Please note: these formulas are for estimating only. Contrary to popular belief, using this site will not increase your horsepower.
New - Find Perfect Gear Ratio Chart
ET from HP HP from ET HP from MPH HP from Torque
Torque from HP Max HP from CFM in³ to Liter Liter to in³
Displacement (standard) Displacement (metric) HP/ET Chart 1/8 to 1/4 mile ET
1/4 to 1/8 mile ET Piston Speed Find RPM from Piston Speed Find Gear Ratio
Find Tire Diameter Find RPMs Find Trans Ratio Find MPH
Tire Diameter HP Loss @ Elevation Max CFM Needed Volumetric Efficiency
rpm after shift Street Carb CFM Racing Carb CFM
Wheel Thrust G (force) Weight Transfer Lateral Acceleration
Lateral Weight Transfer Centrufugal Force Driveshaft Torque Drive Wheel Torque
Complete List of Formulas
Estimate E.T. from Weight (lbs.) and wheel HP
Weight:
Wheel HP:
ET in seconds:

ET from HP (1/4 mile) = (WEIGHT / HP)^.333 * 5.825

Estimate Maximum H.P. from Cylinder Head Flow
CFM:
Number of Cylinders:
Flywheel HP:

HP = CFM x 0.2575 x number of cylinders

Estimate wheel H.P. from Weight (lbs.) and M.P.H.
Weight:
Trap Speed (MPH):
Wheel HP:

HP from MPH (1/4 mile) = WEIGHT * (MPH/234)^3

Estimate wheel H.P. from Weight (lbs.) and E.T.
Weight:
ET in seconds:
Wheel HP:

HP from ET (1/4 mile) = WEIGHT * (5.825/ET)^3

Estimate H.P. from Torque and RPMs
Torque:
RPMs:
HP:

HorsePower = TORQUE * RPM / 5252

Estimate Torque from HP and RPMs
HP:
RPMs:
Torque:

TORQUE = (5252 * HP) / RPM

Rear-Wheel HP Required to push your brick through the quarter mile
This chart was borrowed and modified from http://www.jason.fletcher.net/tech/combos/et_hp.htm

Use the chart below to see how much wheel horsepower is required to run the elapsed time you want.

ET & SPEED

(seconds @ mph)
VEHICLE WEIGHT (pounds)
24002600280030003200 34003600380040004200
16.0 @ 85 116125135145154 164174183193203
15.5 @ 88 127138149159170 180191202212223
15.0 @ 91 141152164176187 199211223234246
14.5 @ 94 156169182194207 220233246259272
14.0 @ 97 173187202216230 245259274288303
13.5 @ 101 193209225241257 273289305321337
13.0 @ 105 216234252270288 306324342360378
12.5 @ 109 243263283304324 344364385405425
12.0 @ 114 275297320343366 389412435458480
11.5 @ 119 312338364390416 442468494520546
11.0 @ 124 356386416445475 505535564594624
10.5 @ 130 410444478512546 580615649683717
10.0 @ 136 474514553593632 672712751791830
9.5 @ 143 553599645692738 784830876922968
9.0 @ 151 651705759813868 9229761,0301,0841,139
8.5 @ 160 7728379019651,030 1,0941,1591,2231,2871,352
8.0 @ 170 9261,0041,0811,1581,235 1,3121,3901,4671,5441,621

Calculate Cubic Inches from Liters
Liters:
# of Cylinders:
Cubic Inches:
Cubic Inches per Cylinder:

1 Liter = 61.02374 Cubic Inches

Calculate Liters from Cubic Inches
Cubic Inches:
# of Cylinders:
Liters:
Liters per Cylinder:

1 Cubic Inch = 0.016388 Liters

Calculate Displacement from Bore and Stroke (inches)
Bore (inches):
Stroke (inches):
# of Cylinders:
Cubic Inches:
Cubic Inches per Cylinder:
Liters:
Liters per Cylinder:

Displacement (in^2) = Number Of Cylinders * 3.14159 * (Bore/2)^2 * Stroke

Calculate Displacement from Bore and Stroke (metric)
Bore (millimeters):
Stroke (millimeters):
# of Cylinders:
Cubic Inches:
Cubic Inches per Cylinder:
Liters:
Liters per Cylinder:

