turk2gk

I was on youtube the other day and noticed a video of a 2001 Lingenfelter c5 coupe. So I decided to watch it and noticed the coupe hit 225mph on one run. I'm just curious to know why can a 650hp(crank) exceed 220mph + and the zr1 can only top out at about 205mph? Could it be aerodynamics or gearing? I'm pretty sure 12-20hp(give or take) isn't going to make a 20mph difference about 200mph. Below is the link to the lingenfelter vette.

95wht6spd

Most likely the gearing.

beboggled

I think its mostly aerodynamics. The ZR1 has more downforce. The C5 coupe is a very slippery car. Any C5 coupe making the same power should be able to hit those speeds in 6th (given appropriate tires)

ManuelCarrillo3

Color me fascinated.

Blow Torch

I'd be interested in knowing what gearing they ran

95wht6spd

I did some research, and I was wrong. Found a chart w ZR1 gear vs speed, it is geared for around 223, but it is power/drag limited. I did not know there is such a CD difference, I think it was .28 vs .36. I just figured they changed the gears for the C5 run. I remember seeing that vid on TV when it first aired, pretty cool.

All_Motor_C5LS6

ZR1 is much wider than the C5 resulting in increased frontal surface area.

ManuelCarrillo3

Back in the days of the C5, the late John Lingenfelter was able to get a Corvette up to 225 mph with "only" 650 horsepower. By the time the C6 ZR1 rolled into production, it was able to achieve "only" 205 mph with 638 horsepower. With cars that are pumping out similar power figures, why the top speed discrepancy?

Read the rest on the Corvette Forum homepage.

ZMX

The ZR1 is bigger and develops more downforce; both create more drag.

The old 500HP BMW M5 and M6 have a top speed of 205mph, while the 505HP C6 Z06 has a top speed of 199mph. Which one is faster around a turn? The Corvette, of course.

vettenuts

If you have ever read "All Corvettes are Red", they discuss the Cd in there at some length. As I recall, Dave Hill would not accept anything great than 0.3 for a Cd. That was part of the genesis of the balsa core floor boards glued in place, etc. to smooth out the bottom of the car.

vetteLT193

The calculation for top speed includes frontal area. The reason why the cars aren't getting faster on the top end is because they keep getting wider and have a larger frontal area.

If you want the real machine for top speed it isn't the C5. It's the C4 Callaway aerobody. It's got .26 coefficient of drag with a frontal area around 19.

I think the C5 is around a 22 frontal area. Since it is multiplied by the CG both matter a lot for top speed.

95wht6spd

Yep, the Sledgehammer was great. Lingenfelter said the C4 felt more stable at high speed than the C5.

Here is a cool vid on the Sledgehammer. Held the record for the fastest street car for some time. 254mph
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...72185853,d.aWw

motorbug

Are you more worried about top speed or latterel G's
Try testing both on road coarse at 100 mph?
Can't drive 200mph+ on many roads in USA

ChucksZ06

Just think of the highway fuel mileage a c4 with the c7 drivetrain would provide. Less weight, better aero. ha.

indyf1

I pulled up next to a red C7 in my base 2005 completely stock convertible 6-speed (400 hp.) My top was down. We raced a block and to my surprise, I beat him. We both had a chick in the car, so no weight advantage. Plus my tires are All Season and my traction control is always off. I think he had an automatic and he could have had his A/C on....

Hib Halverson

The venues at which these speed numbers were set may also have something to do with the results.

Jack Reynolds

Arguably the prettiest form of any car would be the P3/4 Ferrari from the mid sixties. It posessed the swoopy streamlined styling that was copied for the C5. With the C6 and C7 the styling moved toward the stealth fighter plane with sharp edges etc. Although Corvettes are not metal it should be noted that curvatures and bulges as seen on the Ferraris cannot be stamped in steel as the numbers needed for large production far exceed the life of today's body part stamping process. If you have a C5 you know what a unique vision it is. This top speed revelation is icing on the cake.
Jack Reynolds
jackreynoldsmodels.com

Zender

When you turn on the lights? Not that 200mph at night is a great idea of course.

TexSon

The Lingenfelter Vettes were no where near stock. My 2009 Saturn Sky Redline (2L) has more HP than the early C5s and I have beat them to their disgust, though C4s are easier. So do I really think a stock C1-6 will beat my stock C7, no. A properly tuned car will beat a stock any day of the week, you are talking apples and kumquats.

S8ER01Z

Just how modified is your sky? It looks like they made 260HP vs 345HP for the 97 C5.