Do you even lift bro? Muscle Cars 

"EL_ULY" (uly) 08/17/2015 at 19:00 • Filed to: powhaaat?

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A small list muscle cars that in fact, did not lift.

1976-1980 Plymouth Road Runner Volare GTO : 360ci V8 @ 175-195 HP

1977 Chevy Monza Mirage: 5.0L V8 @ 135 HP (in California)

1974 Pontiac Ventura GTO: 350ci V8 @ 200 HP

1980–1983 Dodge Mirada CMX: 360ci V8 @ 185 HP

1978 AMC Gremlin GT: 302ci V8 @ 120 HP

1982 Pontiac Firebird: 5.0 V8 @ 165 HP

1978 Ford Mustang King Cobra: 302ci V8 @ 139 HP

....and others. Such big engines for little (but “cleaner”) HP. They had the tech right? Indycar engines around that time were small and made crazy HP. Heck, even yeeears before the cars on this list we made. All were American as well. I guess the tech didn’t trickle down.

Any more to add to this list?

fhrblig > EL_ULY 08/17/2015 at 19:04

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Yeah, the AMC Spirit AMX. I can’t remember the hp, but it wasn’t much.

For Sweden > EL_ULY 08/17/2015 at 19:05

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Indycar engines didn’t have to comply with California emissions standards.

TheOnelectronic > EL_ULY 08/17/2015 at 19:05

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I’ve never quite understood the specifics of why emissions equipment turned big V8’s into basically worthless anvils with a weed whacker built in, but to your point, I don’t think Indy car had the same emissions requirements.

LongbowMkII > EL_ULY 08/17/2015 at 19:11

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They did not have the tech. They didn’t have much of anything to deal with emissions. Cleanliness was likely one of the last concerns of engineers until the 70’s

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > EL_ULY 08/17/2015 at 19:15

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3rd gen camaros

crowmolly > TheOnelectronic 08/17/2015 at 19:17

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Wasn’t just emissions equipment.

Q: How do you get better fuel economy and lower emissions before computers and sensors?

A: Huge combustion chambers, dished pistons, tiny cam lobes, etc- just cut the power. Can’t make emissions if you don’t burn the fuel.

Short-throw Granny Shifter is 2 #blessed 2b stressed > crowmolly 08/17/2015 at 19:47

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They also made the switch from gross to net HP ratings around the same time so that didn’t help the figures.

Sweet Trav > EL_ULY 08/17/2015 at 19:50

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ALL the G-bodies

1978-83 Malibu, 1983-88 Monte Carlo SS, 1978-1988 Cutlass 442 and Hurst Olds, 1978-1985 Buick Regals and Grand Nationals (yes they were dogs until they got intercooled in 86, and even then not that fast by modern standards) oh and the 78-88 El Caminos and GMC caballero

Berang > crowmolly 08/17/2015 at 19:56

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I sometimes feel that approach was just the auto industry throwing a tantrum. For instance dumping compression levels back to 1940s levels to reduce certain emissions - even though this meant the engine was less efficient and used more fuel and so actually just made more emissions overall.

crowmolly > Berang 08/17/2015 at 20:09

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Very well could have been!

But for the life of me I don’t know what else they could have done. And don’t say FI. :)

Brickman > EL_ULY 08/17/2015 at 20:10

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My 4cyl caravan has more power than a V8 Grimlin :D

Berang > crowmolly 08/17/2015 at 20:26

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Some cars made it into the 90s with carbs, so obviously FI wasn’t the only answer. Although I don’t have the info in front of me, I’d bet a Subaru Justy made more horsepower per cubic inch than a lot of 1970s cars.

I know in the early 70s some of this business was about dealing with leaded fuel - because why would anybody pay for hardened valve seats or catalytic converters when such an attractive alternative as burning lead exists?

The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 > TheOnelectronic 08/17/2015 at 20:34

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Don’t forge the SAE net ratings introduced in 1972 provided a more realistic number tan previous gross ratings that could cut the number about 40% in extreme cases, and then choke the engines with catalytic converters and emissions stuff...

wkiernan > EL_ULY 08/17/2015 at 20:45

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These were pretty damn fast, even if the paper numbers were kind of sorry looking. They weighed hardly anything and you could get them with a four-on-the-floor. Handled like a real hot rod ( i.e. like shit) and, of course, no brakes to speak of, so in the right hands they could be a thrill a minute.

TheOnelectronic > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 08/17/2015 at 20:57

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Huh. What should I google to learn more about how the rating differed? Just “SAE horsepower 1972?”

With the cats, was it just that early models were very restrictive to the airflow?

The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 > TheOnelectronic 08/17/2015 at 21:19

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Not sure if cats were different back then. I would google “SAE net vs gross hp”. Basically gross hp was a bare block. SAE net included air cleaners, exhaust systems, and all belt driven accessories. Here is a decent discussion .

crowmolly > Berang 08/17/2015 at 21:19

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For GM, HEI ignition was a step up and led to CCC carbs and ignition timing. Not FI, but a step up tech wise from what they had.

ly2v8-Brian > EL_ULY 08/17/2015 at 22:20

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Not hard to fix ULY my boy.

Flavien Vidal > EL_ULY 08/18/2015 at 07:34

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Hey man!

Didn’t really know how to contact you so I just answer here... What do I have to do to get the Torch bug? I’d like to get it to travel around Japan a little :)

Let me know

EL_ULY > Flavien Vidal 08/18/2015 at 09:12

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yes sir. Currently, it’s with K-Roll. After him, it will be handed of to the legend Dusty Ventures. He will then send it my way in which i’ll quickly bast it to a couple LaLDers down under in Australia.

EL_ULY > ly2v8-Brian 08/18/2015 at 09:16

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oh indeed sir, not too difficult at all :]

EL_ULY > wkiernan 08/18/2015 at 09:17

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heck yeah, i’m sure a lot of these were a thrill to drive, especially quickly

EL_ULY > Brickman 08/18/2015 at 09:18

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4cyl Hoonvan!!!

EL_ULY > Sweet Trav 08/18/2015 at 09:19

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I rally should of just added a section that said, “all G bodies” lol :]

EL_ULY > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 08/18/2015 at 09:19

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oh yes. They did look cool back in the day tho

EL_ULY > LongbowMkII 08/18/2015 at 09:19

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i’m sure they did but it wouldn’t be cost efficient

EL_ULY > For Sweden 08/18/2015 at 09:21

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not with that attitude!

EL_ULY > fhrblig 08/18/2015 at 09:21

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sure looked neat tho :] Seems like a handful to drive, which is awesome!

Flavien Vidal > EL_ULY 08/18/2015 at 09:33

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Cool, well if you could add me on the list somehow I’d like to have it :)

I have LaLD authorship even though I don’t post much but I’d definitely show her around it you were to send it to me too after Australia :)

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > EL_ULY 08/18/2015 at 09:34

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Nice louvers!

EL_ULY > Flavien Vidal 08/18/2015 at 09:43

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noted sir. There is no official list, or any list for that matter. It is planned on going on another European tour after wards but nothing has been confirmed by the ones involved. Keep in touch for sure tho

EL_ULY > You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much 08/18/2015 at 09:43

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Louver all the things!

Flavien Vidal > EL_ULY 08/18/2015 at 09:49

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Cool thanks :)

Sweet Trav > EL_ULY 08/18/2015 at 12:24

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With the exception of the 89 turbo trans am. Those were legit fast.