Sledgehammer!
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 6,976
Likes: 527
From: Clouds Over California
Sledgehammer!
So why was the Twin Turbo Callaway "Sledgehammer" able to get to a top speed of almost 255mph....and no C5 or C6 Force Inducted vehicles can?
Was/is the C4 more aerodynamic. Something should account for this car being able to get that speed with a SBC and TTs. Just curious if anybody knows.
Was/is the C4 more aerodynamic. Something should account for this car being able to get that speed with a SBC and TTs. Just curious if anybody knows.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,005
Likes: 90
From: FT. LAUDERDALE FL
i dont know for sure but maybe the zf 6spd is geared different then our c5z, i think our top speed is in 5th gear and i think its like .7 which is very close to our 4th gear maybe the zf is more like .6 or something i am sure someone will post the exact ratios after i put this up, also i think the sledghammer top speed was at the salt flats and they took as long as they want, maybe nobody has done that with the c5 z i maybe way off here but its a thought,
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,922
Likes: 0
sledgehammer
their record run was at the ohio test facility....the motor was a one off race piece which had 500 large invested in it....with the aerodynamics and the motor...John Lingenfelter I think helped with the build....
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 431
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From: Browns Mills NJ
John Lingenfelter built the engine for the Sledghammer and actually drove the car to the 254mph top speed at the Transportation Research and Development Center in Ohio. Rumor is Reeves Callaway was running the car but backed out at around 230mph. John knew the car had more into it so he jumped in and ran it himself. The rest is history.
I don't think anyone has really tried to break the record with a C5 or C6. If LPE's new C6 Z06 can do 226mph in a standing mile, I'm sure it can break 255mph around a test track. Now you just have to convince them to go after the record!
Jersey
I don't think anyone has really tried to break the record with a C5 or C6. If LPE's new C6 Z06 can do 226mph in a standing mile, I'm sure it can break 255mph around a test track. Now you just have to convince them to go after the record!
Jersey
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 2,793
Likes: 46
From: Elizabeth City, NC
I once read a quote from John Lingenfelter himself that said even though the C5 has less of a coefficient of drag than the C4 the C4 was much more stable above 200 than the C5. He would know more than most of us since I am sure he drove both models in excess of 200mph more than a few times. That may have something to do with it as well..
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 6,976
Likes: 527
From: Clouds Over California
I once read a quote from John Lingenfelter himself that said even though the C5 has less of a coefficient of drag than the C4 the C4 was much more stable above 200 than the C5. He would know more than most of us since I am sure he drove both models in excess of 200mph more than a few times. That may have something to do with it as well..
Thats what I remembered hearing too. Didn't the Sledgehammer utilize a auto 700R4 tranny? That could have been the other BK2 designations. The BK2 was said to use the Truck Block because it had a 4 bolt main....understandable I have first hand experience breaking (2) 2 bolt main blocks in my old 87 IROC (when I used to frequent the strip).
It was said to have dyno'd at 880hp as well...didn't say whether it was wheels or brake hp. It seems either or hp rating it was fast as hell.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,521
Likes: 146
From: Watertown CT
Thats what I remembered hearing too. Didn't the Sledgehammer utilize a auto 700R4 tranny? That could have been the other BK2 designations. The BK2 was said to use the Truck Block because it had a 4 bolt main....understandable I have first hand experience breaking (2) 2 bolt main blocks in my old 87 IROC (when I used to frequent the strip).
It was said to have dyno'd at 880hp as well...didn't say whether it was wheels or brake hp. It seems either or hp rating it was fast as hell.
It was said to have dyno'd at 880hp as well...didn't say whether it was wheels or brake hp. It seems either or hp rating it was fast as hell.
I'm sure the first 200 runs off pretty quick, but that next 65 must take a while! A lot of time for things to go hay wire, and if things were to start unraveling, it would happen very quickly!!!200 will be coming shortly for me, video to follow! Gotta love the G-Force gearing!!
Dan
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 8,840
Likes: 43
From: State of Confusion.
Whether it's RWHP or BHP, 880 is ALOT of power!
Either way, there are cars on this forum that put out that power (you're one of them Kevin), but if you look at the SledgeHammer, it was built for high speed charges like that! Just look at all of the ducts on the car! as the car goes faster, the more that aerodynamics plays a roll. A car can get to 200 mph, pretty painlessly, but every MPH after that comes MUCH harder because the air is pushing back then!
Just check it out and look at all of the ducting:
SledgeHammer pictures........................
Either way, there are cars on this forum that put out that power (you're one of them Kevin), but if you look at the SledgeHammer, it was built for high speed charges like that! Just look at all of the ducts on the car! as the car goes faster, the more that aerodynamics plays a roll. A car can get to 200 mph, pretty painlessly, but every MPH after that comes MUCH harder because the air is pushing back then!
Just check it out and look at all of the ducting:
SledgeHammer pictures........................
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 2,793
Likes: 46
From: Elizabeth City, NC
I am pretty sure the blocks had splayed mains or at least billet caps. Can't remember for sure anymore. They had other improved internals, but heads and intake were stock items (on the regular B2K's)
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,016
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St. Jude Donor '10
I assume youre talking about him driving the car.
FWIW...LPE built some R&D motors for the project but a Callaway built motor made the run and resides in the car today.
Its absolutely ridiculous the number of uninformed fans that credit him with the car's performance...yet for some reason its called the CALLAWAY Sledgehammer.
This same topic is alive in C4 right now.