Displacement (in^2) = Number Of Cylinders * 3.14159 * (Bore/2/25.4)^2 * Stroke/25.4

Calculate Tire Diameter
Section Width (P275/40R17):
Profile (P275/40R17):
Wheel Diameter (inches) (P275/40R17):
Diameter (inches):

Diameter (in.)=(((section width * profile)/2540) + (wheel diameter/2)) * 2

Find Rear Gear Ratio
RPMs:
Tire Diameter (inches):
Transmission Gear Ratio:
MPH:
Rear Gear Ratio:

Rear Gear Ratio = (Tire Diameter * RPM) / (Trans Ratio * MPH * 336)

Find Tire Diameter (inches)
RPMs:
Rear Gear Ratio:
Transmission Gear Ratio:
MPH:
Tire Diameter (inches):

Tire Diameter = (Trans Ratio * MPH * 336 * Rear Gear Ratio) / (RPM)

Find RPMs
Tire Diameter (inches):
Rear Gear Ratio:
Transmission Gear Ratio:
MPH:
RPMs:

RPM = (Trans Ratio * MPH * 336 * Rear Gear Ratio) / (Tire Diameter)

Find Transmission Gear Ratio
RPMs:
Rear Gear Ratio:
Tire Diameter (inches):
MPH:
Transmission Gear Ratio:

Trans Ratio = (Tire Diameter * RPM) / (Rear Gear Ratio * MPH * 336)

Find MPH
RPMs:
Rear Gear Ratio:
Transmission Gear Ratio:
Tire Diameter (inches):
MPH:

MPH = (RPM * Tire Diameter) / (336 * Rear Gear Ratio * Trans Ratio)

Find 1/4 mile ET from 1/8 mile ET
1/8 ET:
1/4 ET:

1/4 mile ET = 1/8 mile ET x 1.5832

Find 1/8 mile ET from 1/4 mile ET
1/4 ET:
1/8 ET:

1/8 mile ET = 1/4 mile ET / 1.5832

Calculate Piston Speed
Stroke (inches):
RPMs:
Speed (Feet/Minute):
Speed (Feet/Second):

piston speed in fpm = stroke in inches x rpm / 6

Calculate RPM from Piston Speed
Stroke (inches):
Piston Speed (FPM):
RPM:

RPM = piston speed in fpm x 6 / stroke in inches

HP loss based upon elevation
Elevation (feet):
HP @ Sea Level:
HP Loss:
HP @ Elevation:

bhp loss = elevation in feet / 1000 x 0.03 x bhp at sea level

RPM After Shift
Shift from Ratio:
Shift to Ratio:
RPM Before Shift:
RPM After Shift:

rpm after shift= ratio shift into / ratio shift from x rpm before shift

Calculate Maximum CFM Needed
Max RPM:
Displacement (inches^3):
Max CFM Needed:

Theoretical cfm = rpm x displacement / 3456

Volumetric Efficiency
Theoretical CFM:
Actual CFM:
Volumetric Efficiency:

Volumetric Efficiency = acutal cfm / theoretical cfm x 100

Street Carb CFM Needed
Max RPM:
Displacement (inches^3):
CFM Needed:

Street carb cfm = rpm x displacement / 3456 x 0.85

Racing Carb CFM Needed
Max RPM:
Displacement (inches^3):
CFM Needed:

Racing carb cfm = rpm x displacement / 3456 x 1.1

Drive Wheel Torque
Flywheel Torque:
Transmission Gear Ratio:
Rear Gear Ratio:
Drive Wheel Torque:

drive wheel torque = flywheel torque x trans gear x final drive x 0.85

Wheel Thrust
Drive Wheel Torque:
Rolling Radius (inches):
Wheel Thrust:

wheel thrust = drive wheel torque / rolling radius

G Force
Wheel Thrust:
Weight:
G Force:

g (force) = wheel thrust / weight

Weight Transfer
Weight:
CG Height (inches):
Wheelbase (inches):
G (force):
Weight Transfer:

weight transfer = weight x cg height / wheelbase x g

Lateral Acceleration
Radius (feet):
Time (seconds):
Lateral Acceleration:

