I'm 38 years old, have dabbled with racing (street and track) for over 20 years (with probably more losses than wins). I own a 99 Z28 with the LS1, a 91 305 TBI Camaro, and a 76 C-10 stepside with a 355ci.
My question is this, why do so many poeple focus on rwhp (and it seems that the cam companies do also) instead of torque? I'm not trying to start a TQ vrs HP thread, just curious at to why so many high rwhp LS1's have (what seems to me) low rwtq?
Don't get me wrong, Id love to have 400+ rwhp, but I'd kill to have that AND more rwtq.
Does that sound funny?

Example: If I had a LS1 making say 450 hp at 6000rpm, but only 410 torque at say 4000rpm, Id be happy, but I'd be delirious if the motor made the same torque as HP.
Are there cams out there for the LS1's that can do this? I've kicked around the "hot cam" for awhile because all the curve I have seen from it the hp and tq are close.

 

well i think that the reason tq numbers are low compared to hp numbers is because when you put a free flow exhaust system on the ls1, it makes less torque because for some reason unknown to me... the ls1 loves a little back pressure. like look at kraests numbers 470 rwhp 420 rwtq... that is due to his 1 7/8 inch primaries... it obviously hurts low end torque but dominates highend power...

im sure there are some other reasons but this is the only one i know of...


-Dakota

 

Maybe, but, I'm not so sure... Back in the 80's and early 90', a stout SBC would make 500 hp, and very near that in torque also, with free flowing exhaust.
Kraests's numbers are awesome, don't get me wrong, but that's at a level that I won't be able to afford for years yet. I've been trying to research a H/C combo that will be absolutely streetable, yet give me 410-420 rwtq at as low an rpm as possible. I'm not worried about hp, 'cause in the rpms I spend most of my time in, tq is what I need. Besides, at 5250rpm...hp=tq, always.. I guess I need to get off my butt and start making some phone calls to some builders and cam/ head companies..