Ok, for those of us that have the typical affordable C3 - 1972 on, which produces no power, it seems we all turn our attention to the engine sooner or later.

We buy cams, heads, etc and set about creating an engine that won't be embarassed by a VW Golf with a HT lead missing.

So, short of spending mega bucks on a mega crate engine, where exactly are we heading............
350bhp......or 400bhp..........or even more.

What makes people happy with the performance level, and what should we expect in a 0-60 time for the above figures with a stock / typical drivetrain - my guess is 5 to 6 seconds - mainly due to the weight of our chariots.

Anybody figure how much HP would be needed to frighten a Z06 - which I guess is MUCH lighter.........

 

To frighten a Z06 you should have 500-600HP.
Good Luck

 

500 to 600 BHp - ouch !!!!!!!!

 

Yeah, about 500 hp would keep y'all eyeballin' each other's fenders. That assumes you have the other attributes of the Z06 such as the tires, gearing, and weight distribution. Of course, you'll need to bring a lot more if your intention is to scare them.

 

Well, I can use my car as an example, although I know for a fact it's a long long way from the top of its class as far as small blocks go.
It started out as a stock 1980 L48 - apparently 190bhp net. I understand these were tested at around 7.9 to 8 secs 0-60 in their day. Nothing spectacular by modern standards.
The engine has now been treated to a cam of fairly warm duration (nothing special, 290 degrees adv. duration, 218 degrees at 0.050 lift) an edelbrock performer intake and edelbrock carb, a set of headers and true dual exhaust minus the cat. All the AIR stuff has been removed, although the effects of that on performance are minimal I guess.

All in all nothing too radical apart from some better bolt-on parts. No major internal work.
I've timed it at 6.3s 0-60 on several occasions, with a decent Race Technology meter. When I bought the car the previous owner reckoned that little lot of mods was equivalent to 350 bhp - I'm skeptical about that figure, but having never had it dyno'ed I guess it must be somewhere in the mid to late 200's at the flywheel, and perhaps low to mid 200's at the wheels.

You did say "stock drivetrain" and I have to admit the shift kit in the auto box must be worth a few 10ths 0-60, as it shifts bloody sharply now. Basically what I'm getting at is that you don't seem to need to spend megabucks to achieve what you might call a "quick" later model vette. I'm not saying it's neck snapping, but 6 seconds is quick enough to make your passenger sit back

To get into the fives, based only on what I've seen with my vette, you're going to need quite a big jump in power. I bet there's loads of people out there with vettes, that they could quote figures for, but I'd reckon on 400 horses or more. Then you're into the realms of better heads etc and more cash injections!

If you have an 81/2 then swapping out the diff for one with shorter legs (3.55 maybe) is a good way to build acceleration, as long as you don't mind your teeth rattling on the motorway!

 

Makes you wonder if the real way to go is bite the bullet and pay for a turbo / twin turbo set up

 

A free flowing exhaust with good heads providing more compression, a distributor recurve and a mild performance cam. That is all you need if the rest is in servicable condition. With that you have respectable performance but not a dragstrip king. After that it gets more difficult.

I think one of the best mods for these late C3's is the 383 stroker crank in addition to the above. That will put a smile on your face that will last a long time. That is as far as I would go with a C3.

-Mark.

 

To out dual a ZO6 you will have to have enough power to run a 12.5 and 115 mph to blow there doors off.

 

I think 400 hp should be a min HP for any C-3
500 would be ideal

 

Er, you better be running faster than that to be a serious contender to any well-driven Z06. They're capable of low 12s in good conditions with a skilled driver, and can even hit a high 11 in a near-perfect situation (very rare, obviously). To "blow their doors off" you better be running at least high 11s...

 

Since my lovely wife drives an 02 Z06, I think I am qualified to answer the question. 371 RWHP is about enough (funny, thats what my 72 LT-1 makes!) The BIG problem with the 73 and later sharks is the weight factor of your 5MPH bumpers and bracing, I would work on eliminating the heavy bracketry and shoot for getting the car down to 3400Lbs or less (my 72 LT-1 weighs 3196Lbs with the T-tops and rear window off so I am closer to the Z06's 3050Lbs and my 98" wheelbase helps me in tight corners at the autocross races.) The Z06 is an AMAZING car and I'll never get 28+MPG@75MPH with the A.C. on like it does but, I get more comments at the gas staion in my 72 and it's fun to set off car alarms with my LT-1.