Street Car! - How much HP is enough?

Engel · Apr 23, 2007

I think you have to factor in weight too, 300rwhp would be great for a <2700 pound car.. but some of the modern stangs are >3600 pounds..

WhiteStallionGT · Apr 23, 2007

I'd probably kill myself with anything over 300rwhp. But then again, my dream daily driver is a ported blower terminator.

final5-0 · Apr 23, 2007

Engel said:
I think you have to factor in weight too, 300rwhp would be great for a <2700 pound car.. but some of the modern stangs are >3600 pounds..

So True my friend ... So True

Every time I go over to his house and see that little Coupe sitting in the driveway
I seem to see this big Neon Sign that says ..................

That little Notch would fly with my stuff

Grady

Black Stampede · Apr 23, 2007

I am in complete agreement with yellow95cobra with 550rwhp being the ideal street power. However, I understand everyones thoughts on foxes being lighter. My main thought with that is that yes, lower hp foxes setup to launch can run great numbers, but they will never run the mph that the more powerful cars do and that is what makes cars fun on the street, mph.

It also depends a great deal on what a person is used to. I used to think low 13s was a quick car and you were gonna beat most people runnin around the street. However, as you stay in the game longer, experience more radical cars, your opinion really changes. I no longer am that impressed with my buddies cars running 120s in the quarter. Not because they aren't fast, but because you get used to what you are around.

I would base my opinion of what a street car should be more based on 1/4 specs. Although I can't say a specfic ET since those are based on launches mainly, I would like my mph over 125, but that is just me.

As for power, you guys saying foxes are so much lighter so 400 rwhp is enough, I guess thats just whats comfortable for you. My buddy with a fox puts down 500 rwhp, traps in the 120s and to me that is near ideal for a street car.

It's the whole concept of progression. Of course you should have an ultimate goal in mind for you car, but take baby steps to get there. Because 300 rwhp may be perfect for you now, I assure you that feeling will not last. But if I must give a power # then I say 500-550 rwhp no matter if its a fox or not.

final5-0 · Apr 23, 2007

Black Stampede

Thanks so much for your info

You make a lot of good points and I can see how you came to have them

It is that same old thing for all of us ... I guess

Not "Sure" how much hp I need
but
I "Know" I need a little bit more

If he goes forced ... do you think a 306 or 331 OEM based block is gonna
live all that long putting down 500-550 rwhp?

I just don't see him going to a specialty block so that is why I put a limit
at around mid 400's which was kinda based off what I've seen on power
adder forums in the past

Grady

95Vert · Apr 23, 2007

I thought I would need in excess of 450 hp to get me to be happy. I have learned so much in the past couple of years, but I still know nothing. Get it?

I have noticed that my 260/285 combo does excellent on the street and pretty decent on the track. I'm with Hissin, I'd be happy with 350 hp +/-. But to be completely honest, if I can hit an 11.90 with less than 350hp, I wouldn't care about my numbers. It would be something to bloat about.

gcomfx.com · Apr 23, 2007

I'll let you all know when I get this puppy fired up. I have a feeling, I'll want a blower next. LOL

Black Stampede · Apr 23, 2007

final5-0 said:
Black Stampede

Thanks so much for your info

You make a lot of good points and I can see how you came to have them

It is that same old thing for all of us ... I guess

Not "Sure" how much hp I need
but
I "Know" I need a little bit more

If he goes forced ... do you think a 306 or 331 OEM based block is gonna
live all that long putting down 500-550 rwhp?

I just don't see him going to a specialty block so that is why I put a limit
at around mid 400's which was kinda based off what I've seen on power
adder forums in the past

Grady

It's all in the tune as I am sure you know. I know quite a few folk who have stock blocks with a good tune making around 500 rwhp and have ran great for quite some time. Even some at 550 or even look at Eades who i think is near 600. Don't get me wrong, I would not feel safe running much more than 550, however, 500 with a good tune seems to be just fine from what I have seen.

However, if he is worried at all, 450-500 would be a great range to still have fun with and would be totally safe with a good tune.

