What us your opinion over horsepower? 500 v 455

The computer trucks have a rubber band between the fuel pump and the engine. When the driver stands on the pedal he is only asking for fuel. The ECM will decide how much he gets and how fast he gets it. I can stand on the pedal in my 1998 Celect+ and the power comes on smooth but I would never do that with the 3406.

 

Big fleets do, and always have governed their trucks to maintain a reasonable level of economy and to prevent drivers from destroying the equipment.
They also ran mechanical logging devices to keep their drivers honest, tach clocks, cheater clocks, tattle tales.

It's no different now than when I started in 1972, truckers are still a bunch of whiney cry babies!

Whaaaaa..........., Johnny's truck is faster than my truck, Whaaaaa........., Tommy's truck has more power than mine, Whaaaaa......., Billy's truck is nicer than mine, Whaaaa.........., Joey's truck is newer than mine, Whaaaa........, Bobby always gets the lighter loads, Whaaaaa.........., I've been driving for 6 months and I deserve better treatment than this, Whaaaa........., 450 HP is not enough to haul a half empty box around the country at 65 mph for any amount of money, Whaaaaa........, my life is so hard, Whaaaaa............, I'll show them and quit, that'll teach those no good trucking companies how valuable I am!

No sympathy from me!
I have driven many gas jobs, diesels with HP ratings of 180,, 220, 238, 250, 270, 290, 318, 325, 335, 350, 375, 400, 425, 430, 435, 445, 450, 460, 475, 500 and 550 HP, might have missed a couple.

Many of the older low HP trucks had no air ride, no air seat, Armstrong steering, no front brakes and 4X4 or 5X4 trannys.

At 80,000 lbs or less I could be content with 400 HP in a properly geared truck that gives me full control of that 400 HP with a manual trans, 13, 15 or 18 speed.
Although......, more is not a bad thing if you know how and when to use it, and if you use it sparingly.
Think of it as your wallet, every time you open it money disappears.

Edit: a few I forgot.
315 or 300 Plus, 427, 444

 

Rear end ratios are only one part transmission ratios and tire size are the other parts.. some 2.xx ratios with a direct drive trans will walk all over a 3.55 geared truck .. The important part is having rpm at cruise speed in the sweet spot.

 

Only way it'd happen is if a guy physically specced a 15L vs 12L/13L. But yeah flashing a 475 to make it a 550 isn't adding any more weight lol.

 

Exactly. .in the 70's i had a 238 yamaha ( detroit) 13 sp. Never had less than 27 to 32 ton payload. Some guys were still running 549 IH gas engines. Taking off slow and easy preserves your components that are under stress. In answer to the op ?. Some well tuned 455 hp engines run just as well as a 500. Remember, its not if you climb the hill or mountain the quickest. .its how many times you climb with the least amount of mechanical failures. Definitely makes a difference who is trucking with money, and who is trucking for money.

 

If they have stock tune!

It's all about discipline.

You didnt eat your meat, you can't have any pudding!

 

Wrong

 

If, I was going to buy a new truck and didn't want the power (ain't happening) I would at the very least buy one that can be uprated easily to big power, just so a guy has something to sell when he decides to get rid of it.

 

In the past this is why fleets spec. a 15l and 435hp about 1450tq.


Horse power means very little. Horse power creates speed. Torque is a twisting force, or ability to perform work.

 

I saavy the difference between HP and torque, but when talking engines, nobody says I have a 2250 acert in mine. lol