Roadsters,
Axles have maximum torque ratings, HP is largely irrelevant. You can run
10,000hp through a Roadster diff, if the 10,000hp is achieved at
100,000rpm.3.0L non-turbo V-6's make about 200ft/lbs of torque (almost
regardless of HP rating), while a 5.0L V-8 making 220hp also generates
close to 300ft/lbs. Same HP rating, but the V-8 makes 50% more torque. A
VG30ET probably makes 230-240ft-lbs (turbo being a torque multiplier), and
the 215 (3.5L)V-8 is probably the same. In either case, probably too much
torque for the stock Roadster diff. It's probably be fine for six months to
a year, but beyond that . . .
Torque is largely determined by displacement, not horsepower. Take a
2.0L
motor, build it to get 200hp, (50% increase from 135), and the torque MIGHT
go up 10%. Honda has the S2000 that has a 2.0L motor, makes 240hp, but only
151ft/lbs of torque. A Nissan Altima 2.4L has more torque than that but has
only 150hp.
Dave "torqued" Lum
'71 510
www.datsuns.com
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