Big HP/TQ trucks....how usable is the power?

[Jonny Hotnuts]

I have a 70 swb that I am wanting to do a turbo 8 in but have some concerns about the usability of the HP due to the issues with traction that trucks have.


I have a 600hp supercharged toyota tundra as an example. On a dry day if I ease into the gas off the line I can SOMETIMES hook up (even with eaton locker) and god hold on! Most of the time if I am too aggressive off the line the back end just starts hopping all over the place causing me to need to back peddle and lets FORGET if the roads are slightly damp. I call a wet road 'the great equalizer' because a stock honda accord can give me a run! (no problem blowing the back tires away at 50mph on a wet road)

So my question is, is there any point in putting big HP/TQ engine in a SWB truck? I plan on having some sort of locker/posi and dont mind doing some non invasive suspension (*nothing that cant be undone without significant mods). Lowering/leveling a few inches and putting some wider meat on the back.

So is big hp usable an our trucks (*as in a streetable truck that still handles well).

Tks!

~JH

[Grumpy old man]

Depends on what you want to do with it. Search "chevy twist"

http://www.nolimit.net/

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=432896

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ad.php?t=40726

[panhead59]

No. Anything over 4, 4.5 hundred hp is a waste on the street without some major suspension upgrades. Wider tires help to a point but major hp is for the track. You say "streetable", so that would be up for debate. Newer cars/trucks have "traction control" and other systems to go with their big hp numbers. Just my opinion.

[tdangle]

I agree anything over over 350 to 400 is really a waste on the street, unless your street racing and do major suspension upgrades. I have 15 Challenger with the 5.7 Hemi (380 HP) and even with the traction control, if I'm not careful I can blow the tires away. I will admit though it's a lot of fun. Good luck with your truck.

[Coley]

The answer lies more with you than us.

What is it you want to do with your truck?

The idea that 600-700hp has a useful utility on a street driven pickup truck would lead to the conclusion then why not 1800-2000 hp?

Where do you do most of your driving? ...ie: what speed? how often? what roads?....neighborhoods?...kids around? or country dirt lanes? or freeway time?

I would agree with most of the guys that any HP north of 400hp on a truck has about a 5% or less usage rate....but lets find out more about where you are at.

All good
Coley

[68350]

I have a 555hp 496 in my 72. It has great street manners. I run the 295 Mickey Thompson street et's and as long as I'm rolling it mostly hooks up

[special-K]

Your Tundra is giving you axle wrap from having lef springs. These coil spring trucks are known for hooking up better, and it doesn't take much to improve that if needed.

My question is if anything over 350-400 hp is usable power in anything on the street? People are so caught up n numbers these days. 300 hp will scoot your butt right along with plenty of pull in a rapid manner.