Guys how did the Toro manage to out power the 442s for those years. Or was it the same type of ratings shenanigans as the muscle era. When W30s were more powerful than W34s in actuality but not on paper ... ?

Here is specifically what I am talking about.

1976 455 442 = 190 @ 3400 RPM
1976 Toronado = 210 @ 3600 RPM

1977 403 442 = 185 @ 3600 RPM
1977 Toronado = 200 @ 3600 RPM

The 403 GMC motorhome is also rated 200 HP. But it's exhaust is a y pipe to single with no catalytic. So the additional 15 HP makes some sense to me.

I can't imagine 442s were underrated in that dead zone era ?

I also can't understand how the Toronados lower in height intake manifold. Is helping it outperform the 442 engines.

I see the 200 RPM difference in 1976, but that is not the case in 1977...

Thanks in advance.

P.S. I've come across a 215 HP rating for 1976s Toro also... Please let me know if the specs I posted are inaccurate.

 

GM was funny about lbs per horsepower, so larger cars could have a higher rating than a midsize, even if they both had the exact same motor. The Chassis Service manuals had the camshafts listed for the various motors. If you have access, you could compare, and probably find the only difference in the motors was they were in a heavier car. So yes, its just GMs funny internal rules, not a reality.

 

I know GM had a corporate rule of no more than 100 per hp, (which lead to GM playing the numbers game on some of their higher hp cars) so maybe the heavier Toronado allowed a higher hp rating?

Hmm, after thinking about this, given the dismal hp numbers brought on by the emissions standards of the day, you could have cut the curb weight of either car in half and still not exceeded the 100 pounds per hp number.

Maybe Olds couldn’t stand not having its flagship car with the highest hp rating?

 

That’s likely the answer. Kinda like the 1986-1987 Corvette was rated higher than the Buick GN.

 

Thanks guys, one and all.

😁 True !

A 4800 LB 76 Toro would be rated 480 HP at 1 HP per 10 lbs. Chopped in half and it's 240 HP. Vs the actual 215 or 210...

And a 4050 lb 76 442 chopped in half works out to 202.5 HP vs the actual 190...

The ratio is even pathetic working with gross numbers ...