[LMJD]

Can't believe the advances in engine development nowadays. Car & Driver has a writeup on a small 4 door Mercedes for public consumption (not a race car) with an engine that puts out 355HP and 332Ft/Lbs of torque. Not amazing numbers by today's standards except for this---the engine is a tiny 4-banger that's 122 cu.in. (2 liter) and weighs 326 pounds. The thing turns the 1/4 mile in 13.3 seconds. Also was a new Land/Range Rover with a 305 cu.in. engine putting out 510HP, 108 MPH in the 1/4 mile, 13 seconds. By contrast, the "hot rod" boys on another site say my old 7.3 IDI turns a blazing 66 MPH and 20 seconds in the 1/4 mile. With those stats as a starting point, unlike some of them, I just don't think I'll be spending a couple thousand on a hi performance IP or a torque cam.

 

[lone_star_dsl]

The technology is certainly there. Getting everything to comply with EPA regs is another. Honda is manufacturing the 2015 F1 engine. It's going to be a 1.6 liter V-6 and put out somewhere around 800hp.

Eventually the technology in these engines will make it's way to the consumer. The big block used to be the king but before long, your weed wacker engine will be putting out 60 hp.

 

[LMJD]

Sounds like you read the same latest issue, they discussed the Honda F1 type engines too. The active suspension systems on the high end vehicles sound interesting too. I don't have a clue how they work or what's involved. Got to look around on the net and check into it sometime. Sounds like turbochargers on gas engines are the wave of the future. With a turbo they can get by with real small engines that put out gobs of torque and HP.

 

[lone_star_dsl]

It's just like Ford's Ecoboost putting out more torque that the Hemi. It feels weird saying that a V-6 has more grunt than a V-8.

I was in your neck of the woods a few weeks ago for the Xtreme Bulls and the Cody Stampede. Do you make it to the Nite Rodeo very often?

 

[LMJD]

Do you make it to the Nite Rodeo very often?

Wish we could have met up. I team roped in the Nite show for a couple of summers a few years ago but haven't been out there lately.
I was reading about the Ford Ecoboost too, another powerful but small engine.

 

[jimmy]

The numbers they are getting from the passenger car diesels is borderline insane too.
BMW has a 3 liter with 381 HP and 546 TQ. Imagine a 762 HP 1092 Ft-Lb V12 under the hood of a 1 ton PU (and the highway patrol car with lights flashing behind you...).

 

[LMJD]

Yep, I saw a hour long feature on building the diesel BMW, engine and all, on "Best Factories" (or whatever) and it's an amazing machine. IIRC C&D said it had amazing torque too.

 

[lone_star_dsl]

The best part about it is that all those ponies come with a warranty! My supercharged Mustang is making 367 hp at the rear wheels and I'm afraid to use them all because I don't want to blow something up.

Imagine being able to use those factory 350+ horses and never having to worry.

 

[jimmy]

The developments in common rail fuel injection allowing multiple injections has increased torque by giving a longer period of high pressure when the lever of rod connection to crank center is in the 90 degree range. Gasoline tends to build lower peak pressure and the pressure lasts longer and diesels were higher pressure but it was on the brief side. fueling over a few milliseconds has awakened the torque beat even more.
Since the loading of those engines is less than out usage in PU's they can go a bit further with it. I imagine the emissions, NOx in particular would be way up there on a heavy load engine running similar level of tune.

 

[LMJD]

Imagine being able to use those factory 350+ horses and never having to worry.

But sometimes there are a few strings attached. When I was real young I worked in a Ford dealership and managed to work my way up to co-service manager. During lunch time, myself and a mechanic were walking down the sidewalk near the shop when a new black Mustang came by and to impress the public he reved it sky-high, popped the clutch, broke a U-joint and the spinning driveshaft tore up half the undercarriage including the trans housing. When it came in on the hook and he presented me with his warranty card I told him this one's not on the house, the two clowns walking down the street you were trying to impress were me and a mechanic and Ford definitely isn't buying this one.
On Edit: Point being, abuse was not covered and I imagine that's still the same policy for any brand. It wasn't hard to determine if that was the case or not once an engine, etc, was torn down.