On Sat, 31 Mar 2018 18:05:16 -0400, "Mr. Luddite"
wrote:



I think your thinking is obsolete. Most of the newer vehicles today
have a V-6 (even pickup trucks) with many transmission gears instead of
the old 3 or 4 with maybe an overdrive. The old adage of "there's no
replacement for displacement" has been retired.

Another factor comparing the old 60's, 70's era V8 to modern engines.
A big block V8 in the 60's was designed and geared to produce the most
HP and torque fairly low on the RPM curve. Modern engines are designed
to produce max HP and torque much higher. There's a benefit to that in
that it doesn't "lug" under a heavy load.

My Canyon is rated at 308 HP but it's at 6,800 RPM. Max torque is 275
lb ft at 4,000 RPM. I think the engine in the '67 GTO I had would fly
apart at 6,800 RPM unless it was specially rebuilt for racing or something.

Another feature in modern engines is variable valve timing that
optimizes engine performance for it's load.


That valve timing trick in my Prelude really makes a difference. It
kicks in at 5k RPM and it is like the secondaries opening on the old
Quadrajet carb.
I agree the RPMs on these engines are nothing like the 60s.
My 327 350HP in my 76 Chevelle (called 325) was redlined at around
6000 RPM and at that speed the valves floated, it started burping and
you slowed back down. With the 456 rear end, that was about 105 MPH
but you could get it in around a quarter mile. (the point)
It was another car that ran at 4000+ RPM on the beltway but it came
apart in 43,000 miles. Mr Goodwrench fixed it on warranty.