WILL SHE DO 160?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 892
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From: GA
WILL SHE DO 160?
Hi all,
Yesterday, some guy came to my "open" side entrance garage to ask me if I wanted the daily paper. In his efforts to sell me a subscription, he saw her, my hotrod is progress! He decided since his head was in the garage, he should walk around and take a look-see. He asked me if the car will do 160. I said "hmmm... don't know, I only took it to 120" .
So how fast have all of YOU gone in your Vette? Were you comfortable at that speed or did you hope that a halfshaft didn't decide to die and take you with it? At 120, mine was a little shaky and nervous, but then again... it did need to rebuilt at that time. :eek:
Yesterday, some guy came to my "open" side entrance garage to ask me if I wanted the daily paper. In his efforts to sell me a subscription, he saw her, my hotrod is progress! He decided since his head was in the garage, he should walk around and take a look-see. He asked me if the car will do 160. I said "hmmm... don't know, I only took it to 120" .
So how fast have all of YOU gone in your Vette? Were you comfortable at that speed or did you hope that a halfshaft didn't decide to die and take you with it? At 120, mine was a little shaky and nervous, but then again... it did need to rebuilt at that time. :eek:
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 11,601
Likes: 0
From: San Francisco CA
St. Jude Donor '07
Re: WILL SHE DO 160? (1970LS6)
i got up to 80, and then it just shook a little too much. I was afraid the 18 year old tires would explode. There was still more to go though, i probably could have gotten over 100, but why risk it? I don't think mine could get to 160 though. Maybe my mom's '01 could, that'd be fun to do :reddevil
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 117
Likes: 0
From: epping nh
Re: WILL SHE DO 160? (Mr.Gearhead)
Been to 120 in the 72 Vette and had more just didnt wanna push the tires. In my younger stupid days took my 69 Firebird to 155. Had a 160 speedo and wanted to see, jumping half lanes at a time was way spooky.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 11,840
Likes: 0
From: Galloway NJ
Re: WILL SHE DO 160? (Buffalo Dude)
before my gear swap i past the 140 mark, but not sure how much over i was going, it was only for a few seconds(didn't want to get a ticket...)
after gear swap, i haven't topped out but i've had it to 115 and it was close to red lining
after gear swap, i haven't topped out but i've had it to 115 and it was close to red lining
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 5,722
Likes: 0
Re: WILL SHE DO 160?
My best guess is around 130mph. It's hard to tell since my speedo only goes to 85. I had it punched for about 10 seconds after I hit the 85 stop post on the speedo. Other than my sense of speed, it's hard to say for sure, but I was definitely MOVING. I held on with both hands, and didn't even think about changine lanes or anything. I didn't have any problems at all as far as sway, etc.. but I will not do it again until I get some speed rated tires. I just wanted to see what it would do, and I was happy with the result! I was surprised it still had some left in it before I gave up. They rate the 82 as having a top speed of 125, but I will have to disagree with that one. I was going at least 125-130 and let up before it gave out. Has anyone actually hit the limit on a stock 82 with 2.83 (stock) gears?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,286
Likes: 8
From: San Jose California
Re: WILL SHE DO 160? (Mr.Gearhead)
Many of the speedometers on muscle cars became VERY optimistic at speeds over 100mph. A friend took me in a ride in his Formula 400 at 140mph indicated. When I checked his tack at 60mph vs. 140mph, there was nothing linear about it. Should have been about 120mph actual.
To answer your question, I think my 350/350 with 3.36 gears would do about 130mph, but I lived at very high alititude, 8200'. At sea level with a long enough stretch of road, maybe 140mph, everything stock.
On my dyno day, I looped the speedometer with the L88. Incredible to watch as it passed 160 to virtually tag 0 again.
Chuck
To answer your question, I think my 350/350 with 3.36 gears would do about 130mph, but I lived at very high alititude, 8200'. At sea level with a long enough stretch of road, maybe 140mph, everything stock.
On my dyno day, I looped the speedometer with the L88. Incredible to watch as it passed 160 to virtually tag 0 again.
Chuck
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Race Director
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 16,483
Likes: 1
From: The Only Corvette in Gila Bend, Az.
St. Jude Donor '09
Re: WILL SHE DO 160? (Micky T)
Goin By the tach, I think I have been to about 125-130...Then the head lights pop up by themselves...DOH !!!!Anyone know why :confused:
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Re: WILL SHE DO 160? (Mr.Gearhead)
I think the car has it for 160, but I don't...I can assure you that 150 with the top and windows down is violent enough ....blew my glasses off....scarey, that's why I lifted...car was still pulling though....handled like a dream, with original stock steering, steady....with today's rack...well I have been to 130 many times...same thing at that speed....
I could tell the speedo was not lying, not by very much if any, by the sound of the engine....the tach packed it in early, around 120 or so...as I didn't have the tach filter on in those days....
