I have often considered about 500 HP for the maximum, useable street HP. Naturally aspirrated engine. Is that about right ?

Is that DD2000 horses, Westec Dyno horses, Mustang dyno rear wheel horses, or what?

Too much power?? what's that? I've never heard of such a thing? :) -Dan

Too much power?? what's that? I've never heard of such a thing? :) -Dan

Thats because there is no such thing as too much!:D

500 hp at idle? :)

Seriously tho...
First, what's useable? I got a lil more than 350, and it makes lots of tire smoke when asked, and will exceed every speed limit in the land in a few seconds in 2 of 5 available gears.

Then on the other hand, Mark.L.W's car is over 600HP, and it is very very streetable, and can get most of those pony's to the pavement without too much crazyness.

Then there's El Mule.... What we talking there, 1200, 1500 HP? It must be streetable, it's done 1 or more power tours....

Seriously tho...
First, what's useable? I got a lil more than 350, and it makes lots of tire smoke when asked, and will exceed every speed limit in the land in a few seconds in 2 of 5 available gears.

Then on the other hand, Mark.L.W's car is over 600HP, and it is very very streetable, and can get most of those pony's to the pavement without too much crazyness.

Then there's El Mule.... What we talking there, 1200, 1500 HP? It must be streetable, it's done 1 or more power tours....

Last figures id heard the mule was 1k on race gas.

And its all personal, some guys dont wana be fearful of shredding the tires at 25, and some want to know they can at freeway speeds.

Another thing is where the power is, a huge inch blown bbc with 800ftlbs at 2000rpm will be a whole hell of a lot harder to deal with than a high revving say turbo small block with a more linear powerband and less torque.

Also depends on the tires/suspension and use, a car that is driven once a month on dot slicks will be able to handle more power than a car with 275/40/17s and is driven in the rain....

Heck, building the engine to 500 HP is the easy part,..upgrading everything between radiator to the axles (make that all the way to the rear lugs) is the expensive part,..harmonic, engine mounts, flywheel, bellhousing (or T-converter), tranny, driveshaft, rear, suspension, SF connectors, exhaust, etc. Not much of the stock stuff will stand up.

Yes, making sure the rest of the car is set to take it and go straight when you want it to is essential. (and stopping power too!!) A few people thought I was nuts driving 600+hp 600 miles round trip to Maple Grove for the super chevy show, but it did it no problems. Heck, I put the smaller carb on the next week and drove to epping, NH the next Sunday and managed over 15mpg. I guess if I add a 250 shot of juice, it might be a bit much on the street! -Dan

I've got 600-625 and can put it down easily, car won't corner worth a crap but can do 0-100 in just over 7 sec on 275-60-15's street tires. It's all in the setup of the car and what you want to do with it. If you set it up with stiff suspension for cornering your going to blow the tires off instantly weather you have 300 or 800.

No such thing as too much power, just too much throttle...:D
I really doubt the mule makes over 1k in full race tune, the 632 in the race car made 1100 NA, and over 1600 on nitrous, there is no way the mule makes 1500 horse, imo.
I've driven a chevelle on the street that made about 800 horse NA, it was drivable but pretty nuts, you had to baby the throttle big time, I've driven the race car at 1100 NA, and its pretty nuts too, but still, a little throttle control and it's doable, but not realistic on a regular basis.
I think you will find high horse blown or turbo'd motors much more drivable than an equal horse NA motor, since they usually make the power up higher.

Guys, you are getting The "More power" virus. I said naturally aspirated - meaning NO turbos, NO Superchargers, NO race fuel, NO NOS or cams that won't work below 3000 RPM's. You could say a Nascar Stock Car puts down 750 HP, but you can't drive it at 30 mph through town.

Why couldn't you drive a Nascar engine at 30mph thru town? I drive my 412 with a 256/268@.050 solid flat cam with 108lsa, and 11.5 compression thru 4.56's and a 3.5" Flowmaster exhaust all the time. It will idle and driving it is no problem It really wakes up around 4000-4500, but it drives fine around town. I don't know what the power is, but it runs 10.74 @ 123 in a 3400lb car.If it idles and dosen't load up and die or overheat, then it's streetable. It's all in your perception on what you consider streetable. I don't feel it has to be able to run power brakes or a/c to be considered a street engine.If it's a little soggy down low, who cares? You need to run alot of gearing anyhow, so getting it up into the power band is not a problem. So I say there is no "limit" on street horsepower, the limit is on the owner and what he can live with and on street budget.