Question about torque.

[Dan3]

Originally Posted by 1320junkie

I'll see your and raise you a

[DntWrryBeHappy21]

So to the OP basically the more torque the better =) and of course the more hp

but to clear it up for myself:

torque is needed to get the motor to start working faster while horsepower is needed to make it continue moving faster?

[chevy454]

Originally Posted by THUMPER20X

I always found the easiest way to understand is think of a door. Torque is near the hinge (high pressure) and HP is near the edge of the door (Speed) Theres a saying "Torque wins races, HP sells cars"

I don't think that's accurate...case in point, an NHRA Stock or Super/Stock Pontiac 455. The 455s are generally torque monsters, so if "torque wins races" then these thing should be the King of the Hill, but they're not...to get them to et/mph, the Pontiac guys sacrifice tq #s and *cheat* the rpm range further up, so they can use the hp to benefit from the mechanical advantage of steeper gearing. That's how the old school Z/28s compete in S/S, they're waaaay down on tq, but they spin them to the moon (9k-10k)...

If you've ever been on a dyno, and played with the accelleration rate, then you know that if you slowly accellerate the engine you'll make more power than with a faster rate, but it doesn't translate to the race track...

[MontyCarlo]

Originally Posted by DntWrryBeHappy21

So to the OP basically the more torque the better =) and of course the more hp

but to clear it up for myself:

torque is needed to get the motor to start working faster while horsepower is needed to make it continue moving faster?

To put DG's equation into English, horsepower comes from torque multiplied by engine speed. If you have good torque, then high horsepower means you'll keep having good torque at high engine speed but low horsepower means the engine can't get very high RPMs.

And to forget English and go back to equations, T is proportional to M(mass)*A(acceleration), but P(power)=M*A*V(velocity).

[PieNsky]

[QUOTE=5thGenCamaroChick;992746]
So based on this am I to assume the lower torque number is better?


UMMMM.....Well.....Bigger I heard was always better

[THUMPER20X]

Originally Posted by chevy454

I don't think that's accurate...case in point, an NHRA Stock or Super/Stock Pontiac 455. The 455s are generally torque monsters, so if "torque wins races" then these thing should be the King of the Hill, but they're not...to get them to et/mph, the Pontiac guys sacrifice tq #s and *cheat* the rpm range further up, so they can use the hp to benefit from the mechanical advantage of steeper gearing. That's how the old school Z/28s compete in S/S, they're waaaay down on tq, but they spin them to the moon (9k-10k)...

If you've ever been on a dyno, and played with the accelleration rate, then you know that if you slowly accellerate the engine you'll make more power than with a faster rate, but it doesn't translate to the race track...

I didnt make the saying up lol. I just heard it.

[HDDAN]

There are a lot of factors to winning a race. The NHRA used to use the horsepower to weight ratio to determine the stock classes. The way to increase torque is to increase the brake mean effective pressure. You do this by enhancing the engine such as increasing the compression ratio. People that talk about torquey engines are usually talking about engines that make their torque peak at a low RPM. If you increase the RPM of the torque peak (such as with a hot cam), you also increase the HP. The formula of torque x RPM divided by 5252 is the right one for horsepower. Torque is a measurement of turning force. The more times you apply it, the more HP. For example, A Harley Twin cam 96 makes about 90 pound feet of torque at about 4500 rpm and makes about 70 HP. A Ninja ZX12R makes about the same torque number but does it at about 12,000 rpm making roughly 180 HP. The engines with the higher torque peak need to be reved higher and at lower RPM's do not have the grunt af an engine like the Harley's low speed engine. With a low speed engine with a low RPM torque peak and a heavy flywheel, you will fell immediate acceleration when you push the pedal down. It will run out of steam quicker than the high speed engine. The high speed engine with a couple of downshifts to get near it's higher RPM torque peak will crush the slower turning engine. A good example of the high speed engine was the 302 CI Z-28 race engines of the nineteen sixties. They were giant killers.

[chevy454]

Originally Posted by HDDAN

The NHRA used to use the horsepower to weight ratio to determine the stock classes.

They still do...our '69 carries a factor of 8.06 (lbs per factored hp) in Stock, while the NHRA has yet to release the factor for the '10...

A good example of the high speed engine was the 302 CI Z-28 race engines of the nineteen sixties. They were giant killers.

Good example...

[SlingShot]

Originally Posted by HDDAN

A good example of the high speed engine was the 302 CI Z-28 race engines of the nineteen sixties. They were giant killers.

Part of the 302 design that made them awesome, was the fact they were "oversquare" engines. The oversquare engine is one that is designed with a larger bore than stroke. With this design they were able to maintain mandated engine size. Also with the smaller stroke the engines reached their max power and rpm faster, and were able to keep it there longer without the engine blowing. To this day the NASCAR engines are designed the same way.

[HDDAN]

Originally Posted by SlingShot

Part of the 302 design that made them awesome, was the fact they were "oversquare" engines. The oversquare engine is one that is designed with a larger bore than stroke. With this design they were able to maintain mandated engine size. Also with the smaller stroke the engines reached their max power and rpm faster, and were able to keep it there longer without the engine blowing. To this day the NASCAR engines are designed the same way.

Yes, with the oversquare engine with a short stroke Chevy was able to move the torque curve up because the engines would safely rev to higher speeds. This is because of piston speed. On a longer stroke engine, the pistons must move faster to cover the longer distance of the stroke per revoloution. The limit of when things start comming apart is about 4,300 feet per minute. Like I said earlier, if you have the same amount of torque at a higher RPM, you get more HP.

[Banshee]

Originally Posted by 5thGenCamaroChick

Can someone explain torque to me in simple terms?

"simple terms"?

This was the only question the OP had. Hell, I am confused now..

[SlingShot]

Originally Posted by Banshee

"simple terms"?

This was the only question the OP had. Hell, I am confused now..

In simple terms torque, by definition is a twisting or turning effort or force....

[Banshee]

Originally Posted by SlingShot

In simple terms torque, by definition is a twisting or turning effort or force....

Glad we are back on topic...short and sweet.

[Susantroy1]

Originally Posted by 5thGenCamaroChick

Can someone explain torque to me in simple terms?

You Guys are way to boring...... Camarochick, Torque is the amount of force that I use to turn my neck an stare at a hottie like you cruising down the boulevard in Her hot A## Camaro Horsepower is what I use to catch up to you See simple.....