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What does it take to make our L98 go 175mph?

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Old 05-04-2003, 12:53 PM
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Car: Black '91 Z28
Engine: Bone Stock L98
Transmission: Auto
What does it take to make our L98 go 175mph?

I realize the stock tpi isn't going to cut it, and the stock suspension and tires probably wouldn't like it either, gears also being another concern. Wouldn't be too sure of that 700r4 either. But I drive my car on the highway a lot, and I personally think highway racing is a lot more fun then regular stoplight racing. Right now stock the car doesn't really like going past 130mph, and when you are next to a C5 or a Porsche on the highway that just doesn't cut it.

Is there anyone elso out there that would rather be on the highway then stoplight to stoplight racing. Some prime examples of what I'd rather be doing is Gumball 3000 or something like the Getaway in Stockholm videos.

But what would be the essentials of building a car that can go 175mph+ and remain at that speed safely for an extended amount of time, and not have any trouble getting up there either?

Dave
Old 05-04-2003, 01:20 PM
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From an old Car Craft article (I think it was Car Craft) some guy set up his thirdgen to run ***** out and was able to hit 200mph. He used a 345 hp crate engine, lowered the car, blocked off the headlights, and added an extension to the front facia to help keep the air from going under the car. I am sure that he used something like 3.08 gears or something.

Eric
Old 05-04-2003, 02:02 PM
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Old 05-04-2003, 02:11 PM
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345 Hp and 200 mph? I think it would take a little bit more hp than that, but kudos to GM regardless. They made a nice aerodynamic car.
Old 05-04-2003, 02:14 PM
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Well I'm just the kind of person who doesn't see why you shouldn't push your car if that's what it was made for. If you have a Porsche and it can go 175mph why the hell not do it if the road is good and there isn't anyone else around. And that is exactly what I want for my car to do and I'm not worried about cost... because in the end it will still be cheaper the buying a Porsche, and It is something that wouldn't be expected from a thirdgen f-body. If it can be made to do it, well then I'm going to do it. I like the way my car looks... that is one of the main reasons i bought it. Now it's just time to make it handle and run with the big boys.

Dave
Old 05-04-2003, 02:32 PM
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for starters a roll cage. second at least 500 flywheel horse. third a 6 speed, they're great. a lower numerically gear. 3.08 or 2.73 should be good. tons of torque to go with the horse. drop the car to the ground, and do like an F-1 car. Smooth out the bottom end of the car, get into a windtunnel and get the lowest coefficient of drag you can. headlight covers are esential. from there make sure you have a quality z-rated tire and some good downforce for the rearend. And run 17's or 18's for the stability they offer. and make sure they're kinda wide, at least 9". That should b good for at least 175mph maybe more. Fun stuff, top speed runs are, just don't get caught.

Chris
Old 05-04-2003, 04:52 PM
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I would say from looking at the aerodynamic numbers and some equations, you need somewhere in the neighborhood of 350-400 HP at the flywheel to get a top speed of 175 mph. At that point it will start to require a large HP increase for a little top speed increase. Also gearing is important to have your peak power near your top speed. Other than that, have good high speed tires, good steering, properly working brakes (sucks when your car darts to the side like mine ), and stiff suspension.

Our cars are stable at high speed, mine keeps planted past 130 mph. Maybe add a few little things to improve if you want. Roll cage is optional, its your own life you decide. These cars can do it, no doubt about that.
Old 05-04-2003, 06:09 PM
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Roll cage, subframe connectors, strong sway bars, strut tower brace, LCAs, relocation kit, panhard, LOW springs, sticky, wide tires, 17+ wheels, splitter for the front, undercar aerodynamics, rear wing, headlight covers like black outs, tight front end, and lots of positive caster.

BTW about 450 hp and tq should cover the power needs very well, high rear gears, and overdrive tranny...

And a good seat belt!!!
Old 05-04-2003, 07:26 PM
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Car: 86 Trans Am, 88 Formula
Engine: 95LT4, 305TPI
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Lowering the car is good too.
I am building my car for top speed runs as well.

I would recommend upgrading your brakes too.
Old 05-04-2003, 07:37 PM
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Originally posted by Zepher
I would recommend upgrading your brakes too.

