How fast should it be?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 392
Likes: 0
From: Iowa
How fast should it be?
How fast should my stock 77 be. It probably hasn't been tuned up in a long time and the carb looks like it needs to be rebuilt plus there are several other minor things that need attention on the engine. I had it to 110 mph but didn't hold it there long. Just curious what to expect for top speed. New cam and other parts on order :thumbs:
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,484
Likes: 0
From: Northampton Ma
Re: How fast should it be? (jetech)
I had my '77, which is slightly modified (see my sig) and has a 4 speed, up to 125 mph @ about 5000 rpm, I'm not sure on either one as I was watching the road and only glanced down quickly. My cam is good to 5800, so I probably could have hit 140 if I pushed it.
[Modified by Ryan77, 7:45 PM 12/28/2002]
[Modified by Ryan77, 7:45 PM 12/28/2002]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,456
Likes: 2
From: Coming home from Luckenbach Texas
Re: How fast should it be? (Ryan77)
Ummm....yeah. Your cam may be good for 5800, but is your engine? I don't see any engine mods listed in your profile. Achieving top speed is a great way to get a new engine sooner than you think! Can you say ZZ4? :D
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,286
Likes: 8
From: San Jose California
Re: How fast should it be? (jetech)
If your '77 is stock with 3.08 - 3.36 gears and is in perfect tune, probably 120-125mph actual. A 1976 L82 Vette with 3.36 hit 124.5mph in a top speed challenge in Car & Driver. The Trans Am with 455 and 3.23 gears hit 117.6. The Vette finished 1st, the 360 Dodge Dart finished second @ 121.8, and the TransAm 3rd. Yes, we have come a long way since then. I could probably have beaten all of them in my Honda Accord!
I once rode with a friend in his ~74 Firebird 400 at 140mph indicated. Assuming his tach was accurate and his speed close to actual at 60mph, his indicated rpm @ 140mph was less than double what it was at 60mph. In truth he was running closer to 110 actual. The 110mph was not much less than the highest published speed for his car.
Chuck
I once rode with a friend in his ~74 Firebird 400 at 140mph indicated. Assuming his tach was accurate and his speed close to actual at 60mph, his indicated rpm @ 140mph was less than double what it was at 60mph. In truth he was running closer to 110 actual. The 110mph was not much less than the highest published speed for his car.
Chuck
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,484
Likes: 0
From: Northampton Ma
Re: How fast should it be? (page62)
Ummm....yeah. Your cam may be good for 5800, but is your engine? I don't see any engine mods listed in your profile. Achieving top speed is a great way to get a new engine sooner than you think! Can you say ZZ4? :D
BKbroiler-- no I'm not running a few pressure regulator, it has a preset shutoff of 6.5-8 psi according to Holley.
[Modified by Ryan77, 3:11 PM 12/31/2002]
[Modified by Ryan77, 3:31 PM 12/31/2002]
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 767
Likes: 0
From: Naval Station Guantanamo Bay Cuba N/A
Re: How fast should it be? (jetech)
Had mine up to 125 and then i either run out of flat straight highway or i see other cars getting onto the freeway ahead and slow down. 125 is probably at or near my top end anyway. These cars are sexy as hell but their mediocre aerodynamics make them unstable at high speeds without body modifications so 125 is way way way way more then satisfying to me!