I hit 100 the other week on a country road, just wanted to see it hit triple digits, but the road wasnt' smooth enough to go any faster. It definitely had plenty more to go though. I just found a Car and Driver article from 78 on 79 Corvettes which lists the top speed at 127.

 

ludicrous speed

 

85 mph............I baby her

 

I love the space ***** movie...(hope that is what you are referring to).

 

I was stationed in Germany from 1977 til 1980. I shipped a new 77 L-82 over, and drove it all over Europe. On the Autobahn, I would usually run at about 120 mph. On long stretches that were slightly downhill, I would occasionaly push it up to 145. (still get passed by the big Mercedes Benz 450's). Even when new, the car would start feeling pretty light at anything over 130.

Dave

 

I got to take Hammerhead out on the Kansas speedway a few years back. I have no idea of how fast it went,(Speedo was broke and I was busy drivin.)But I was told that it sounded good and like it was haulin!!!(Does that count???) My hooker sides were open with no baffles.I had the top down and my wife with me!I did get a good pic of it though.It was pretty cool!They would'nt let us wind them out too far but did let us play a little.

 

Speedo goes to 200mph but I don't have enough nuts to see it, though a Big Block making 550-660hp with a 3.08 might actually see it.

I've hit 170mph in my Lingenfelter C4 in the past.

 

72 mph

 

Hard to tell in my 81, since the speedo only goes to 85. Once you hit 85 there is still alot of pedal left. Can't tell you what the tach was reading because I didn't want to take my eyes off the road. Had to flex some muscle in the hills of Kentucky on the way to Bowling Green.

 

I have done a few runs above 140 but have not ever hit 150. Car starts to float and I back off. Have not done it for a few years so maybee it is time to go for a ride. They are repaving a section of I75????????????

 

Same here! I did 100 just to get to trip digits but now try to keep it under 90 mostly new suspension soon!

 

163 at the Bonneville Salt Flats - during World of Speed - we had to back off - over 160 got you DQed from that class (we lobbied until the reinstated us). it was a 3 mile run - we had to back off between miles 2 & 3 to stay legal

This year we will be running in an unlimmited speed class - we are aiming for 200 - but will probably fall a little short. we will have a longer course though - that will help!

we only have 460 HP (ZZ4 with Hotcam) a custom carb (thats the key!)- a tremek TKO 500 Tranny, VBP suspension - hydroboost, 6 point roll cage - 2 fire systems, parachute - still street legal and streetable!

And contrary to popular opinion - no - the car doesn't feel floaty at over 125 - it gets more stable and smooth.

Oh yah - if in fact that 187 is the loveable old grutzy - reinvented - he's already been completely discredited!

as for gear calculators, they are great - but because your car can get 6500 or 7000 rpm standing still doesn't mean that it can rev that high at high speeds - I forget the exact number but at high speeds almost all of your HP goes to overcoming air resistance - the air pushing on your car will actually limit your RPM

carl Johansson

 

Was that in a C3? What Aerodynamic mods? Spoilers? front or back? Hood vent? Functional side vent? Belly pan? Can we see pictures of your car?

 

Weight eats HP, A C-3 is shaped like an arrow, so there is very litttle air resistance, but at the speeds you are talking you better have wings/spoilers etc. to hold you firm on the ground, or underbody lift will be your enemy and you'll become a kite. I also would like to see a few pictures of your car.

 

I'm geared to do 233@6000 in 5th. Never been faster (in the Vette) than I can attain in 1/4 mile at WOT...about 108mph.

I've had my Lincoln up to 152. (not in the 1/4)

 

Body is completely 100% stock (except for the 1/2 aluminum rails running parrallel down the top of the car (called for in the rules)- class rules specifically call for that - of course if your one of the gold old boys - they let you put giant hood extensions to fit in more engine - but i don't see how that fits with the rules at all - what do I know.

we talked about belly pans etc - but turns out if you do the math - you are getting marginal lift - the calculation was 150 - 200 lbs - the cars a little heavier than that! It is important to keep the rear slightly higher than the front to limit air under the car - but thats for speed - not stability

We are helped by the body being an 82 - the bubbled rear window really smooths out the flow over the car - someone here did a calculation showing that the rear window bubble saved you about 35 - 40 HP - over the flat rear window style (sucking turbulance behind the flat window!

How do I post a picture? I've never done it here.
I have a few pictures of it running on the track.

carl

 

For running at Bonneville - weight is not the issue - in fact many cars go faster when they step down their horsepower and up their weight - traction is the issue - thats why very thin tires - because more weight per inch of contact - think of trying to maintain traction on a drag strip covered with fine sand - some of these higher powered cars are spinning their tires at 250 - 300 mph - the tires come back smoking after their runs!

remember the object is not to get all your speed in 1/4 mile - you have lots of time to build speed -

as for the horsepower - remember drag is an inverse relationship - I can't remember the exact numbers - but If I recall - at 150 mph you are pushing about 500 lbs of air out of the way (essentially 500 lbs of push against the car) - if you go up to 200 MPH you are pushing over 2000 lbs of air.

I've already addressed the supposed underbody lift - in fact it is marginal in this application - the more you smooth out ground effect flow , the more down force you have - down force = more drag = slower speeds

We have a heavy car - with a lower nose than tail - it gets more and more stable the faster we go! it does not get squirrley and floaty - I know - I've driven it - so have both of my brothers - and everybody has the same experience - stable and smooth at high speeds! I'm sorry if that is contrary to ther common belief about C-3's - but that the way it is - for our car in this application!

carl "I used to be concerned about "floating", till the math came out!" Johansson

 

Carl..join photobucket.com it's free...then upload from your puter to an album there...copy the [IMG] image (your pics) and paste here...you can now do video's on photobucket as well....
Rich

 

0mph

 

And still AWESOME!!! (Only in a vette!)