TheSamba.com :: View topic - horsepower and 0-60 times

Mon Oct 17, 2005 4:05 pm

Trying to plan an engine and don't have a real sense of how much horsepower it takes to get a brisk 0-60 time. I know weight and gearing are factors but for just a general idea, anyone have suggestions?

50hp 0-60 is what? 14 seconds
how much horsepower do you need to make generally speaking, to get an 8 sec 0-60 (my def of brisk), how much hp to get a sub 6 sec 0-60 time?

The only info I've been able to guestimate with is:
In hot vws they had an article with a stock 1600 dp, weber progressive, and a 1 3/8" header and single qp, and it did 0-60 in ~10.5 sec- not sure how much hp that would of been, <65hp , but that was a huge improvement over the 30/31 carb at 14sec which should of been not more than 45-50hp. And a 912 with its more square 1.6l and stock setup with 9:1 cr, dual single ~34s, did 0-60 in 11 sec. I am surprised that a mild bug would be a half second faster, it certainly couldn't weigh that much less and make that much more power than the 912, gearing aside.

Thanks

Mon Oct 17, 2005 5:48 pm

not sure what your getting at but for a 0-60 time that isnt embarressing, start with some 94mm pistons

Mon Oct 17, 2005 7:19 pm

Not sure what your asking but here goes

My street legal Dunebuggy with an 1835cc, dual 40 idf, ported stock valve heads runs 14.70's @ 86 MPH in the 1/4 mile. I don't know the 0-60 MPH times, but the 660' times are 9.10's @ 72 MPH

Sounds like what your looking for is a good 1914cc, 40X35 valve heads, dual Webers.

Tue Oct 18, 2005 12:14 am

I am asking, if everything else is equal, generally speaking, how much horsepower do you have to make to have a 0 to 60mph time of...?

I believe a stock 55hp beetle had a 0-60 time of ~14seconds
So, 75hp would have a 0to60 time of? 100hp...etc.

I have no frame of reference other than a friends stock 1966 912 and my nearly stock superbeetle to go by. Engine specifics are helpful, but I was not even thinking that far ahead yet.

If quarter mile times are a more common means of comparing then that is fine, I can extrapolate from that too. If it easier to compare by cars that would be fine too ie My beetle with a Xcc engine smoked a new civic si at the light the other day...

Just doing a "back of the envelope" assessment of hp and acceleration to better plan what I want to do with my super. Thanks again for your responses, sorry I wasn'y clear.

Tue Oct 18, 2005 1:17 am

there is several calculator on the internet that would help you simulate a 0-60time

Tue Oct 18, 2005 1:17 am

a stock super takes more like 18-19 seconds to get to 60 mph

Tue Oct 18, 2005 4:37 am

0-60 MPH times are only used by the car manufactors to sell new cars and are otherwise meaningless in the real world.

Weight of vehicle, tranny gearing, and tire size must be included in any MPH formulations.

1/4 mile times are more accurate and a better number to brag about,

Tue Oct 18, 2005 8:29 am

0-60 is a good indicator for driving in city traffic. If you're pulling out into traffic running 50-55, 0-60 is what its all about.

Tue Oct 18, 2005 10:17 am

I'll keep it simple: If I want my stock super to do a car manufacturer 0 to 60 mph type claim, how much barrel hp will I need to make, to do 0 to 60 mph in 8 seconds?

I knew my super was slow, but never thought it was 18 to 19 seconds that is really depressing. I live in Berkeley, CA so maybe I should be asking 0 to 30 mph times ;)

Yes, I am driving in city traffic. I've never drag raced so 1/4 mile times are not something I can relate to.

Tue Oct 18, 2005 11:56 am

thanks for the calc suggestion!

For anyone's future benefit I've included the formula and a few tabulations.

I do Public health policy analysis so I like estimations costs and benefits, I find this helpful in answering the age old, "bang for the buck" question. From looking at this I can see why a lot of people suggest driving the engine you have and take the time to save up for or buy the parts over time for the most engine you can afford. So I am thinking I will save up for a 2007cc fairly aggressive engine to get my 7 to 8 second 0 to 60 time.

this formula for estimating 0 to 60 times seems to hold up (i'd give it a margin of error +-.3sec and at some point probably around 4 seconds this doesn't hold up, but for a simple formula, not bad)

kilograms/ (max brake hp * .9) = seconds

if you want to see how much hp you need for a given 0 to 60, then

kg/ (seconds *.9)= max bhp

so my super is 890 kg plus me and a little extra is 980 kg
BHP 0to60sec
55 20
58 19
61 18
64 17
67 16
73 15
78 14
84 13
91 12
99 11
109 10
121 09
136 08
156 07
182 06
218 05
273 04

Mon Jul 03, 2006 12:53 am

you can go with a smaller engine than a 2007 and acheive your 6 second goal...hell 10 years ago i had a 1641 with a 110 cam a 13 lb flywheel and kadrons that would prob do that. 6 seconds is a long time when you pull out in front of traffic lol

Mon Jul 03, 2006 2:16 pm

you need a dyno, several types of engine combos, and one car to fairly test each combo in. with my new motor (2017 turbo), the powerband is SOOO different than any naturally aspirated setup i've driven. an equivalent hp dual carb car has nothing on my car without a burnout and hard launch. a race car is gonna have a crappy 0-60 on the street, so it's all relative to what you're comparing. sounds like you want torque, not hp! :P

Mon Jul 03, 2006 3:21 pm

my mild 1600 DP with mild ported heads and intake, and single QP on a 1 3/8'' header and SVDA gets my '72 ghia which is around 1950lbs empty to 60 in as little as 12 sec. it was 22sec when i first tested it 2 yrs ago but I doubt it has over 72 hp