13B-REW to LS1 Perspective

[P71]

Originally Posted by 85rx-7gsl-se

^Yeah, thats is good to know that was just qualifying trim. The thing is, did they use the same motor for the race? If so, thats still more impressive than top fuel cars that get one burnout and pass per rebuild

Top Fuel engines are also over 8,000HP. That's 16HP/CI (a 1,440HP 13B then...). They also run on liquid T-N-T. Most cars keep the same short block the entire race and only replace gaskets/bearings (due to MASSIVE amounts of pressure/stress). Each piston/cylinder makes over 1,000HP on it's own. Think about it...

As for the "original" argument...

First, let me say that I'm a car/engine lover. I have a 13B, a 302 Ford, a 2.3T Ford, and a 401 AMC in the garage on stands, and drive a 12A, a 4.6L SOHC Ford, and a 3800 Series II GM V6. For those of you counting, that means I have at least one rotary, 4-cylinder, V-6, V-8, and at least one OHC and pushrod, and 3 carburetors and 4 types of fuel injection along with some turbochargers for good measure.

OK, so now that you see that I am truley un-biased, let me lay down some facts. As a 3-year member of the Clevite Engine Builder's Guild, I can professionally say that HP/L is bunk (notice I used HP/CI in the Top Fuel statement). The CI-to-Liters conversion is not regulated and so you end up with "off" numbers (5.0L Ford 302CI is really 4.9L, 4.9L Chevy is 305CI, etc, etc, hell 5.7L LS1 is 346CI and the 5.7L SBC is 350CI). That reason alone is enough for all professional engine rebuilders to not use HP/L.

Now, even HP/CI is looked "down" on. "Specific" output (more importantly, area under the curve) is what it's all about. Sure a 400HP 13B might be more reliable then a 840HP LS1 (honestly it's probably dead even, say it's more reliable then a 840HP 351W Ford) but the 840HP V8 would still kick the 400HP 13B's ass all over any track.

HP/engine weight (and overall car weight) is REALLY what matters in the real world. Why do you think LS1's are so popular? Huge power in a compact, lightweight (all-aluminum) design. A fully-dressed LSx motor weighs LESS then my 2.3T Turbo-4!! It takes a miracle and a half to make 400HP with a 2.3T and for saving a few hundred pounds I can have a stock LS1 with headers and a tune make 400HP all day long and be reliable as a rock.

The big point is there's different engines for different situations and different drivers. I would love to have an LS1 FD just as much as a 13B one. If you stuck both in front of me and told me to pick one, I wouldn't be able to do it. BUT, if you said I had to drag race the car I chose in my points series, I'd take the LS1 car. If you told me I had to autocross the car though, 13B. HPDE, flip a coin.

Argue back and forth all you want, but please don't ever mention HP/L again. Or even HP/CI. HP/$ is a far better standard!!