Even if it was an LPE short block in the car(which its not) really how much of a difference would that make? The engineering of the project was done by Callaway, the build of the car was done by Callaway...John Lingenfelter drove it to its top speed.
Give credit where its due.
FWIW...LPE built some R&D motors for the project but a Callaway built motor made the run and resides in the car today.
Its absolutely ridiculous the number of uninformed fans that credit him with the car's performance...yet for some reason its called the CALLAWAY Sledgehammer.
This same topic is alive in C4 right now.Even if it was an LPE short block in the car(which its not) really how much of a difference would that make? The engineering of the project was done by Callaway, the build of the car was done by Callaway...John Lingenfelter drove it to its top speed.
Give credit where its due.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,016
Likes: 634
St. Jude Donor '10
Thats what I remembered hearing too. Didn't the Sledgehammer utilize a auto 700R4 tranny? That could have been the other BK2 designations. The BK2 was said to use the Truck Block because it had a 4 bolt main....understandable I have first hand experience breaking (2) 2 bolt main blocks in my old 87 IROC (when I used to frequent the strip).
It was said to have dyno'd at 880hp as well...didn't say whether it was wheels or brake hp. It seems either or hp rating it was fast as hell.
It was said to have dyno'd at 880hp as well...didn't say whether it was wheels or brake hp. It seems either or hp rating it was fast as hell.
The first 4 87's came with a truck block but the rest of the cars had a motor built by Callaway with splayed 4bolt mains and forged internals.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,016
Likes: 634
St. Jude Donor '10
Just to correct the "rumor".... Reeves flew to England during testing after bad weather forecasts and a couple of problems with the car. He'd caught a nasty cold when he returned and thats when JL picked up the driving chores.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 6,976
Likes: 527
From: Clouds Over California
Whether it's RWHP or BHP, 880 is ALOT of power!
Either way, there are cars on this forum that put out that power (you're one of them Kevin), but if you look at the SledgeHammer, it was built for high speed charges like that! Just look at all of the ducts on the car! as the car goes faster, the more that aerodynamics plays a roll. A car can get to 200 mph, pretty painlessly, but every MPH after that comes MUCH harder because the air is pushing back then!
Just check it out and look at all of the ducting:
SledgeHammer pictures........................
Either way, there are cars on this forum that put out that power (you're one of them Kevin), but if you look at the SledgeHammer, it was built for high speed charges like that! Just look at all of the ducts on the car! as the car goes faster, the more that aerodynamics plays a roll. A car can get to 200 mph, pretty painlessly, but every MPH after that comes MUCH harder because the air is pushing back then!
Just check it out and look at all of the ducting:
SledgeHammer pictures........................
The regular B2K cars with the auto option (very few of them) had a turbo 400 with a gear vendors type of OD unit on them. It was not an actual Gear Vendors unit, but something just like it from another manufacturer.
I am pretty sure the blocks had splayed mains or at least billet caps. Can't remember for sure anymore. They had other improved internals, but heads and intake were stock items (on the regular B2K's)
I am pretty sure the blocks had splayed mains or at least billet caps. Can't remember for sure anymore. They had other improved internals, but heads and intake were stock items (on the regular B2K's)
The car used a Doug Nash 5 speed. The B2k w/ autos were 400 turbo's with a Gear Vendors/Laycock OD unit mounted on the back of the tranny.
The first 4 87's came with a truck block but the rest of the cars had a motor built by Callaway with splayed 4bolt mains and forged internals.
The first 4 87's came with a truck block but the rest of the cars had a motor built by Callaway with splayed 4bolt mains and forged internals.
Has to be the most expensive mod I have seen to date...only other Vette that would bring more money is a ZL1 or OG Grand Sport (I think)...Corvette Indy must be in there somewhere as well....but this appears to be the most expensive Forced Inducted Vette that I have seen.....and its only a litte 350cid.
Last edited by Shinobi'sZ; Sep 21, 2007 at 12:31 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,016
Likes: 634
St. Jude Donor '10
Thanks for the extra pics...they don't show many in Vette Magazine of it. It makes me wonder where all of that air is going there is no venting on top of the hood to create down force like you see a lot today...just vents in the front.
Good info
Has to be the most expensive mod I have seen to date...only other Vette that would bring more money is a ZL1 or OG Grand Sport (I think)...Corvette Indy must be in there somewhere as well....but this appears to be the most expensive Forced Inducted Vette that I have seen.....and its only a litte 350cid.
Good info
Has to be the most expensive mod I have seen to date...only other Vette that would bring more money is a ZL1 or OG Grand Sport (I think)...Corvette Indy must be in there somewhere as well....but this appears to be the most expensive Forced Inducted Vette that I have seen.....and its only a litte 350cid.
There are a bunch of pictures here.....
http://www.callawayownersgroup.com/C...ember/cotm.htm
Lots of under hood and under car shots.
Last edited by SurfnSun; Sep 21, 2007 at 08:57 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,921
Likes: 1
From: Minburn Ia
Sadly, a new big dog has recently claimed the record.
Link: www.auto-focus.us/autoblog/?p=122
Stats: 1/4 mile in 9-10 second range, traps 180, 0-60 in 2.7 secs ... all from a 6.3 L / V8 with twins [perhaps the 5 generation vette motor thats going into the Blue Devil car ?? ].
Link: www.auto-focus.us/autoblog/?p=122
Stats: 1/4 mile in 9-10 second range, traps 180, 0-60 in 2.7 secs ... all from a 6.3 L / V8 with twins [perhaps the 5 generation vette motor thats going into the Blue Devil car ?? ].