Just a little bit of a difference in opinion...

While I am fine with choosing HP over torque for autocrossing,
there are some limitations:

First, the WIDTH of the power band is critical, much more so
than the peak number. IOW, 40hp with a 1000 rpm life is
worthless in most situations, compared to say, 37hp with a
2500 rpm width.

Using a hybrid design which puts more emphasis on HP, but still
leaves a decent torque level is the best engine, IMO. Mike's Honda
used to pull into "over-rev", and it was great on longer layouts. But
an issue with the head had us switch to one of mine with a different
combustion chamber shape. Afterwards, the upper RPM limit was
quite hard and sudden, kind of like a rev-limiter. But the band was
wide, and toque was enhanced. We learned to drive it differently,
and it has been the setup for my Renspeed kart the last two years.
'06, the "old" engine. '07 and '08, the revised one. We like the
latest version better. :-D

Alan


In a message dated 11/27/2008 3:31:09 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
gvav27@... writes:

Thanks Brian and Vern. I think I'm getting enough used to shifting that
I'll go
with the HP motor. By the end of the year I wasn't really have much trouble
keeping the motor in the power band.

Greg

----- Original Message -----
From: "Brian Garfield" <bgarfield@...>
To: "f125" <f125@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, November 27, 2008 1:35 PM
Subject: Re: [F125] Question on building a kart motor for Solo


In *general* I think torque is better for learning, as you'll find yourself
in the power band more often and easier to cover from mistakes. However,
ultimate horsepower is the way I would drive it, simply geared low enough
and hopefully getting all shifts correct.

If I get my way, I'll have both for '09 :-)

Brian

On Thu, Nov 27, 2008 at 12:00 PM, Greg & Anne <gvav27@...> wrote:

> I decided to do my top end over the winter and discovered that I need to
> do
> piston, cylinder and head (don't ask why).
>
> I've ruled out a stock conversion as an option. My builder says he can
> build
> the motor to maximize torque or to maximize HP. I like the idea of
> maximizing
> torque because of the flexibility in driving, especially for Solo but I
> also
> think that top end HP is going to win races and I can shift to keep the
> motor in
> the power band. My question is what is the consensus on the list, torque or
> HP?
>
> Greg Vincent
> 27 F125


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