ProKiller · Apr 23, 2007

i would say right around 400rwhp is a good number. i was running 390/360 before i did the stroker and it was fun street car. i didn't have much of a problem in the rain, but i attribute that to the power being up high with the vortech. i would say shoot for 400 but if you come in at 350, call it a day. anything more you just run into problem after problem, first your cooling system is enough, then its the rear, then its the brakes, then its the tranny, then its the suspension, then its the tires, then its the block, then its......

fiveoho · Apr 23, 2007

Synned said:
You guys make me feel so sad....make me feel sooo slow.
I want to hit the magic 300rwhp mark badly, just don't have the cash.

i totally understand. im right there with ya.

to comment on grady's post....well, im not

i have driven a 03 cobra and a 04 mach and have ridden in a HCI fox with 311 whp and a 03 gt with 308 whp. the fox and the 03 GT felt faster than both the cobra having the stock 390 horse and the mach with its 305.

IMHO i would think around 350 whp would be great for a steet car. heck, i would settle for 290 or so in my car

_jb_ · Apr 23, 2007

I say 550-600rwhp. So many cars are 400+Hp out the factory.

final5-0 · Apr 23, 2007

ProKiller said:
i would say right around 400rwhp is a good number. i was running 390/360 before i did the stroker and it was fun street car. i didn't have much of a problem in the rain, but i attribute that to the power being up high with the vortech. i would say shoot for 400 but if you come in at 350, call it a day. anything more you just run into problem after problem, first your cooling system is enough, then its the rear, then its the brakes, then its the tranny, then its the suspension, then its the tires, then its the block, then its......

Yes Ryan

I'm with ya on how big hp can find the wimpy parts in a drive line

Grady

99FiveOh · Apr 23, 2007

380 HP feels nice, when I can use it. My problem is I can't get any traction so even a stock Mustang could whoop me off the line. I'm glad I got the blower, but if I would have built a suspension to handle the power it would be a much better street car.

I'm sure when I do set it up it will be alot more fun to drive! so I'm gonna say 400 whp is about right for a street car.

OrangeMustangGt · Apr 23, 2007

400rwhp. The stock t-5 and rearend will hold up if you dont beat the hell out of it.

That was about where my turbo setup was at 10 psi, however it begins to feel slow after you drive it for a while!

trav_19 · Apr 23, 2007

well for a dd car i find the for me it comes stock with everything i need really lol... i can have fun without having to much hp that i will get careless with ...and i find a 215hp car with a 100 shot of nitrous to be one of the funest car i have ever riden in and a 100 shot is realistically around 75 hp i believe so i would have to say 300 hp is plently for the streets

Green 94 5.0 · Apr 25, 2007

my 94 with the old 302/vortech combo made 394hp 411lb/ft to the tires. that was enough for me to be able to not have traction until the 2-3 shift on 315 drag radials. this is with the stock 3.27s out back. im looking for 400-475 to the tires with the new combo. aside from the block limitation, i feel that anything more than that would render the car useless at anything less than a 50mph roll in a racing situation. 425-475 is plenty to beat the pants off of most anything on the road and as someone said earlier, if the weather takes a bad turn it can still be babied fairly safely. just my .02

Pokageek · Apr 25, 2007

_jb_ said:
I say 550-600rwhp. So many cars are 400+Hp out the factory.

True but they are not 400rwhp though. And we are talking rwhp.

Black95GTS · Apr 25, 2007

I think a properly thought out and well matched 347 is the ultimate 8.2 deck street engine, in terms of cost, reliability, and ease of getting parts. Should be right around or slightly above 1 rwhp / CI. Nice broad torque curve but can still head up to 7K for some solid HP.

Someday....

Adam

trav_19 · Apr 25, 2007

_jb_ said:
I say 550-600rwhp. So many cars are 400+Hp out the factory.

what would you honestly need 600 hp for?? i still think 400 hp is to much for a street car lol

Black Stampede · Apr 25, 2007

trav_19 said:
what would you honestly need 600 hp for?? i still think 400 hp is to much for a street car lol

Well, race it for one. Not to mention with a good tune, there are plenty of cars with much more than 600 rwhp that drive like stock until you mash the throttle.

I guess no one NEEDS that much horsepower, but then again, why does anyone NEED more than stock horsepower? Cause its fun!!!!

Street Car! - How much HP is enough?

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