can someone explain top end and low end torque........differences and whats better.........also, not just in camaros, but in FWD cars too....what is it? and at certain speeds does one become the other?

 

well...i guess low end would be from the dead start off...like at the take off or if you are pulling something. top end is once u have it goin down the road at a higher RPM, the cars ability to keep that sped and rpm. So if u are pulling something at high rpm or racing, if you go up a hill a car with more top end torque will stay the same or pull aheaD.

 

It's all in the torque curve

 

Low end is the power made in the lower RPM's...and likewise with the high end. Low end power in a Z28 is probably like 2,500 RPM's and lower, and above that would be considered high end (am I right?)

I'm new to Camaro's, don't bash me

 

You can tune an engine (cam, heads, etc.) to have its' peak power at low rpm or high rpm.

Tuning it for a high rpm peak (sometimes called "top end" or "horsepower") gives the most power, but narrows the rpm range over which you get good power. So you have to shift more. One extreme is a Formula One engine. It makes about 800 HP from 180 cubic inches. It revs to 17,000 rpm and uses a 7 speed transmission and the driver shifts gears a whole lot. They'd have ten speeds if the rules would let them.

Tuning for a low rpm power peak (sometimes called "low end" or "torque") gives less power, but it spreads out better and you can have fewer gears and shift a lot less.

The NASCAR guys build both kinds. For Atlanta, where the speed doesn't change a lot in a lap, they build a top end motor. For Darlington, where the turns are much slower than the straight, they lower the peak power rpm so the power spreads out over a wider range of rpm and they don't have to shift.

 

so what kind of torque would be utilized when driving on the highway....my dailiy driver is a 94' accord ex........aren't they suppose to be excellent in high end torque.......also, since they are FWD?

camaros are RWD, so they would obviously be more powerful in the low end, or th rear right?

 

the drive wheels have nothing to do with how much torque trhe engine produces... the gtp is a torque monster.