Re: IML: 71 Imperial 440 hp

["Pete Engel" <peter.engel@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dan,

As others have said, the 71 440 was rated at 335 hp.  Remember, however,
that this number is the old "pie-in-the-sky" GROSS hp rating that has little
relationship to reality.  To get these numbers the engine was bolted to a
test stand and run without a coolant pump, PS pump, alternator, etc. and
given a special low restriction exhaust system in order to wring every last
pony out of that 440.

Realizing that this rating system was letting the manufacturers advertise
power ratings that were misleading, the US government required that a new
"Net" hp rating system be used starting in 1971.  For 71 only the
manufacturers provided both gross and net hp values so you can really see
the difference.  With the net rating system, the engine is tested in a way
that duplicates its installation in a vehicle.  All the accessories are in
place and operating and a "normal" exhaust system is fitted.

So, while the "gross" hp output of a 71 Imperial 440 is 335 hp @ 4400 RPM,
the "net" rating is 220 hp @ 4000 RPM.  AS Elijah has stated, even those
mere 220 ponies are more than adequate to motivate that fuselage beast!

Pete in PA


Date: Thu, 1 Dec 2005 2:03:56 -0500
From:  <dansgarage@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: IML: Horsepower for '71 engine
Reply-To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
 Hi All! does anyone have info about what the (suposed) horsepower was for
the 440's that were in the 1971 Imperials? I checked the archives but didn't
find anything about HP for that year?
Thanks!
Dan Melnik




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