There are formulas for torque and horsepower and they are related. Usually the more horsepower the more torque and vise-versa. Torque as a rule of thumb, especially under the older SAE dyno testing could be approximated as a foot pound for every cubic inch. Of course there are exceptions as wittnessed by the long branch intaked Chryslers and some others, but GENERALLY its close to a 1:1 ratio.
So when folks talk about the "tremendous" or "bottom end" torque of our inline sixes, its at low end because they sure aint got no top end, and almost any V8 has more inches, more horsepower, therefore more torque. (save for the 239 flathead Fords and 23X studes). Check out the hp/torque curves for a 265 Chevy V8 vs. the 261 Chevy six. No where, no how.
There is that "romantic" dirt track logic that "dem sixes pull so hard outta da corners that dem bent eights cant touch em" - maybe its 'cause they aint overpowering their tires like the eights can. Dunno aint a roundy-rounder.
I feel the best thing to do with a hopped up limited size six is to put it into the lightest thing possible, like a helium filled Smart Car and hang on ('cause there aint no room to sit).
But I still think the sixes are cool, and no one's is gonna brag that they beat you!
