Got a C-2 that's going over 140 every time I go to the dragstrip.....then there is 5th gear leftover for the real top end running!!

JIM

 

Keeping it "Stable" would be the problem at the high speeds. What is desribed here as the front end lifting, feels like in our car "Floating" at a lot less speed than 170 or 200. Use the calulator. It will be much safer for everyone.

 

About time Jim that you made a comment and bring a bit of 'reality' to everything

 

Vastly over-simplified, the front spoiler reduces the amount of air that gets beneath the car in the first place, lowering pressure under there, while the rear spoiler traps additional pressure on the top rear of the car and can help extract air from beneath the rear. The net results are increased differential of pressures as compared below and above the body, which translates into reduced lift or increased downforce. The balance and magnitude of this change depends on how low the car is, how much rake it has and how large and efficient are the devices added. It is best to work on both ends of the car, but if you only do one you should do the rear. Bottom line, if you want stability at very high speeds you simply must adequately address aero.

 

For a "stock" C3 I would limit top end to around 150MPH (I have had my 72 LT-1 at 140MPH.) Without Aero mods there is a lot of drag on a C3 and the Nascar stock cars are actually cleaner in the air (I know the C3 looks right but, it is not right for top end racing.) Here is a link to a properly set-up C3 for 200+MPH speeds http://www.canepa.com/inventory/race...tte/index.html

 

RJ Gotleib's 69 "Camaro" was a tube frame Nascar style car with a Donovan 540 cu/in big block and had the sheet metal hung on the frame to optimize the high speed stability. There have been some guys at the Silver State with production Camros in the 180MPH range but, I wouldn't want to be driving something like that if something went wrong (same opinion for a C2/3 without a fulll cage around me.)

 

Exactly ,thats when my car started to get scary,150 mph.ive heard a couple people say they went 140 mph,i think the next 10 to 20 mph the car starts its floating and my hood distortion.

 

Here's a link to "Big Red" the Camaro you guys are talking about.
http://www.bigredcamaro.com/newsite/mainpage.html

 

Here's the link to the Motor Trend article comparing a ZR1 to a 599 Ferrari http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...son/index.html The side bar about what can happen to tires at that speed is worth special attention as well as the fact while these cars are available to the general public if you have the funds of course. They used a pro for the road test as well as taking several precautions. Which turned out to be a smart move.
200 MPH is unGodly fast. I remember when Dream Car Garage took a modified Z06 to the autoban and went over 185 I believe and the passanger was begging Peter Klute to slow down. While I do think the road race L88s and ZL1 C3s could have hit 200 MPH at LeMans you have to have all the respect in the world for the guys who were driving them wether they were purpose built race cars or not. Just like you have to give the early NASCAR drivers a lot of credit for pushing 3500lb cars over 200 MPH on the super speedways. I remember the late John Lingenfelter answering a journalist just before a Car and Driver top speed test when questioned about the safety equipment "what kind of helmet are you wearing?". His reply "what difference does it make?" How true?
As far as a "stock" body C3 goes it seems 150ish is about the point where common sense ceases to exist. I do think it is possible for a "race prepared" C3 with about 600 H/P with the propper gearing to hit 200 MPH but I don't want to be in it. I'll watch.

 

So,did you work for Lockheed?

 

Just how many C3 parts are actually on that race car ?

 

THAT is the old girl I was talking about!This was many moons ago when I read the article.WOW...what a car!
Thanks Jack,and cheers,my friend.

 

FWIW, and not to derail this and/or other threads, I've re-compiled info (V 2.0) about my aviation interests here...
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=2210518

 

This discussion has me curious. I once visited Bonneville on vacation and was curious what my C3 would do. I plan to put in a Tremec 5 speed. I have checked out the Southern California Timing Association to see what it would take to make a pass. An unblown small block C3 appears to go into the C/GT class. The rules for the car are based on the class record. It is around 168 MPH. This class (based on the record speed) requires a fire suit, extinguishers, roll cage, parachute, etc. However, a rookie like me, would be required to stay below 150MPH. With my set up that should be no problem. I'm now trying to convince my wife that a vacation to El Mirage is a good thing. This is similar to the discussion: "You need a new transmission? Is the old one worn out?"

 

Yes, dear, those ARE car parts in the dishwasher.....

 

I wouldn't even want to attempt anything close to that without at least an 80-82 style front bumper. The fastest I ever had my 68 was 138, fastest I've ever driven in anything was 178 in the Viper, and the vette at 138 freaked me out a lot more than the Viper at 178.

 

My cousins 68 racecar was clocked at 187 on the back straight during the 24 hours of Daytona in 1975. He was L 88 powered with a 3.08 gear, not sure what size rear tire he had on it. Keep in mind that he probably got a slingshot off of the turn and this was before they had a chicane on the back straight.
Ol Blue
He said it sure felt strange to be passed by those turbo-Porsches at that speed.

 

More or less the same top-end as my old '68 L36. Once past 115 mph I was flying without a rudder, ailerons or elevators

 

Seriously not picking on you man, but your statement is about typical on the chrome sharks....and so I wonder...I read about hoods lifting.....I have no gasket on the rear hood lip, I know that can be a problem ONLY if I blast a hose, the anti freeze will fog the windshield in a micro second....don't ask....

so to ask if that's enough for the hood to not lift??

the last blast had the center of the hood cut out enough to negate any lift factor....under the BB hood layover and open in the back, no lift factor there then....the scoops are open on the sides, no artwork, the grills are not stock, no restrictions, no license bracket at all....according to frame and body measurements the car is stock height, but supposedly the stock 460 VBP springs lower an inch in front....not by the literature I seen though....

so I hear of the cars getting unstable at over 120, well....I dunno...I can't see the very few changes to my car as being all that critical one way or other...

 

Well, yeah....I wasn't talking about modding the underside, I was more aiming at keeping air from getting under there in the FIRST place.



Don't they make a kit for the C3 body style that is wind tested to 175-180mph? It looks gaudy as hell, and it expensive.....but I am pretty sure I saw one that was red around FL one time...