Horsepower VS. torque?

Question

My car has 420HP and 530ft/lbs. torque. I know hp is top end and torque is pulling power/acceleration. Does this mean I/m best off racing uphill?

400CI Pontiac smallblock. Max HP @5200RPM. 4-speed with 3.90 gears. Curb weight 3680lbs.

Answer 1

Torque and horsepower numbers like yours (which are nice) along with weight are factors that go along in helping determine final gear ratios and a general idea of how the vehicle will perform. when all is said and done it's the torque that pushes things. Two identical vehicles with the same horsepower but different torque numbers will act like two different vehicles if the torque figures are quite different. The one with more torque will be faster,carry a load better,and generally all around performance will be better.That's why when building an engine that has good horsepower and a nice red-line combined with lots of low end to mid range torque you can't go wrong!Also with higher torque numbers you can go with lower rear end gear ratios because the engine will be able to turn that taller ratio easier.So it makes a big difference and with good torque you could race uphill easier but I don't know why you would want to! Hey just get out there and have some fun,with 420H.P. and 530 foot pounds I know it'll move right along anyway!

Answer 2

Actually hp is simply the torque multiplied by the speed of the engine (it is in radians per second or some such strange thing though)

big engines with a lot of torque have more power at lower rpms than a smaller engine with the same hp. If you took two cars of exactly the same weight and same hp but one had more torque the car with more torque would be faster - assuming the drivers are of equal talent. Doesn't matter if you race uphill or on flat ground, it only matters who you are racing!

Answer 3

Contrary to common misconception, an engine's (NOT 'motor's) torque and horsepower are distinctly separate and niether is derived from the other.

Horsepower is work / time which, as stated by the Asker, determines top-end speed (based upon the weight and aerodynamics of the vehicle). Torque is force / distance which determines how quickly the vehicle's speed can be changed (usually accelleration).

In racing, Horsepower is more critical in circumstances where top speed or maintained high speeds are the determining factor (long straightaways and some categories of drag racing). With 9 lbs of car per Horsepower, you can't expect much more than 170 MpH from your car without taxing your engine.

Torque is always the determining factor in circumstances where accelleration is the determining factor (such as grand prix races, as well as smaller closed tracks and most categories of drag racing). With 7 lbs of car per ft/lb of Torque, I certainly would not be anxious to come against you in a road rally.

Answer 4

No you have a real good combination,,for both,your car would be good,on the street or strip,,the low end torque would give you a tremendous take off,,with the right gear,,and the horse power would give you a really good top end,,if your car is a light one,,it should do really good ,,i bet it,s fun to play with on the street,,with that much power,it would have to be,,don't think you have to race up hill,,you can run that one ant where,,hope this help,s,,i mechanic for a living,,and it sounds like you know your stuff,,when it comes to building a motor.

Answer 5

It will depend on the weight of the car and at what your hp & torque is a different rpm's. You gear ratio will be the biggest factor, low gears - take off , high gears - top end. I had a small block with 3.00's & L60's in high school , the motor was too small for top end and the gears/tires were to high for take off. , but on curvy roads it was a blast between 40 - 85 mph. My buddy had low gears and he would kill you off the line but once you caught him it was all over.