[Lee]

Originally Posted by pastry_chef

So exactly where is the imaginary TQ / HP barrier line? I see that HP and TQ both coexist at all RPM.
For best performance optimize power at the RPM where the engine spends most of its time. Giving up power below 3300 is fine if you have a 3500 stall converter.

5,252 RPM


And yes, they DO coexist - put people fixate on a certain peak HP, and do not pay any attention to what is going on below that peak. Or after it.

Several years ago, I was asked to help with an LS street/strip truck. It was 440+ cid, MAST heads, lots of good parts. It had an HR that was around 250/258. It put well over 500hp to the wheels, but it was rather soft off the line.

I had another cam ground for him, a 236/270 with similar lift. Peak HP was virtually the same (new cam was maybe 4hp higher). But, his midrange (starting where his converter stalled) got a HUGE boost. The owner had to learn to tune his Cal-Tracs, as he was then blowing the tires away.

If the only thing being looked at was peak HP, then those two cams would be considered equal. But they performed WAY differently.