Fast and Furious 4

[TJ213]

The funny part is people are racing low displacement 4 cylinder FWD cars. You can build these cars into good racers, especially for autocross and the track, but when it comes to a straight line you still can't beat good old american muscle.

[ncfc3s]

Supra?

[8695Beaters]

A well built V8 is nothing to sneeze at. The best Supras I've seen did 1100, 1200 hp max on race gas. HOTROD's F-Bomb Camaro project does 1500 on pump gas (I think 93 octane). And their motor is a standard build from Nelson Perofrmance (ie anyone can buy it, not just a magazine). There really is no replacement for displacement. This is why I say Honda needs a V8. I bet that their motor could do 2000 hp with the same buildup, just because of the better factory design. Detroits biggest problem is they are stuck in the 60s with engine design. I think a modern V8 would turn a few tuners into drag racers.

[TJ213]

Originally Posted by 8695Beaters

A well built V8 is nothing to sneeze at. The best Supras I've seen did 1100, 1200 hp max on race gas. HOTROD's F-Bomb Camaro project does 1500 on pump gas (I think 93 octane). And their motor is a standard build from Nelson Perofrmance (ie anyone can buy it, not just a magazine). There really is no replacement for displacement. This is why I say Honda needs a V8. I bet that their motor could do 2000 hp with the same buildup, just because of the better factory design. Detroits biggest problem is they are stuck in the 60s with engine design. I think a modern V8 would turn a few tuners into drag racers.

IDK about the V8, its just not going to be too useful with the way gas is going, however a turbo'd diesel system could have real potential. It may not have a great top speed, but the torque will give you some great power at lower speeds, which are the speeds where you really need power anyways.

Honda needs to spread the SH-AWD system out to more of its cars in the next generation, IMO the Civic Si is a good balance for a FWD platform, the V6 FWD cars are really pushing the limits of power to the front wheels. However an AWD system will also put a drag on fuel economy, so it will be a tradeoff.

[8695Beaters]

Ever notice that the most basic bolt-ons also add fuel economy? It's because those parts are making the engine more efficient, so it's burning fuel better (except when you lead foot it everywhere). The same thing is true for V8s, which is partially why their bolt-ons add so much extra power (other half is b/c they have so much displacement). If Detroit added DOHC and multi-port injection to their engines, they could add 50-100 hp and get much better mileage, without any other changes. But they never will b/c all the hot rodders would have a fit since you can't carb that kind of engine and it's not what they're used to.

[TJ213]

Originally Posted by 8695Beaters

Ever notice that the most basic bolt-ons also add fuel economy? It's because those parts are making the engine more efficient, so it's burning fuel better (except when you lead foot it everywhere). The same thing is true for V8s, which is partially why their bolt-ons add so much extra power (other half is b/c they have so much displacement). If Detroit added DOHC and multi-port injection to their engines, they could add 50-100 hp and get much better mileage, without any other changes. But they never will b/c all the hot rodders would have a fit since you can't carb that kind of engine and it's not what they're used to.

GM cancels new DOHC V8 engine program - Autoblog

btw, most, if not all of Honda's v6 engines are SOHC

[8695Beaters]

Still, read any issue of HOTROD and you'll see that even the guys with brand new engine carb 'em cuz it adds more top end power (There's dyno proof behind that too). They would go nuts if GM or Ford built an efficient V8, and those guys won't settle for a 6.