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G/MAN
08-22-2005 13:54:53
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Since we're spitballing about all these challenges for engine-builders, pullers, etc. Let's level the playing field. Throw out the high-dollar, high-performance b.s. Any engine builder worth his wrenches knows that building for a peak horsepower number is hogwash, pure and simple. The big boys all build for good AVERAGE numbers, namely torque and horsepower across a curve covering an RPM range, not peak horsepower. It's maximum area UNDER THE CURVES that they look for. Any big-time horsepower challenge you want to name or look into bases the scores on a total of AVERAGES under the curve. One engine may make more peak horsepower, but if its average horsepower is lower, it isn't going to win over an engine with a slightly lower peak but a nice flat curve. 500 horsepower at X rpm don't do squat if the engine doesn't have enough low-end grunt to get to that speed. And a good tractor engine has to perform well from a low starting speed, up to it's maximum speed, and then continue to develop good torque as it's pulled down. So how about you boys build some stock tractors? As stock as stock can be within the lmites of parts availability - i.e. maybe the "factory" spark plugs are no longer available. Stock part number heads, stock specs throughout, no porting, no polishing, nothing but a good tuneup. Stock tire sizes, stock wheel equipment, stock tranny gears, no cut or "roadworn" tires, etc. Tires must be similar in tread-style to original equipment, once again within the limits of parts availability. Pick one builder to build one of each brand, staying to similar horsepower levels, tractor age and fuel-type. Then you bring your stocker to a neutral location. All tractors are pulled 3 times on the dyno, running on gas out of the same pump. 87-octane ought to work just fine to keep out anyone trying to cheat with a higher than stock compression ratio. 10% allowance on Nebraska Test maximum PTO horsepower numbers. Each driver gets a half-hour of dyno time to tweak his horsepower, showing his tuning skills. After all tractors are verified to be stock, the fun begins - on the pulling track. All tractors start stripped, and the drivers then weight to say, two classes - 5500 and 6500. Each driver gets three hooks, and the total distance is added together. Highest cumulative wins. You could even vary the track conditions. Start on bone-dry for one class, add some water and work it up good for the second, etc. You end up with someone having to be able to tune, set up their tractor, and drive it well enough to win. Anybody with a big enough checkbook could pay someone to build them an engine for an engine-only "horsepower" challenge. I'll even volunteer to host this deal. I'm about as centrally-located in the upper 48 as you can get, I have access to a brand-new 600-hp AW PTO dyno, and have a good friend with a self-propelled sledd that inspected and certified yearly for competition up to and including the big-boy Outlaw pullers. And here in Nebraska we can find about any kind of dirt you want to pull on, from sand to black dirt to gumbo clay. Any takers?
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