I am learning a whole lot more about my cars thanks to all of you that have "been there-done that". really appreciate All of your opinions.

I am researching the referenced web sites even as we speak.

Yall have a wonderful Labor Day and lets all enjoy our Pride and Joys as well!

Thanks

ThumperZ06

 

Just as a "historical note", in my usual long and detailed "old fart style".
Long-time and astute readers will recognize the dyno no's from a previous L88/ZL1 thread.
Way down below is a tenuous connection to gasoline "properties".

When at the GMPG in Milford, I got the "fun" of being in charge of "assembling" two "rollover test"
tow cars used to pull test cars up to speed for a "ramp rollover".
With dummies, instrumentation, cameras, etc.

I got the job because I was most obvious "car nut" in a group of four crash test engineers.
Apparently, the big boss thought I "had knowledge".

For the first car I got our Chev. Engr. "CrashTest Rep" to have Chev Engr. "blue-print" an L88 which engine dyno'd at 543 h.p.
The second had a Towanda assembly plant L88 which engine dyno'd 473 h.p. Didn't really need all that extra H.P.
( I think those were the "hp's" from the provided dyno sheets. That was in 1966 & 1967 ).

I used full-size 4-door Chev Impalas, since three people were needed "on-board" to drive and run test equipment.
And, with drag slicks so there was NO tire spin, geared to achieve 62 mph in the Turbo-Hydro 400 low gear
so a shift from 0 mph start to the test speed of 60 mph was not required.

I did the "ignition advance curves" on a distributor machine myself with springs and weights.
It's nice to have "friends" in the engine development departments.
I then "tuned" both engines on "simulated test runs" for max. intial advance without detonation.

I set the car up with equal length headers, opened at the exhaust collectors, and took off the factory exhaust system.
We got more than a few "complaints" about driving to and from "set-up" testing with a "bit of excessive noise".
After "people" figured out which test group building the car came from.
Was I having fun. Definately YES. I got PAID to do this.

The "very nice" '66 got stolen from inside the P.G. The '67 was it's replacement.
No, I did NOT steal the "very nice" engine. The car remains were found burning a few miles away.
The '67 replacement was setup the same way, but I had the collectors mated to the factory exhaust,
to keep the "suits" in the various office buildings happy.
The extra H.P. was not needed to achieve "test speeds".

The fuel was from the "special" gas station by the Rochester Products Bldg. below the "16 % hill".

As best I remember, it was called "Endoline 130", the highest octane available on the Proving Grounds.
( no, the "130" did NOT mean 130 octane, either Motor or Research ).
Maybe green in color ? Or, blue ?
Nah, I never spilled any.

Did any "130" EVER end up in my '66 GTO B/Pure Stocker on "Any Sunday" ?
NAH !
OK, my memory is a "bit hazy". But, I don't remember ANY fuel-ups !

Did Rochester Products help "blue-print" and flow-match my GTO Tri-Power ?
Would those have been three Rochester two-barrels ?
OK, my memory is a "bit hazy". But, I don't remember ANY help !

Uh, any "help" should be dead by now. Thanks for the memories.

Damn, that first blue-printed L88 Impala could "Top-End MPH" in the 1/4 mile.
E.T. sucked with the gearing, though.
The car could easily run 150 mph on the circle track. Fun.

The "big boss" asked for a "trial run" one time on the Military straightaway.
I scared the sh_t out of him, and he made me lock out third gear afterwards.
127 mph in the quarter.

Before all you'all "bitch" about that matching current C6 Z06 stuff MPH,
the car was a shell TOTALLY STRIPPED of weight, and totally illegal for ANYTHING.
Except fun on company time.
But, hell to drive if you had a hangover.

 

Retired GM engineer

Thanks for the trip back in the day. Some guys and to be politically correct, gals just get to be in fun jobs and get to do things that lots of us just dream about doing or being able to do.
Like yourself I had the Tri Powered goats an still do and I used every trick that was thought to have some benefit.. Back then there was gases that did provide the edge. short of adding alcohol it worked better!
Now with the Z06 Vettes pushing some awesome horse power still makes one look for more ways or edges to be competitive to stay on top.. As my dear Dad always told me no matter how good or fast you are there is always somebody just as good and faster! the trick is to stay on top of your game.

Thanks for the advice as well

ThumperZ06

 

Well, I went off to crew on Greenwood's ZL1 Vette "American Flag" road racers for a while.

And, then 23 years of motocross racing before the final two years of "nasty orthopedic event" recoveries, in 1994 and '95.
MX is A LOT cheaper in vehicle preparation time and money. But, not in human body preparation and race day effort.

What I learned was,
It's not the "size" or "goodness" of your particular "pond".
It's whether you are racing the other frogs for top spot in your pond that's the real fun.

And the corollary to avoid a swelled head with "pond success":
There is ALWAYS a bigger and better pond.

ALWAYS, without EXCEPTION.
It's one of the "laws" of the universe.
Unless you are one of the rare and chosen few in the ACTUAL world-class pond of "your deal".