Estimate top speed
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 14,136
Likes: 2,983
From: Iowa
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Estimate top speed
First off, I've done a search on "top speed C5" and there are allot of threads but none of them answers my question.
If I remember correctly, top speed for my stock 6-speed 02 is 174 mph. That's with 350 HP and in 5th gear.
Well, I'm looking at mods that will push me to over 900 HP. I'm guessing I'll be able to use 6th gear and get a much higher speed. I do not plan on driving it to that speed, I'm just curious. The car's rear is 3:42
Is there a formula to plug in numbers that will estimate top speed? If not, what do you think top speed will be?
Thanks in advance
If I remember correctly, top speed for my stock 6-speed 02 is 174 mph. That's with 350 HP and in 5th gear.
Well, I'm looking at mods that will push me to over 900 HP. I'm guessing I'll be able to use 6th gear and get a much higher speed. I do not plan on driving it to that speed, I'm just curious. The car's rear is 3:42
Is there a formula to plug in numbers that will estimate top speed? If not, what do you think top speed will be?
Thanks in advance
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 14,561
Likes: 39
From: Prescott Arizona
Wallace Racing site has some calculators that may help you out.
http://www.wallaceracing.com/Calculators.htm
http://www.wallaceracing.com/Calculators.htm
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Racer
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 445
Likes: 4
From: San Diego CA
the math is only simple if you dismiss certain very important factors like drag, frontal cross section, downforce/lift, torque at certain rpm's, etc .... very few calculators will take this into account, otherwise you could theoretically do something like 400mph due to 6th gear being so long.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,962
Likes: 254
From: Richmond, Ky
the math is only simple if you dismiss certain very important factors like drag, frontal cross section, downforce/lift, torque at certain rpm's, etc .... very few calculators will take this into account, otherwise you could theoretically do something like 400mph due to 6th gear being so long.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 14,136
Likes: 2,983
From: Iowa
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Yes, coupe.
Yep, "Y" rated.
While still stock (except for K&N air filter, Magnaflow x-pipe, and BB Bullet exhaust) I've had her to 163 mph in 5th gear. She was still pulling strong but I chickened out due to the road inperfections (closed road). I can't remember what the revs were though.
Exactly my point, top speed can only be determined by driving the vehicle to it's limits.
I'm not willing to try that unless someday I go to the salt flats or something like that.
I'm guessing since the ZR1 can do 200 plus with 638 HP I should be able to do the same with 900 HP on tap.
Not sure the CD of the ZR1 or gearing though. I'm off to research that 
Pro
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 661
Likes: 2
From: Ca.
Almost any event that lets you go at full speed requires at a minimum five point seat belts, ala Mojave Mile. Most require a loop or full cage over 180 mph, along with all the other safety requirements. Since I do not plan on installing a cage or a five point harness, I probably will not find out. ZR1 has 638 flywheel hp and claims to do around 205 top speed. I would think that with around 600 flywheel hp in a coupe, you might see 200 mph. For an automatic figure about 20% loss from flywheel to rwhp. On a manual figure 15% loss.
In our case we have 515.76 rwhp plus 15% would equal 606 flywheel hp.
That might get me to 200 mph, but sadly I will probably never know. Others might have installed the required safety equipment and can tell us what they have done.
In our case we have 515.76 rwhp plus 15% would equal 606 flywheel hp.
That might get me to 200 mph, but sadly I will probably never know. Others might have installed the required safety equipment and can tell us what they have done.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 14,136
Likes: 2,983
From: Iowa
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,343
Likes: 9
From: Lexington Park MD
Yes, coupe.
Yep, "Y" rated.
While still stock (except for K&N air filter, Magnaflow x-pipe, and BB Bullet exhaust) I've had her to 163 mph in 5th gear. She was still pulling strong but I chickened out due to the road inperfections (closed road). I can't remember what the revs were though.
I'm not willing to try that unless someday I go to the salt flats or something like that.
I'm guessing since the ZR1 can do 200 plus with 638 HP I should be able to do the same with 900 HP on tap.
Not sure the CD of the ZR1 or gearing though. I'm off to research that 
was passed by another C5 With a 427 @ 196 