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Originally Posted by 91civicDXdude
i've said it a million times. if you want "low end torque" then buy a v8. hondas make power in the high rpm. all you're doing by wanting low end torque is killing your opportunity to make real power.
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Have you ever heard of the saying "There's no replacement for displacement"? It's true. There is more than one way to make "real power". One way is through higher rpms and the other is through increasing torque. Torque and RPM both play an equally important role in making horsepower, but effect where the engine makes the power differently.
The equation is like this:
HP = torque x rpm / 5252
Therefore 160 HP can be achieved by rpm:
ex: 111 ft-lbs x 7600 / 5252 = 160 HP
or by more torque:
ex: 130 ft-lbs x 6500 / 5252 = 160 HP
Assuming all else the same between these two engines, the bigger displacement engine will out perform the higher revving engine. It doesn't have to work as hard to produce the same amount of power and it reaches its peak earlier which makes the power more useful. With more torque we don't have to rev the engine as high in order to make big power. Increase torque, you increase hp. To increase torque, you increase displacement. With more displacement, you can breathe more air. With more air, you can burn more fuel. The more fuel you can burn per rpm, the more power you can maker per rpm. For a good example, compare an H22 prelude engine to a B18C/B16A. High revving engines can lead to shorter engine life and high maintenance (RX-7 anyone?). Not only does bigger displacement mean slower moving parts, but it also means a better throttle response.
With this kind of power, you will blow past many smaller displacement VTECs. You add a turbo to the equation, you'll be smoking vettes off the line and down the track. Its not peak power we're concerned with, it's the area under the curve where we spend most of our time. What's the good of having 300 HP peak power if it only kicks from 7000-7600 rpm?