I'm glad to see others talking ~160, as I got flamed the last time I stated my own observation of such. Heck, my 300hp, 2-ton DD is restricted at 150...

Keeping in mind that given enough power even a brick can fly; it's all a matter of how much $$$ one is willing to spend, how well that $$$ is spent, and how much nerve has the pilot. I'll likely not ever be able to do so, but it has long been a fantasy of mine to chase an SCTA record for A or B/GMS in a streetable C3.

 

Ol' Red is good for close to 130-- and that's with 4:11 gears. I've seen it at 125. I've got a 3:08 rear setting there doing nothing too. I was NOT built with the cajones to go that fast. Even if the car is capable.

 

You guys are making my skin crawl! Imagine losing it at over 100mph in a plastic car that has 70's era safety technology? Goodnight!

 

Hey, when it's time to have your ticket punched wouldn't you rather have it punched in a Vette going 150 than in a fish market choking on a bone. I prefer the Vette scenario.

 

I have no idea how fast I've gone... My speedometer only goes to 85...

However I have 3.07 rear gears and went to like 4500 - 5000 rpm in top gear once... You do the math. However, I have an '81 and it's light and I've beefed up the engine, suspension a little, and ride on 275-40-17 tires. So more power, better grip, and lighter weight helps a bit...

I'd be scared taking some of those early c3s over 120.

 

I agree there.I do do alittle spirited driving,but do it where there arn't going to be the chance of hurting other people.When I ran the 68 to 146 tho'...I was on the interstate by myself,was not in the best mood,and had a slick w/belts showing......I figured if it went out,then it would only hurt for a second.
My 68 handled it pretty well,but had the Firestone soft road race tires on the front,and the Goodyear Eagle slicks on the back.
The 75 @ 137 was VERY light in the nose.

The 1st Gen. Camaro that I mentioned that did over 200 on 7 cylinders is recorded in the Silver Crown Classic data,and was a streetable car,BUT....a very hi-horse all aluminum BB w/complete roll cage,etc.I don't remember the actual horsepower,but I don't believe it was a 1000.More like 7-800,I think.

 

Brings back memorys of years ago. A non-corvette pull over when I letting out of the throttle and noticed a state trooper in hot pursuit about a mile from the exit. He even had another one of his buddys coming across the middle of the interstate to meet me.Needless to say he wanted more than my signature. He tossed me into the back seat of his car and he took my drivers liciense away from me right then. He was not a happy camper. Looking back, When I was asked me, "Do you know how fast you were going boy?" The correct response would have been," I am not really sure, but I am sure you are going to tell me". The real question I have for you is," how fast did you have to go to catch me?" To the actual ? I would think the 427 stock should do in or around that 180-200 mph mark. Make sure you have the suspension to handle that and safe place to do it.( not the interstate system) The speed does not scare me but when it starts floating not much over a 100. You will know the car might/ will probably go nuts with you at close to a red line speed. Use the calulator that is posted above. Much safer for yourself and everyone else, your car included. In my old age I try to drive safely, speed limits, and even maybe under the speed limit at times , not so much for me as my wife, daughter, and especially the grand daughter. Call me a sissy if you will, I still have my moments. My son in law has a new 1000 Suziki crouch rocket.I am the only one he lets ride it. I told him you know I bet that thing will do at least 120 mph in 2nd gear.

Have a Great Christmas everyone,
Thanks for your help with our car,( I greatly appreciate your help)
Ray/aka/Pa

 

I remember several years ago, a cover car on Corvette Magazine was titled "240 Sporty". It was a stock bodied chrome bumper Vette that ran 240 mph on the Bonneville Salt Flats. It had a chin spoiler and was very lowered, and had all the body gaps taped over, but it had to be stock bodied to run in the class it was in.....(it was a convertible with a hardtop).

Temvette72

 

It's not how fast I can go overall, it's more how fast from 0 - 60 mph. On the open road I have no interest in going 100 mph, if I wanted to know that, I'd take it to a controlled track.

