how much is too much?

[l1ttle_d3vil]

how many kw that is...

car in question wouldn't weigh any more than 900kg I would imagine, and is rwd. it has fairly decent sized tread on the back so traction from that point is sorted; as in, I can't get much more!

but when it comes to a 90% street driven car (allow 10% for drag/track use ) how much power is too much? would something like 250kw atw just be stupid for a street driven 900kg rwd vehicle? would it be a case of never being able to have your foot flat to the floor (or even halfway)?

im not asking you what I should do - obviously i'll be told "do what I want" - but what is everyones general opinion when it comes to this?
i've got my own plans in my mind, but then im also thinking realistically would something weighing so little be at all drivable with this sort of power?

so people, your opinions...

[Bling]

guess it depends what engine you're talking about, then if its going to be NA, turbo or SC each will give a different level of driveability around town.... got more info to back up your question?

[l1ttle_d3vil]

sorry, it would be a turbo 4age.
not a n/a engine with massive cams which won't idle at intersections or anything

[d1 mule]

i recon ya would hard pressed to get 250RWKW out of a 4age. sorry not really any help but i recon there is no such thing as too much MUWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

[IH8TEC]

i recon ya would hard pressed to get 250RWKW out of a 4age. sorry not really any help but i recon there is no such thing as too much MUWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

not that hard pressed, and imho nothing bad about it. can be very driveable depending on tuner.

you gotta remember you would need a pretty decent boost level to get that power. most people wouldn't drive around on that sorta boost all day. i certaintly didn't run 25psi all day (odd occasions was fun ) i only drove round the street between 8 - 15psi most of the time. turn it up for racing

[Adamal]

You'd be more interested in the power characteristics throughout the whole rev range rather than just the peak power.

Say you had Baz type power (330kw) without a very nimble foot... Well, image what that would be like when boost kicks in. Sudden huge increase in power.

Something with a more even increase in power over the range gives more predictability and won't come out from under you, as long as you've got a good LSD.


Just remember that big turbos are like N/A's with huge cams. Nothing down low, all up high, and you have to keep it there to do anything.

[Dell'Orto]

Suspension setup, and power delivery will play a bit part in that. Top Fuellers seem to be able to put 8000hp to the ground pretty well

[Quirky]

Rear wheel drive, 477 kw, roughly 1500kg, EVEN more power per tonne, equivalent to 286kw for 900kg.

You'll be fine, though that VW is automatic...

[DJ]

Tho the GTIW12 can't turn corners.

[Adamal]

Sure it can! Its just that the back end seems to go round the corner faster than the front....

[pidge]

Rear wheel drive, 477 kw, roughly 1500kg, EVEN more power per tonne, equivalent to 286kw for 900kg.

You'll be fine, though that VW is automatic...

Daamn. A one off

[KwS]

mmmm, i want that GTIW12.... and make it with a DSG box. Theyre cool.

[barryogen]

I spoke to a Lotus guy a year or so back, who suggested that any more than about 300-350HP per ton in a street car tended to make a car less controllable... in the few cars that I've driven over that suggested limit, I tend to agree.

That... and, there seems to be little point in having a street car capable of running 10s(guestimate).

[~SlideWays~]

i recon ya would hard pressed to get 250RWKW out of a 4age.

Im only running 17psi on the same turbo that IH8TEC has happily run 25psi on and my power atw is only 38kw off 250kw. And thats on smallish 510cc injectors too.

If you are talking 250 flywheel kw than I guess that'd mean mine is 233.2kw's. Only 17kw away from the magic 250

Doesn't seem all that hard to believe 250kw can be made with a 4age turbo.

EDIT: unless you're talking about NA!? If so then yeah...a bit hard!

[gmacrae]

mate of mine just finished a 1jz -> ke36, 320rwkw - thats too much

[blackie]

250wkw in a 900kg car would be pretty animal on the street...

id be content with 150!!

[Lith]

I spoke to a Lotus guy a year or so back, who suggested that any more than about 300-350HP per ton in a street car tended to make a car less controllable... in the few cars that I've driven over that suggested limit, I tend to agree.

Yeah I think around 350hp/ton in a 2WD street car is about where things start getting a bit silly. Up to around there is strictly speaking useable, but a brief blat on the throttle basically ends up in silly speeds very quickly - if you have any concern about loss of licence speeds but want to enjoy the odd bit of throttle, then it can be a bit frustrating and traction below 100kph is questionable.

[SIKBUZ]

Maybe make smaller steps up rather than go hard and try and get straight to 250kw.. Do the suspension/brakes at the same time to keep drivability and you'll learn how you much power you like in the car.. 250kw at the wheels could be fun but any wet day and you'll roast the tyres unless you spend a fortune on those too

Sounds like a fun project tho

[d1 mule]

i recon ya would hard pressed to get 250RWKW out of a 4age.

Im only running 17psi on the same turbo that IH8TEC has happily run 25psi on and my power atw is only 38kw off 250kw. And thats on smallish 510cc injectors too.

EDIT: unless you're talking about NA!? If so then yeah...a bit hard!

still ill believe it when i see it.

250kW ATW = 335HP ATW = 210Hp per liter

id like to see that sort of RELIABLE power on a street car.
iv got a mate with RB25DET with big turbo, GReddy inlet manifold 3 inch exhausts etc etc on a Llink it only made 330hp @the wheels. id like to see an engine with 2/3 the capacity make that sort or RELIABLE power

[scope]

mate of mine just finished a 1jz -> ke36, 320rwkw - thats too much

pics?