Lateral Acceleration = 1.227 x radius / time^2

Lateral Weight Transfer
Weight:
CG Height (inches):
Wheel Track (inches):
G Force:
Lateral Weight Transfer:

lateral weight transfer = weight x cg height / wheel track x g

Centrufugal Force
Weight:
G Force:
Centrufugal Force:

centrufugal force = weight x g

Driveshaft Torque
Flywheel Torque:
Transmission Ratio:
Driveshaft Torque:

driveshaft torque = flywheel torque x transmission ratio

This calculator will help you choose the rear gear ratio that suits your desire based on a few variables: transmission gear ratio when you finish the quarter mile, height of your tires in inches and maximum RPM that you spin your motor to.

Transmission Ratio:
Tire Height (inches):

Trap\RPMs 5800 6000 6200 6400 6600 6800 7000 7200
110
115
120
125
130
135
140
145

Here is a list of formulas:			[back to top]
•Rear Gear Ratio = (Tire Diameter * RPM) / (Trans Ratio * MPH * 336)
•Tire Diameter = (Trans Ratio * MPH * 336 * Rear Gear Ratio) / (RPM)
•RPM = (Trans Ratio * MPH * 336 * Rear Gear Ratio) / (Tire Diameter)
•Trans Ratio = (Tire Diameter * RPM) / (Rear Gear Ratio * MPH * 336)
•MPH = (RPM * Tire Diameter) / (336 * Rear Gear Ratio * Trans Ratio)
•Tire Diameter (inches) = (((section width * profile) / 2540) + (wheel diameter / 2)) * 2 
•HorsePower = TORQUE * RPM / 5252
•TORQUE = (5252 * HP) / RPM  
•1 Liter = 61.02374 Cubic Inches 
•Displacement (in^2) = Number Of Cylinders * 3.141592653589 * (Bore/2)^2 * Stroke 
•HP from MPH (1/4 mile) = WEIGHT * (MPH/234)^3 
•HP from ET (1/4 mile) = WEIGHT * (5.825/ET)^3 
•ET from HP (1/4 mile) = (WEIGHT / HP)^.333 * 5.825 
•HP from cylinder head intake flow  = CFM x 0.2575 x number of cylinders
•1/4 mile ET = 1/8 mile ET x 1.5832 (prestage.com)
•1/8 mile ET = 1/4 mile ET / 1.5832 (prestage.com)
•piston speed in fpm = stroke in inches x rpm / 6 
•rpm = piston speed in fpm x 6 / stroke in inches 
•bhp loss = elevation in feet / 1000 x 0.03 x bhp at sea level 
•theoretical cfm = rpm x displacement / 3456 
•volumetric efficiency = acutal cfm / theoretical cfm x 100 
•street carb cfm = rpm x displacement / 3456 x 0.85 
•racing carb cfm = rpm x displacement / 3456 x 1.1 
->Formulas for g force & weight transfer 
•drive wheel torque = flywheel torque x trans gear x final drive x 0.85 
•wheel thrust = drive wheel torque / rolling radius 
•g (force) = wheel thrust / weight 
•weight transfer = weight x cg height / wheelbase x g 
•lateral acceleration = 1.227 x radius / time^2 
•lateral weight transfer = weight x cg height / wheel track x g 
•centrufugal force = weight x g 
->Formulas for shift points 
•rpm after shift = ratio shift into / ratio shift from x rpm before shift 
•driveshaft torque = flywheel torque x transmission ratio 
->Formulas for weight distribution 
•percent of weight on wheels = weight on wheels / overweight x 100 
•increased weight on wheels = [ distance of cg from wheels / wheelbase x weight ] + weight 
->Formulas for center of gravity 
•cg location behind front wheels = rear wheel weights / overall weight x wheelbase 
•cg location off-center to heavy side = track / 2 - [ weight on light side / overall weight ] x track 
•cg height = [ level wheelbase x raised wheelbase x added weight on scale / distance raised ] x overall weight 

Check out Prestage.com for more useful formulas.

email me at aaronmurray@msn.com if you have any formulas you would like to see
added (as a calculator) or if you have any suggestions.