Why would Chevy do this?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 4,812
Likes: 1
From: New Albany IN
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'06-'08-'09
Why would Chevy do this?
I am a first-vette owner. I have an 88 coupe. As I researched more about the car, I found that it is rated at 240 HP. I know the car is lighter than most of it's competition, but why would they put such an underpowered combination in the Ultimate American Sports car? Don't get me wrong, I think it is still fast and I love my vette...but WHY????
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,072
Likes: 3
From: Walled Lake MI
Re: Why would Chevy do this? (Bruthish)
yes, but more importantly is the 350ft/lbs of torque :yesnod: , plus its not too hard to make lots of power from a small block chevy motor :cheers:
[Modified by Storz, 5:11 PM 12/25/2002]
[Modified by Storz, 5:11 PM 12/25/2002]
Racer
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 390
Likes: 0
From: St. Louis MO
Re: Why would Chevy do this? (Bruthish)
Congrats, I see you've uncovered the reason for the Vette sickness (almost addiction).....had Chevy pushed the engines to their natural horse power limits, we wouldn't have anything to do with our spare money and time!! Just think, now you can elxpore, research, purchase and upgrade your motor till your hearts content......what a fun game. And by the way, it's never "finished" - there's always one more mod.
Merry Christmas
:seeya
Merry Christmas
:seeya
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 6,473
Likes: 1
From: Cleveland
Cruise-In III Veteran
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Re: Why would Chevy do this? (Marty McFly)
Comparably, to cars of that time, it was at the head of the pack.
Kept up and beat Lambo's, ferraris, and porshes of its time(l98)
Kept up and beat Lambo's, ferraris, and porshes of its time(l98)
Pro
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 533
Likes: 0
From: Markham
Re: Why would Chevy do this? (Bruthish)
14 years ago it was fast! Only the GN/ TType/ TTA gave you a hard time back in 88. You have to do a few mods to keep up with the times. The Vettes are always worth it! Have fun. :cheers:
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,101
Likes: 0
From: Dewdney BC
Re: Why would Chevy do this? (TurboVette)
14 years ago it was fast! Only the GN/ TType/ TTA gave you a hard time back in 88. You have to do a few mods to keep up with the times. The Vettes are always worth it! Have fun. :cheers:
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 8,878
Likes: 2
From: Madison Mississippi
Re: Why would Chevy do this? (TurboVette)
14 years ago it was fast! Only the GN/ TType/ TTA gave you a hard time back in 88. You have to do a few mods to keep up with the times. The Vettes are always worth it! Have fun. :cheers:
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
Re: Why would Chevy do this? (Bruthish)
it was the times... emissions. CAFE requirements... limited technology.
remember, back in 1980, the best they could muster was, what? 180? 190?
and they were some of the fastest cars on the road.
I remember... back in the mid-80s I had a somewhat tuned Toyota Celica GT Coupe. Neat car. Big 2.4 litre I4. I had a cam, Weber, header, Ansa exhaust... and it would run with stock vettes of the late 70s, early 80s!!! Shoulda heard that thing... evil.
remember, back in 1980, the best they could muster was, what? 180? 190?
and they were some of the fastest cars on the road.
I remember... back in the mid-80s I had a somewhat tuned Toyota Celica GT Coupe. Neat car. Big 2.4 litre I4. I had a cam, Weber, header, Ansa exhaust... and it would run with stock vettes of the late 70s, early 80s!!! Shoulda heard that thing... evil.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 4,426
Likes: 0
From: Liberal KS
Re: Why would Chevy do this? (Bruthish)
Just like some people have mentioned before, 240 HP was a lot at that time. Now, with all the new technical advances engine builders are able to squeeze out more horses than before.
Just gives you a good incentive to do some mods, some more mods, and even more mods in the never-ending quest for more horsepower. Make sure that you have fun along the way! :crazy:
Just gives you a good incentive to do some mods, some more mods, and even more mods in the never-ending quest for more horsepower. Make sure that you have fun along the way! :crazy:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 2,784
Likes: 3
From: Atlanta GA
Re: Why would Chevy do this? (383 Stroker)
I find mine still beats some of the new sports cars of today... My car is 11 years old and has taken out a number of new "sports/performance" cars
-02 M3
-02 S2000
-01 GT mustang
-02 M- Roadster
These are just a few.... for 11 years... Ill take it
-02 M3
-02 S2000
-01 GT mustang
-02 M- Roadster
These are just a few.... for 11 years... Ill take it
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,362
Likes: 30
From: Oak Harbor WA
Re: Why would Chevy do this? (StealDads67)
Ask people to spend $30K on a car without a warranty or any reason to complain, do away with safety concerns, emissions controls and appeal to only one type of person and they could have done more at the time. But, those times are no different then these.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 3,054
Likes: 3
From: atlanta ga
Re: Why would Chevy do this? (Bruthish)
in 88 it was a gas mileage thing. that was alot of hp for the time. the 88 300zx had 160hp and the mustang gt had 205. the 240 in the vette was tuned down to meet govt regulations. its not hard to tune it the other way.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 4,691
Likes: 1
From: Framingham MA
Re: Why would Chevy do this? (stillthere)
in 88 it was a gas mileage thing. that was alot of hp for the time. the 88 300zx had 160hp and the mustang gt had 205. the 240 in the vette was tuned down to meet govt regulations. its not hard to tune it the other way.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 17,367
Likes: 1
From: Kentucky
Re: Why would Chevy do this? (dgoodhue)
Here is a guy talking about his 87 300 specs. 160HP/174TQ (beware. 1 pop up window)http://www.geocities.com/glennw89/300ZX/300zx.htm and here is a spec page for 90+ 300s NT 220HP/190TQ and TT 300HP/283TQhttp://www.fiendation.com/300zx/300zxfaq.htm
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
Re: Why would Chevy do this? (castivers)
The 160hp rating is for the normally aspirated version.
The Turbo's got 200... to quote that site:
[Modified by bogus, 1:38 PM 12/26/2002]
The Turbo's got 200... to quote that site:
All 300ZX models came with a glass t-roof and the 3.0 L engine, developing 160 hp in naturally aspirated form and 200 hp with a turbo.
[Modified by bogus, 1:38 PM 12/26/2002]
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,905
Likes: 1
From: 2003 Points Champ Great Lakes Corvette Challenge; 2006/2007 Winner MSD True Street
Re: Why would Chevy do this? (bogus)
Back to the 88.
You got a great car. Great color too! They didn't make too many that year in Midnight blue. I've got the same car/color/year. I am the original owner, took delivery in September '87. They are all right regarding the times back then.
That car beat many a sports car when new. Times changed and so have most C4's! I'm on my third motor! Gotta keep killin' those Vipers! Good luck! :cheers:
You got a great car. Great color too! They didn't make too many that year in Midnight blue. I've got the same car/color/year. I am the original owner, took delivery in September '87. They are all right regarding the times back then.
That car beat many a sports car when new. Times changed and so have most C4's! I'm on my third motor! Gotta keep killin' those Vipers! Good luck! :cheers: