Less Is More: Performance Pitfalls-When Too Much Is Just Too Much!

[Ken]

Jeff Smith, editor of Chevy High Performance magazine, has an excellent article regarding hot rodders, engine builders, and overkill in its September issue.

Obviously I'm not going to plagiarize Jeff's column here, but I will recommend that any of you who are contemplating an engine build-up in the future, read the article and hopefully learn from those who have gone before.

What is it about hot rodders and horsepower overkill? It's like many hot rodders are born with an errant gene that makes them go over the top when it comes to engine parts that make horsepower. There's something in most gearheads that forces their eye to the bottom of the catalog page where all the "big" parts are located. It's a common law.

I wish I could have used that to direct you to further reading on the subject, but magazines lead times being what they are, I would have to sit on it for about three months. :L

Also, it would be unfair to the subscribers if the Internet had the same up-to-date articles as the magazine. But wait, would it really be unfair to the subscribers, or is it the fact that they (the publishers) would LOSE subscriptions... :L

We know, we know.

For past technical articles that are available online from Chevy High Performance, check out the Tech Articles Archive.

 

[yellow_2002_germany]

Interesting that you should speak of that. In the August issue of Corvette Fever there is an article about a vette from Lingenfelter that has twin turbos and 1100 hp!! It is street legal and can do a quarter mile in 8.95 seconds @ 154mph. Are you sitting down...0-60 is....1.97 seconds!!!

All that for only $50,000.

 

[Tom Bryant]

They do some amazing things down in Decatur (IN). They have been running radio spots in the morning on the Ft. Wayne station I listen to about H/power upgrades to your C5 and supercharging your H2 or Yukon ect.


I wonder if I could get this in the '59.

 

[yellow_2002_germany]

Hey Tom,
Just get a crow bar and a little bit of WD40. It should go right in!

 

[Joe Diver]

Don't forget the duct tape and bailin' wire to hold it down....no mechanic worth his salt would forget the two most useful things in the world....

 

[woobie1966]

befor i got my vette last year it had been about 20 years since i had a car with any kind of performance, now that im back in the game i switch back and forth between more power and better all around vehicle (handling, stopping, comfort...etc). most recently ive been re-doing interior, radio, suspension, stuff to make it a better car, but i think my next outt lay of $$ will be for some power improvements (nothing close to the 1100 hp, just a new cam,alum heads, more compression, roller cam.... hey, isnt that how it begins every time
mike

 

[Classicvette63]

All of this relatively cheap and easy performance has me a little worried. The "over the top" mentality was not good for perfomance enthusiaists back in the '60's and I don't think it will bode us well now. It reminds me of the line from some years ago, "I can't describe obscene, but I know it when I see it." I like speed as much as the next guy. I don't have a stock 250 horse 327 in my '63, but at some point, enough is enough. If we don't have a little discretion and restraint ourselves the government and the lawyers will be happy to do it for us. It all came to a screeching halt once before, it could happen again.

Same thing happend with firearms a decade ago. Too much was never enough and now we have laws out the ying yang because of it. Same thing could happen here. Imagine getting hassled for an aluminum manifold for a 350 just because some yutz absolutely had to drop an 800 cubic inch engine into a clapped out camaro and slammed into a school bus full of nuns on their way to an orphanage. Like Dennis Miller said, That's just my opinion, I could be wrong. Classic