HP Ratings for older trucks

Rodzilla · Feb 4, 2002

Anyone know where to find the HP/tourque ratings on older trucks?

I know that the factorys are notorious for "fudging" their numbers but my current truck is now 13 years old.

I want a base line to compare some #'s with the new trucks on the market.

Hell, maybe you know what the HP/Tourque rating was on the '89 Chevy 350 with the EFI?

Ball park?

Highbeam · Feb 4, 2002

When they went from TBI to Vortec in 96 that was supposed to add 30 horsepower. The vortec makes 265 so a TBI 350 should make near 235 when new.

GRNMCHN · Feb 4, 2002

My 90' 4x4 is 210hp/300lbft torque, 350 tbi (manufacturer claims). I don't think any of the pre Vortec (pre 96) 350's had more than 220/310. I think the first tbi years 87-89 were 200/290. Also Chevy offered the 305 as well and it was considerably down on power from the 350, below 200hp. The older TBI's can't hold a candle to the vortechs, and the new motors are just downright rippers, even the little 4800 v-8 is 275hp & 17-20mpg!! The really nice thing about the TBI's though is that they are clean and simple under the hood. Hope this helps.

Highbeam · Feb 4, 2002

275 hp? maybe, but how do they do for torque?

GRNMCHN · Feb 5, 2002

These numbers are straight from the Chevy website.

4.3L V6 200hp @4600rpm / 260lbft torque @2800rpm 16/21mpg
4.8L v8 270hp @5200rpm / 285lbft torque @4000rpm 16/20mpg
5.3L v8 285hp @4000rpm / 325lbft torque @4000rpm 15/19mpg
6.0L v8 300hp @4400rpm / 360lbft torque @3200rpm n/a

8.1L Big Block 340hp @4200rpm / 455lbft torque @3200rpm
Duramax Diesel 300hp at 3000rpm / 520lbft torque @1800rpm

The only one that gives up anything to the 350tbi/vortec (5.7L) is the 4.8L and it is almost a full litre smaller. I looked for some dyno charts so we could see what RPM the torque curve comes in at, but couldn't find any. Anybody?

Highbeam · Feb 5, 2002

We're sliding off topic a bit here but... look at those rpm figures for where the power is at. I don't really give Hp figures much weight since your seat of the pants and useful "power" is torque. If the torque peak is not until 4000 rpm, I'll never use it. That's crazy high. I wish they could build a gas engine with a torque curve like a diesel. You can sure tell which engines gm built to do the work and which were built to drive a soccer mom by looking at the torque/rpm figures.

Rodzilla · Feb 5, 2002

Thanks!

I'm still looking for my next truck, and as stated the HP rating are all over the board. Chevy seems to be the highest rated HP wise (again taken with a grain of salt) Jeeze even the the Toyota V-8 is rated around 245 about where the middle of the pack Dodge motor (360?) is rated.

GRNMCHN · Feb 5, 2002

That is why I wish the manufacturers would publish graphs instead of numbers. I realize hp is only a mathmatical calculation based on torque and rpm and really isn't all that important, it's the high rpm that the chevys can turn that jack the hp numbers up. The max torque/rpm number is not all that usefull because it only shows the max torque. What is more important is the torque throughout the rpm range, with out a graph we can only guess what the torque may be at other rpms, for all we know the engine could be producing 90% of it's max rating at 2000 rpm or less. Your best bet is to just drive the different motors and pick the one you like best, it's hard to go wrong now days with just about any of the manufacturers everything has gotten so refined.

Highbeam · Feb 5, 2002

Right you are.. good call.

HP Ratings for older trucks

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