the throttle to keep a car straight, it's too late, you already lost.

It would appear stangnet has an abundance of members that feel they are proficient enough to handle a car that makes 1000rwhp on the street, yet i don't see any that actually even own one, in fact the majority of people have less than 350rwhp.
The best drivers in the world must all be on this forum.

Funny, a good portion of the guys here that make a good amount of power realize there is a limit, and the guys that make lower numbers seem to think a grand is useful, go figure. Probably a little something called experience.

I went from about 340rwhp to 480rwhp, and i assure you, there was a learning curve, a curve at times still can catch me off guard.
While i feel 500rwhp is probably fine, ii could see stretching it to 600, but not double to a 1000rwhp.

I guess I should stop beating a dead horse... but like I said, I feel partially responsible since I highly publicised the buildup of a 1000hp street car. So here goes:

*I personally have heated up the tires at a redlight for a race.

*I posted a video of a 1000+hp Mustang spanking a C6Z and a SupraTT on an unprepped highway.

*If a 1000hp car loses to an identical 600hp one, it was driver error.

*Forgive me for not dynoing my car yet. But if this thing doesn't make 1000hp I swear I'll set it on fire.

 

[RacEoHolic330]

That car doesn't look like it will make any power. It doesn't even have a distributor!