So, what is it that makes an engine accelerate?

[steelcomp]

I've been waiting a LONG time for the opportunity to present itself to open this can of worms. This is the grand daddy of all questions regarding engine performance, and I'm really curious as to who thinks what. What is it about an engine that makes it accelerate? Why does one engine accelerate better, or faster than another comparable engine from point A to point B? Lets face it...this is what wins races, not dyno numbers. So, is it horsepower? Torque? Both? Neither? :idea:
Let 'er rip.

[Morg]

To quote a wise man "Money$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$"
I'm sure this thread will take a few turns

[MikeF]

Usually.............this.
http://i22.ebayimg.com/01/i/05/c7/66/39_1.JPG

[Infomaniac]

have you ever searched Torque vs HP on this site?
LOL
So the engine accelerating or the vehicle?

[bottom feeder]

Here is my engine accelerater
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/...BUTTON-med.JPG
Sorry its not a more complex answer

[Oldsquirt]

I see the answer being contained in Sir Isaac Newton's First Law of Motion: An object at rest tends to remain at rest, and an object in uniform motion tends to remain in uniform motion, absent the application of an unbalanced force.

[steelcomp]

have you ever searched Torque vs HP on this site?
LOL
So the engine accelerating or the vehicle?
What's the difference? A load is a load. What makes one engine accelerate a given "load" from point A to point B faster than another? If the rpm range you anticipate operating in is, for instance, from 3000 to 6000rpm, won't the combination that will pull the "known load" from the bottom to the top the quickest ALWAYS be the engine to run regardless of HP? So what makes the difference?

[steelcomp]

I see the answer being contained in Sir Isaac Newton's First Law of Motion: An object at rest tends to remain at rest, and an object in uniform motion tends to remain in uniform motion, absent the application of an unbalanced force.
Think acceleration rate...

[MikeF]

So what makes the difference?
Traction!

[BUSBY]

ok ... wait a minute ... I have to warm up my fingers ...