Yeah, good call. Also some bilsteins or good dampers are in order as well.
Old 05-04-2003, 07:43 PM
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Car: 86 Trans Am, 88 Formula
Engine: 95LT4, 305TPI
Transmission: T56, T5
I was driving my friends 99 SS last night to show my friend Julian (who now has an LT1 in his 82 T/A) how quick a 380rwhp 6 speed Camaro is.
I took it up to about 5K in 5th gear, just at 130mph. It got there really fast. It took quite awhile to get back down to 70mph, even with the nice LS1 brakes.
Old 05-04-2003, 08:38 PM
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Originally posted by 92 zzz28

And a good seat belt!!!
I don't believe a seat belt would matter much in a wreck @ 175MPH!! LoL.....

To do 175 MPH in a relatively stock third gen ON PUBLIC roads requires at least one of two things:


A) Being the stupidest person I've ever heard of...
or
B) Having the biggest set of ***** I've ever heard of...

I'm still unsure of the latter.
Old 05-04-2003, 08:38 PM
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I think 3rd gen stock brakes suck. Actually, I think most GM cars' stock brakes suck.
Old 05-04-2003, 08:40 PM
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Originally posted by ROC-Z
I don't believe a seat belt would matter much in a wreck @ 175MPH!! LoL.....

To do 175 MPH in a relatively stock third gen ON PUBLIC roads requires at least one of two things:


A) Being the stupidest person I've ever heard of...
or
B) Having the biggest set of ***** I've ever heard of...

I'm still unsure of the latter.
Yeah, or just being a crazy *** ****** f***er.
Old 05-05-2003, 09:31 AM
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Car: Faster
Engine: Than
Transmission: You!
Build a motor like mine, do the six-speed swap, and be broke like me and have to still keep the 3.23 rear! You'll have top speed like a mother******. I raced a C5 on the beltway, we stopped when we got to ~160 (according to him) (I have no speedo working yet and my speedo only goes to 145 anyways). I still had more to go in 5th and all of 6th to go! The car felt like it was going to fall apart!

My car should do everybit of 180-190, but I would need sub-frame connectors, LCA's, lowering springs, new struts, shocks, adj. pan-hard bar, adj, torque arm, and then we would have to look at some better brakes. A strut tower brace would help (I already have one of those though).

The 200mph white 1991 camaro that was mentioned in the posts above was featured front cover of popular hot-rodding and is available in back issue.

I really dont care for top speed. 150 is plenty fast enough. I just want to be able to get to 150mph in a 1/4 of a mile!

:lala:
Old 05-05-2003, 10:47 AM
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Good Quote ROC

Originally posted by ROC-Z
I don't believe a seat belt would matter much in a wreck @ 175MPH!! LoL.....

To do 175 MPH in a relatively stock third gen ON PUBLIC roads requires at least one of two things:


A) Being the stupidest person I've ever heard of...
or
B) Having the biggest set of ***** I've ever heard of...

I'm still unsure of the latter.
I was thinking the same thing, its insane to think you can race at those speeds without traffic. I doesnt take long to see trafic when your moving 150 plus.

still its your life, just dont take anyone with you
Old 05-05-2003, 01:04 PM
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Originally posted by DJP87Z28
A used NASA Rocket Motor and a paid up Life Insurance Policy with a NO Suicide clause in it.
And me listed as the only beneficiary...
Old 05-05-2003, 05:13 PM
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Car: 1989 Iroc z hardtop
Engine: peanut LB9
Transmission: slopomatic TH700R4
if it was me who would plan on doing this i would do sumthing like this
-Fully Balanced Assembly
-afr 230's
-holley stealth ram
-#30lb injectors+58mm tb
-3000stall
-3.08 gears
-new swaybars
-2" drop
-new struts and shocks
-front and rear brake upgrades
-tq arm,pan hard rod
-sfc's/stb/lca's/
roll cage

Last edited by wyclefsirocz; 05-05-2003 at 08:11 PM.
Old 05-05-2003, 11:05 PM
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read about ya in the silly papers =)

for real its all you man but be carefull and dont take noone with you..


ive done 140 a few times on the ohio turnpike...but theres a big difference between 140 and 180
Old 05-05-2003, 11:16 PM
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Wow guys, you're concerning me with trying this in a thirdgen.

I have one top speed run under my belt and I would never do it again. It was in my '99 C5 vette when I was 23 and full of ***. We got it up to 177, and it took so long to get from 163 to 177 that I almost shat myself praying for enough road.

At 160, it was stable, but at 170 it got really squirrelly. The C5 has world class suspension, so use your head before actually attempting this. A thirdgen would need completely worked road racing suspension, and since the aerodynamics are so much worse than the C5, I would estimate about 100 hp more to achieve it. In that case, about 470 @ flywheel.

