A stock 1980 Z28 was rated 190 hp and they are rating compact gas miser cars these days higher than that.
How are they rating HP now compared to the seventies and eighties.
It seems every auto manufacturer is boasting the HP ratings of their vehicles now.

 

Well now auto manufactures have figured out how to get high performance even with the emissions equipment and all that. Also there is a new rating system which includes all accessories so that 190 rating back then might only be like 145 with todays standard

 

Some of todays gas misers will blow the doors off your 80Z. As Garner said The HP rating would most likely go down, I do think 145 is a bit low but 175 would be closer to todays test standards. You have to remember that your butt dyno is feeling the torque not the HP. The V8 had better torque and it kicks in at a lower rate. Because of customer demand almost any car bought today will out run your stock 80z, yes even the mini vans.

 

They were slugs back in 1980, with all sorts of inefficient smog crap that only hurt HP. Today's engines are so much better at making clean HP. I still love the old ones, but they sure had a bad number of years struggling towards today's engine.

 

I guess its time to drop in a 450 hp crate engine.
I cant have an 18 year old kid blowing my doors off with a 4 popper rice burner.

 

Sure sounds like a great idea to me!

 

Don't forget the whole car was designed for the engine that was in it so if you more then double the HP your going to need to upgrade the entire driveline. Your tranny and rears life will be measured in minutes with a 450 hp motor.

 

Definately will upgrade the drive train also.