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Soft Top pics at high speed!!

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Old 11-21-2016, 01:10 AM
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427Hotrod
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Default Soft Top pics at high speed!!

Here's a couple of new pics from the recent 1/2 Mile event I took the Vette to. Managed 177 MPH...but it sure was a rough time on the 'ole soft top!!





JIM
The following 4 users liked this post by 427Hotrod:
marshal135 (11-21-2016), Metalhead140 (11-21-2016), mikem350 (11-21-2016), mrvette (11-23-2016)
Old 11-21-2016, 01:58 AM
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sug
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Awsome speed .Who said theres no head room in a vett.
Old 11-21-2016, 03:06 AM
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Ibanez540r
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Ha! Even with the tape, huh?



(Why is there a car so close to you in the second pic???)
Old 11-21-2016, 04:18 AM
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Danish Shark
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Originally Posted by Ibanez540r
...
(Why is there a car so close to you in the second pic???)
Probably because it was in front of him in the first pic


Great pictures.
Old 11-21-2016, 09:07 AM
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marshal135
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Damm a buck 77?
I'm surprised that top didn't just lift off.
Wow.
Nice speed.
Marshal
Old 11-21-2016, 09:14 AM
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Rescue Rogers
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Could be worse


Last edited by Rescue Rogers; 11-21-2016 at 09:15 AM.
Old 11-21-2016, 09:24 AM
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Kubs
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Wow! Looks like you got some lift on the hood as well! Cool shots!
Old 11-21-2016, 10:53 AM
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MotorHead
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I am amazed the top stayed on at that speed

too would like to know what that red Vette was doing so close to you, do they not clear the course before another car starts ?

Congrats on the 177mph, it will soon be 200mph if you keep at it.
Old 11-21-2016, 11:28 AM
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427Hotrod
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Originally Posted by Ibanez540r
Ha! Even with the tape, huh?



(Why is there a car so close to you in the second pic???)
We were just getting started from a roll....he wasn't there long!

JIM
Old 11-21-2016, 11:31 AM
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427Hotrod
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Originally Posted by Kubs
Wow! Looks like you got some lift on the hood as well! Cool shots!
I've got extensions I install under the hood latches at the track to prop rear of hood open a little. At first I did it to clear a 1" spacer under the carb to get a few more HP....but I soon found the real benefit was to release some underhood air to keep the lift and hence the nose down. Since it helped at the dragstrip running 140+ MPH before the turbos...I figured it would definitely be a good plan for this event.


JIM
Old 11-21-2016, 11:38 AM
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427Hotrod
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Originally Posted by MotorHead
I am amazed the top stayed on at that speed

too would like to know what that red Vette was doing so close to you, do they not clear the course before another car starts ?

Congrats on the 177mph, it will soon be 200mph if you keep at it.
The runs are made side by side usually. He was my first run and he said he "didn't drag race" from a standing start and wanted to go from a roll of about 40 MPH or so. Since it was my first time doing this too, I agreed to do it that way. I let him set the pace and we rolled down track a good ways until we hit the "roll start" pylons. So this pic was made right after we got started and it looks like the top was already getting pretty pregnant at maybe 75-90 MPH or so there.

For me, I found the "roll start" to be OK...it let me get into 2nd gear early and then roll into the power. They had sprayed VHT around those pylons so you had a chance to get moving. On later runs I tried to get into it from a standing start and it was just a lot of wheelspin. Once they are spinning it's hard to get it back under control.

Next time I do this, I'll start from a standstill...and roll out and get into 2nd early and then apply power as hard as possible long before the "roll start" mark and get a lot more usable track to run on.

Heck of a fun way to send a sunny Saturday though!!

JIM
Old 11-21-2016, 11:41 AM
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Originally Posted by Rescue Rogers
Could be worse

Somehow I missed that one!! Cool!!!

JIM
Old 11-21-2016, 12:19 PM
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BKbroiler
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Would a hard top fit over your roll bar?
Old 11-21-2016, 12:26 PM
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Originally Posted by BKbroiler
Would a hard top fit over your roll bar?
I borrowed one from a buddy...but it wouldn't clear the main hoop. Figured it would since we built it to allow soft top to go up and down but it lacked about an inch sitting down on the deck.

JIM
Old 11-21-2016, 03:32 PM
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632C2
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That speed is pretty impressive! What RPM was the motor at? Based on these runs, what MPH are you expecting next time?

Steve
Old 11-21-2016, 04:28 PM
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Jim,
It sounds like you made everything else for this car how about longer
guide pins like extenders for the hard top roof?
Then it could clear the roll cage/bar.
Just thinking out loud.
I saw the Jim Gardner L-88's were blue convertibles too but ran
hard tops on the track.
Marshal


Originally Posted by 427Hotrod
I borrowed one from a buddy...but it wouldn't clear the main hoop. Figured it would since we built it to allow soft top to go up and down but it lacked about an inch sitting down on the deck.

JIM
Old 11-21-2016, 05:10 PM
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It was about 6500 RPM at 177 MPH. A little higher through the traps.

I'll want a longer shutdown area next time for my car.

I think it would be fun to join the "200" club! That's only about 7300 RPM!

I thought about adding extensions to the hold down mounts on the top...but decided against it at the time. The front latches hooked fine.

Certainly will have to do something else if I decide to "turn it up" and go faster.

JIM

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Old 11-21-2016, 05:14 PM
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Congrats of the great runs, having fun and not breaking!! That is testament to your design skills and preparation

The bubble top reminds me of when mine shredded on the highway one day at 80...scared the crap out of me!

BTW, the top inflates from air entering the cabin too, like thru the vents.

Bet you cant wait to try again with a few tweeks!
Old 11-21-2016, 09:46 PM
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Originally Posted by 427Hotrod
Here's a couple of new pics from the recent 1/2 Mile event I took the Vette to. Managed 177 MPH...but it sure was a rough time on the 'ole soft top!!





JIM

Thanks for my new back ground pic on my laptop....

That top pic is simply bad ***...That old top was wreaking havoc....

Congrats on hauling ***....Pretty crazy to think of an old, basically stock body/suspension car going that fast. Impressive to say the least.
Old 11-23-2016, 04:02 AM
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WESCH
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Hi

Unbelievable that the softtop blows up like that.
I didn't drive 177 MPH yet and will never do with my 68, but had already over 200 kmh on it , never realized that the softop blows up .

Anyway, congrats on the 177 MPH .

I posted this link with a pic on the German Corvetteforum.

http://corvetteforum.de/thread.php?threadid=89885&sid=

Hope you don't mind . If you do, pls let me know and I remove it again.

Wbrgds. Günther


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