I did have the overdrive 700r4 tranny and the 336 gearset....OH and most important, I did have Z rated tires....but now I think they are V? rated...
GENE
I could tell the speedo was not lying, not by very much if any, by the sound of the engine....the tach packed it in early, around 120 or so...as I didn't have the tach filter on in those days....
I did have the overdrive 700r4 tranny and the 336 gearset....OH and most important, I did have Z rated tires....but now I think they are V? rated...
GENE
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,556
Likes: 0
From: Seattle WA
Re: WILL SHE DO 160? (mrvette)
i probably could het 160 with 3.08 gears, but not with 4.11s the fastest i ever got mine has been 110 and that was with the 3.55s i could still fell it had alot more to go, but it was shaking more than i like. i think it needed an alignment, and tires.
:lol: i just thought i can get her to do a 180 pretty quick now...
[Modified by '79ProwlerOrange, 1:19 AM 7/1/2002]
:lol: i just thought i can get her to do a 180 pretty quick now...
[Modified by '79ProwlerOrange, 1:19 AM 7/1/2002]
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 43,136
Likes: 155
From: Thomson Georgia
Re: WILL SHE DO 160? (JohnS_77)
a bit over 130 when the engine and gear was stock ......But now all that has changed and I like going fast stop light to stop light.....Much safer and much more fun.......It may not be wise to take a 30 year old car much faster :cheers:
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,211
Likes: 5
From: Nashville TN
Re: WILL SHE DO 160? (Alwyn678)
As far as I know :
C3's without spoilers will start to lift at speeds over 120mph. Steering gets very light and they get skittish. You need to have an 80 or add the pace car spoilers to keep the thing glued to the ground.
Most of the muscle car tires that we run ( BFG Radial TA, Dunlop Qualifier etc) are a T rating or less which is only set for 118 miles per hour.
I had a cop pull me over and he asked if this thing would go 160 mph. I said pretty close but I wouldn't want to be the guy driving it !
When I want to go fast I take the BMW its rock steady, quiet and smooth at 130mph.
C3's without spoilers will start to lift at speeds over 120mph. Steering gets very light and they get skittish. You need to have an 80 or add the pace car spoilers to keep the thing glued to the ground.
Most of the muscle car tires that we run ( BFG Radial TA, Dunlop Qualifier etc) are a T rating or less which is only set for 118 miles per hour.
I had a cop pull me over and he asked if this thing would go 160 mph. I said pretty close but I wouldn't want to be the guy driving it !
When I want to go fast I take the BMW its rock steady, quiet and smooth at 130mph.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,900
Likes: 2
From: Green Cove Springs FL
Re: WILL SHE DO 160? (dman535)
As far as I know :
C3's without spoilers will start to lift at speeds over 120mph. Steering gets very light and they get skittish. You need to have an 80 or add the pace car spoilers to keep the thing glued to the ground.
Most of the muscle car tires that we run ( BFG Radial TA, Dunlop Qualifier etc) are a T rating or less which is only set for 118 miles per hour.
I had a cop pull me over and he asked if this thing would go 160 mph. I said pretty close but I wouldn't want to be the guy driving it !
When I want to go fast I take the BMW its rock steady, quiet and smooth at 130mph.
C3's without spoilers will start to lift at speeds over 120mph. Steering gets very light and they get skittish. You need to have an 80 or add the pace car spoilers to keep the thing glued to the ground.
Most of the muscle car tires that we run ( BFG Radial TA, Dunlop Qualifier etc) are a T rating or less which is only set for 118 miles per hour.
I had a cop pull me over and he asked if this thing would go 160 mph. I said pretty close but I wouldn't want to be the guy driving it !
When I want to go fast I take the BMW its rock steady, quiet and smooth at 130mph.
With a 85mph speedo, I calculated tire size, rpm, and gear ratio which said I was up around 110-125 and it felt REALLY stable. I'm estimating due to drag. The vette was screaming at high rpms since I don't have an OD yet.
I've talked with someone on another forum with an '80 and he's been clocked by someone running with him at 150mph. He felt that it was scary when changing lanes, but what car going 150mph ISNT scary when trying to maneuver at that speed? He didn't say anything about his headlights popping up either.
Once I get my OD, if it's not windy outside I would try 150mph if I have someone in a newer car to clock me.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Re: WILL SHE DO 160? (dman535)
dman, maybe a bone stock C3, no such thing anymore, but maybe bone stock they might tend to lift,.....
but with ~480 lbs springs, urethane, fiberglass rear spring...and lowered an inch or so....no lifting, car steady as a rock at 150, I wasn't, but car was up for more.....no wonder I"m bald....
GENE :D :D
but with ~480 lbs springs, urethane, fiberglass rear spring...and lowered an inch or so....no lifting, car steady as a rock at 150, I wasn't, but car was up for more.....no wonder I"m bald....
GENE :D :D