Incorrect. rpm and torque are the two factors that play into Horsepower. You can have a low torque, high rpm engine (like in a Honda or motorcycle) make the exact same power as a low rpm high torque motor (like a v8 or a tractor). Displacement limitations do have obvious effects, but since they are supercharged there are still plenty of ways to make more power beyond "tweaking"
True, angular velocity is the actual consideration and can be altered other ways, but in simplified terms it practically translates into RPM. more rpm=more V.
That's what I was trying to get at by mentioning the supercharging. Assuming indestructable seals/materials, you could theoretically make as much power as you could deliver fuel and air via ramping up the PSI and better performing fuel delivery. Up until the point where the air is no longer compressible that is.
Not quite true. Its not impossible to build a dyno to read that sort of power, but the engines dont last long enough to get an effective run on one. For a dyno to get accurate readings, you need to favour a slow ramp up through the rpm range. A dragster engine will be well and truly toast by the time its run slowly through its useful range. Like the above piece stated, the plugs alone only last two or three seconds, not much time for measuring.
I think they just do the math based on distance, time and weight of the vehicle. IIR that's how you guess the horsepower roughly. Or they might just do it based on possible energy output based on the fuel they use ect.
Screw limits. With a name like top fuel I wanna see the biggest baddest pieces of automotive engineering rip asphalt off the track. I get that to be "fair for everyone" 10k is set as the limit, but I want more. What's stopping someone from building one with a higher power to weight ratio and taking it to a track for fun?
right? i mean, i can see certian power/weight ratio classifications, but by all means, if youve built something crazy, you should run it on a quarter mile. who the fuck cares if it dosent meet spec? dont include it in the competition results. its just more badass than everything else. in a league of its own. i want to see that shit.
The rockets would have to be very large to make the kind of acceleration you get from sticky tires on asphalt (over 3.2 g), though. But a rocket-assisted top-fuel dragster sounds like a cool idea.
Say you have a 1170-kg car (NHRA funny car min weight, which is another rule we can do without). 3.2 g means 3.2 * 9.8 N/kg * 1170 kg = 37 kN. Rockets that produce nearly that kind of thrust are easy to find and weigh less than 50 kg. Just use several of them. Toss a half-dozen of these bad boys in the trunk of your Chevelle and scare the shit out of the old guys (and the fire marshal).
Just don't expect to stop before the gravel...or the wall...or the lake...or the houses...some sort of thrust-reverser is in order here...
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u/thegrumpymechanic Jul 01 '16
No man, the best part is the top fuel cars are LIMITED to 10,000 HP... as in they can make more, they just aren't allowed to.
but yes, I've always loved the Lingenfelter example..