This is a good discussion although getting a bit side-tracked. Just keep in mind my experience. I used to own a 5.7 liter LT1 Z28. It had a factory 275HP/325TQ rating without mods. HA! You say. I can beat that easily with my H/C/I. Yep, that's what I said too.
ALL HP IS NOT EQUAL.
When I beefed my stang up to roughly 350 crank HP I expected it to feel exponentially more powerful than the Z.
I did NOT. This was a let down. HOW could this be possible!!?? Sure it made great power, but ...
The reason? The Z was putting out 325 TQ to the crank @
2000 RPM stock. The mustang wasn't anywhere near that and after adding the H/C/I it only moved the power-band HIGHER in the RPM. So at normal everyday driving conditions, the car felt real slow.
Unless you drive around between 4000-6000 RPM all the time, there is no replacement for displacement with an NA car.
So just make sure you are not setting yourself up for disappointment. If peeps want to brag about their small engine putting out 400HP
let them. And then laugh at them when they have to drive around at 4000RPM all day to get the same power you have at 1500 RPM with a larger displacement engine.
Of course if that's what floats yer boat then go for it!
It's all about what YOU like in a car. :SNSign:
p.s. The gears helped but with the stang but in my case the Z already had good gears and I beefed it up a little (go figure). So it was like going from a g-friend with big boobs to smaller boobs...its just never the same.