http://www.wam.umd.edu/~clehman/cs3/cs3.html

 

low end torque means that your peak amount of torque is low in the rpm range, and top end hp, means your hp is at its peak at higher rpms.

 

are those both good things?

 

Good depending on the application. If you have a heavy truck, you'd want the engine components selected with low end torque as your highest priority. Lightweight Camaro that is going to see mostly strip duty, you go for high rpm HP.

A car that sees mostly street duty/cruising with an occasional trip to the strip... you compromise a bit. Which way and how much depends on personal preference. I run a cam with 224 degrees duration in my 71 mostly because I'm more biased towards torque, so I'm willing to kiss off high rpm HP above 6,000. Someone else that is more of a strip hound would put in a cam with 230-240* for HP > 6,000 rpm.


Good thing about the 396 is that it can make good low end torque AND high rpm HP, mostly because of the excellent heads, especially if it has the oval port heads.

 

thanks alot everyone

 

also another dumb question. what do you mean by 224 degrees duration?

 

http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/te...iables_basics/

 

duration is the length of time in crankshaft degrees that the intake or exhaust valve is open.I think you need to find a really nice Automotive Technology text book and read up on the basics.