I read a thread a week or two back about some members discussing what it takes to go 200 mph in a C4. I don't know the answer to that, but I have a good point of reference in the below.

This is all from an article in the May 1999 Hot Rod Magazine and the testing was done on the Bridgestone proving grounds outside of Fort Stockton, Texas. This was an article on 6 cars that were either at 200 mph top speed on this course or close to 200 mph. 3 of these cars were C4's and 2 of them were the well known racecars of Rick Doria & Derek Eastty. But, those two cars are purpose built racecars for top speed events such as this one. (They had top speeds of 223 mph for Doria with a 700 HP 427 & 214 mph for Eastty with a 670 HP 358 motor)

The 3rd C4 was the most interesting as when compared to your average corvette owner. It was an 87 owned by Steve & Claudia Corzonkoff and was a true street car that was driven to and from the events. (All they did was tape the gaps and then race..... literally)

There car was a 396 (4.03 x 3.875) with an 58 mm TB, Superram, Trick flow heads with a little chamber massaging, TPIS ZZ9 cam, that they state the specs as .485 lift and 211/227 @ 050" 112 lsa, Hooker Super comps 1 3/4" headers through two chamber flowmasters, 3" pipe with a 3.5" Y pipe. The motor dynoed at 359 rwhp at what they say is 4700 rpm, but I suspect that was a typo and probably 5700 rpm, and 450 ftlbs @ 3500 rpm. They ran a stock GM 4+3 manual transmissioni with .60 OD and a RAM 10.4" clutch. Coilover suspension by Exotic muscle, Delco-Bilstein shcok and sat on stock early C4 16 x 8 rims.

The C4 reached a 188 mph top speed and averaged over 160 on the 7.7mile course.

With that known and knowing this type of set-up, this car undoubtly had right around 425-440 HP flywheel HP and reached 188 mph..... with that known, I would think 190 mph with a 500 HP motor would be easy and perhaps up around 195..... and 200 perhaps could be achieved with 550-600..... I dunno, just guessing. But, the above is certainly a good point of reference.

Thought I would share.....

 

I believe 550hp and several miles of straight away road is the magic combo. It won't make 200 in a hurry but I think it will get there. I know a few guys who have either hit the 200mph(with 550hp) or completely obliterated it(700hp).

 

At the Texas Mile this past year it took a twin turbo 1100hp corvette to reach 200mph(in a standing mile)

 

Thats in a mile. 550+ horsepower and sevral miles of straight course and it is achieveable. Carl Johansson on this forum knows for sure.

 

This car's set records at Bonneville

http://www.vette.org/VS.htm

 

This is forum member Sonnys car running 0-197mph at the Maxton mile. Not sure of all the engine specs. I think it's a 409ci LT4 on spray.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_0xDygXowg

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/325169

 

I remember reading about Callaway taking a Super Natural speedster over 200. In the end he had the power but they found that air flow over the wheel openings was slowing them to about 195. He literally took duct tape to the leading edges to round them out, blocked off some vents and got to around 205 for their final run...ever since then i have heard it called 200mph tape. I think this really shows that the 200mph barrier is about many issues and not just HP. But then again i am nuts.

 

Thanks for that. 190 plus won't be an issue for me with the 3.07's. Good info Todd.

 

My .02
I think if a street car is gonna try it, a little air management like the Callaway tape trick might be needed.

 

Duct tape A.K.A 200 mph tape.

 

Yeah, I think the "200 mph tape" is standard issue for high speed racing.... I know the 188 mph corvette above, that was the only thing it did after driving there.

 

My money is on the 550 mark.

 

Good info Thanks

 

sounds like you are recalling the sledgehammer video?

 

Hey guys,

A friend of mine achieved 213 in 1988 at th Nevada Silver State Challenge.
it was the same car Derek Easty did it in at Ft. Stockton long before he drove it. It was an 84' with a 550 bhp small block 355, I helped test in set
it up for Neveda challenge where it avg. 178 mph for 93 miles, that was with one stop for an accident that lowered avg speed. I have a video somewhere of that car from a helecopter doing 200 mph plus. I will try & find it to post. So I agree 550 hp is the majic number.

Waveman22

 

Back in the early 90's both Lingenfelter and Callaway had tuned ZR-1s that hit speeds in the low 190's. HP in these cars were the 455-475 range although that could have been somewhat conservative.

Even a stock ZR-1 was capable of 175+ and a stock motored ZR-1 (no cats or mufflers) with the motor taken right from the Mercury Marine assembly line still holds speed records for 5000 miles (173.91), 5000 kilometers (175.710) and 24 hours (175.885). On the 5000 mile run, after the car finished, the factory throttle stop was unscrewed and the car went back out for 2 laps (total of 15 miles) and ran 190+.
http://www.zr1netregistry.com/endurance_epic.htm

One of the biggest problems in going 200 in a C4 would be aerodynamics in overcoming drag. I would think that with the proper body shape like air dams, removed mirror housings and skirts that would help airflow, 200 may be possible with under 500HP.

 

I read an article where Mario Andretti was driving a C5 (217ish) and a
C4 (212ish?) modified for over 200MPH, and he made a comment the C4 was much more stable over 200mph than the C5. I remember also a old Road and Track video where DRM ZR1 was very stable at top speed with Phil Hill driving. I think C4 aero dynamics are under rated when people of these caliber speak of there stability at speed.

 

I want to contact derek eastty but I can’t get inhold of him I think I have his c4 corvette