Remember the other peoples' lives you may take with you if you spin out, too.
Old 05-06-2003, 08:23 AM
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Originally posted by esams
It was in my '99 C5 vette when I was 23 and full of ***..
Ya REALLY could have used a better analogy for saying you had big *****....
Old 05-06-2003, 08:38 AM
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Car: 86 Trans Am, 88 Formula
Engine: 95LT4, 305TPI
Transmission: T56, T5
Originally posted by esams
A thirdgen would need completely worked road racing suspension, and since the aerodynamics are so much worse than the C5, I would estimate about 100 hp more to achieve it. In that case, about 470 @ flywheel.
our cars aren't that aerodynamically challenged.
I bet our Birds are equal to the C5 Vette.


This is the full ad,
http://www.transamws6.com/pics/transam/84transamcd.jpg
Old 05-06-2003, 09:27 AM
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Engine: One sweet modified 355 TPI.
Transmission: The kind that shifts....
Pontiac built a twin turbo L98 firebird that topped 200mph and they didn't do ANY body modifications. All of the work was suspension/drivertrain/engine. It had LOTS of power though. Probably on the order of 600hp or so.

http://www.yearone.com/enthusiast/ar...t/pontwhs.html
Old 05-06-2003, 09:40 AM
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Re: Good Quote ROC

Originally posted by SLP_GTA
still its your life, just dont take anyone with you
AMEN. Don't make someone else pay for your stupidity. KEEP IT OFF THE ROAD.
Old 05-06-2003, 10:33 AM
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Car: Faster
Engine: Than
Transmission: You!
Yea, I'm not a big top-speed junkie myself! I only got close to topping the car out a few times. I'd much rather do 0-100 as fast as possible!
Old 05-06-2003, 10:40 AM
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Car: 84 SVO
Engine: Volvo headed 2.3T
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Axle/Gears: 8.8" 3.73
I would also look to some additional retetion for the door windows..

The pressure difference between the inside and the outside will try and pull the glass away from the seals... not a good thing at 175..
Old 05-06-2003, 10:46 AM
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"... when I was 23 and full of ***. "

That has to be the funniest thing I have ever read! I bet your *** hurt afterwards, though.
Old 05-06-2003, 10:51 AM
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Originally posted by cac91
"... when I was 23 and full of ***. "

That has to be the funniest thing I have ever read! I bet your *** hurt afterwards, though.
:sillylol: :sillylol: :sillylol:
Old 05-06-2003, 11:46 PM
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lmfao
that reminded me of that eminem song "purple pills".. "young dumb and full of ***" hahaha



that article for the drag C/O on the 84 is low, but the 91-92 style is nearly identicle to the c5 vettes

its good to know that my car is capable of 200mph...wouldnt want it to take of or anything lol...
Old 05-07-2003, 03:37 AM
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Re: What does it take to make our L98 go 175mph?

Originally posted by Coqpit
[B Getaway in Stockholm videos.

But what would be the essentials of building a car that can go 175mph+ and remain at that speed for an extended amount of time, and not have any trouble getting up there either?

Dave [/B]
Try a JATO pod (or RATO pod)...become a Urban Legend too.

http://www.rocketcarstory.com/


Serious HP and tall gears. I would suggest doing this in a place like North Dakota or Montana where the roads run straight and flat and have basically no traffic on them... heh heh, I did more than a few 140+ MPH blasts in ND in my old '79 T/A.
Old 05-07-2003, 03:41 AM
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Originally posted by FruityOne
Pontiac built a twin turbo L98 firebird that topped 200mph and they didn't do ANY body modifications. All of the work was suspension/drivertrain/engine. It had LOTS of power though. Probably on the order of 600hp or so.

http://www.yearone.com/enthusiast/ar...t/pontwhs.html
Ever see the GTA that Gale Banks built? 260 MPH, just suspension, engine and interior body mods (roll cage etc) Set the world land speed record for a production car. 454 cid, twin turbo and intercoolers.


http://media.gm.com/division/pontiac...on750219a.html

A little blurb from that page:

Bonneville Salt Flats racing continues to be a rewarding venue for Pontiac. In the Stock-Body class, competition has been furious for more than 15 years. In August of 1999, Joe Kugel, driving the Kugel & LeFevers twin turbo Pontiac Firebird, reached an average speed of 300.788 mph, representing the first production-based car to exceed the 300 mph milestone.

Last edited by Morley; 05-07-2003 at 03:45 AM.
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