 

Middle of the night, 10 degrees, I-75 in Northern Michigan, returning from Boyne Mt. Now for the 1968 Vette. 4.11 final, G60 tires and GE 4537 Landing lites. Bored sitting there on a open road, I just pressed on the gas. At 5500 in high I glanced at a negative moving gas gauge and backed out of the pedal. Never looked at the speedometer and never knew how fast I was going. I was just worried not to run out of gas and freeze my *** off not how fast I was going. 100, 110 or less?
.

 

Don't worry about it. These guys have imaginations that are WAY faster than their cars.

BTW - I saw last nite, on Speed Channel, some testing of a new Challenger, 425 NET HP, on a dry lake bed in California, top speed - 170 MPH.

 

Fascinating article about the c3 at the flats. I restrict my driving to less than 100 mph because of the cars age and shape. Actually closer to 85 mph. If I were to see how fast she goes, I would want the salt for the safety or someplace like the speedway up at Kansas City. Everything else will get you a ticket [at a minimum] or risk hurting someone besides yourself. I know stretches of secondary blacktop roads in good shape in Kansas that are three miles long and straight, but even if no one is around and you open her up, what if you blow a tire at speed? Even if you are not hurt you can bet someone will be investigating the damage to your car and figuring out how fast you were going. A guy from my home town one time had a mid sixties big block vette up way past 100 mph and hit a barn owl in the windshield at that speed. He had a broken neck and had to have one of those halo devices on for over six months, while laying perfectly still in bed. As high school kids we all wanted to see the wreck up at the Chevrolet house back lot. It would all fit in the back of a pickup bed. 427 and all. I haven't forgot that you are driving around in a box full of toothbrushes. These cars are not impact resistant by any stretch of the imagination. Of course the day that guy got out of the hospital, he went and bought another corvette.

 

I completely agree with you Gordon. Look at the new cars that are out there on the market today. Like Ferrari, Aston Martin, Mercedes SLR,Lamborghini , Porsche ,Bugatti etc. How many horsepower do these cars have that can reach 200 mph or damn close to that figure. Also figure what the Coefficient of drag is - on these wind tunnel designed cars.
The new 200 mph Corvette is pushing how much HP ? It is around 600 or so isn't it ? I like my C-3 as much as anyone here , but it is really primitive , and short on power compared to these new Corvettes and its competition. 150 would be a tough nut to crack with a real street C-3 . I strongly doubt that you could redline the combination quoted in the beginning of this thread in overdrive. I would figure maybe around 4,000 rpm with 3.08s and in overdrive. I think that the combination would make a really great long distance cruiser with low noise and great gas mileage. With the low first gear that the 700 r-4 has it would still get off the line as well. My 2 cents

 

Is there a purpose of going 200 mph that I don't know about?

 

B/C it's there, kinda like Mt. Everest.

 

Well, for starts, the NEW Z06 is limited more by the tranny, than by aero or hp, I believe. Now, the C5s had a 6th gear that was insane, I think. Add some hp, get rid of the governer, and those things were geared for well over 200mph. I think, anyway.


In high speeds, the most important thing, aerodynamically, I would think, is the UNDERSIDE of the car. Burnouli's Principle should be required reading speed freaks, eh?

 

While the underside is important, the 1st-order need for a legitimate rear spoiler or wing for warp speeds cannot be over-stated. Also, IMHO owning at least one proper magnahelic gauge is vital for anyone contemplating very much in the way of any "Bernoullian" mods underneath...

 

Speed????...When my C3 dries up...I prefer my 18 wheeler...at M.86 over the Arctic.

 

Yeah but the LT4 would do 180 with 330 HP

 

To run my '71 vert at high speeds on the track, do I need a front spoiler the 80-82's and also a rear spoiler of some type? The fastest I ever went was Mach 1.9 in a F-15 Eagle, when i served with the 8th FS "The Black Sheep", before we went to the F-117A's. Had a Peterbuilt "Large car" in triple digits one time when I had to have a hot load in CA one time.Seriously, what about the front and rear spoilers?