I agree, and full potential means different things to different people. This thread started out as a peak HP and torque discussion (@ 6200 rpm). Now I realize that was one dimensional thinking on my part. I bet most people assume the full potential of an engine is the highest HP and torque numbers you can achieve near redline. A better question would have been guess the HP and torque at 5252 rpm, where both plots intersect empirically, and always within a very narrow +/- range of the 5252 rpm level (real world). But now I wouldn't even ask that question, to me the full potential of an engine is the highest average power you can achieve over a usable rpm range like 2000-6000. Take the areas under those curves with different carbs, and then pick the one with the largest area under the curve. That to me is ringing out the full potential of an engine and over the usable 2000-6000 rpm range. I don't want to get into which you weigh more, HP or torque, save that for another discussion (but I like torque). Anyway, I bet the carb that gives you the greatest area under the curve in the 2000-6000 rpm range is not the carb that gives you the greatest peak power near redline. Don't know if that makes sense to you, but it does to me. Who wants to tackle throttle response and how that should weigh in on your carb decision?
