I know you guys get a lot of guys in here that are just looking for huge numbers and want as much HP as they can get...well i was just wondering how much power is actually so to say comfortable for the street / daily driver...

 

400-450hp (flywheel) is really fun.
500-600hp (flywheel) can get scary if you want it too
700-1000hp (flywheel) is just insane, but plenty of people doing it.

I'm making about 450hp N/A and got used to that, hopefully close to 700+hp will get the blood pumping.

Basically 450hp is very streetable for some kickass power, but still drive it in the
rain and not worry about spinning out.

 

Streetable horsepower is relative. Everyone has diff. opinions of streetable. I have a 357 with big ported tf's, cam is 625/661 lift with duration @ .050 is 246/259, and have manual brakes. I consider my car streetable, but not a daily driver because of the 6 mpg.

 

I've built up several cars in all kinds of power ranges. I'd say my last build was the first time I actually street drove it less just because it started to cross the line into too much power for the street. It made 725-740hp at the flywheel on pump gas. The car still had a/c, power steering, power brakes, full stock interior and a CD player. But if started to be a little bit of a hassle in traffic. 500-600hp is fun and can be done totally streetable. If it doesn't make at least 400hp, it's my wife's car.

 

its stupid to make a 800hp street car. you will NEVER be able to put that to the ground! waste of fuel and tires. 400-450 is more then enough for the street, trust me you will have more then you can handle and still rip off 10sec pass's at the strip. i run a ~450hp 351w with a 28x12.5 e.t street and just fry the tires when i get into it. i wish i would have built a smaller motor, it was a lot more fun then just looking at the car all the time in the garage. if i had to do it again id do smaller. stock 351w with some gt-40 heads.

 

That kind of power can be put to the ground. A 351 with gt-40's, now that would be stupid as well as a waste.

 

Why?

 

The gt-40 heads are 302 heads. You can do alot of work to them to make them flow better, but still not as good as an aftermarket head. gt-40's wont make that much diff. on a 302 much less a 351. If someone was to go through the trouble of putting a 351 in a fox, they should make it worthwhile. If someone is limited money wise, then use them, just dont expect big gains. I would not put any money into working gt-40's, it would not be worth time or money. I would save for some good aftermarket heads.

 

actually a 351w with gt-40 heads would make a hell of a street motor. you will never see 8000rpm on the street. just do a low rpm engine with small heads, very mild cam and a dual plane proformer intake. it would still make 400 at the crank and very street frendly.

 

If his going through the trouble of a 351 swap, my point is why not get the most out of it. With the money he would spend for a 351 block and your gt-40combo, He could just leave the 302 in, buy better parts and be around 400 hp anyway.