Red91Bird

Ok so i have over the past years immersed myself in books and used the books on cars to build engines and such. Now heres the lineup of the two cars. Car one, a 1991 firebird, 3.1L engine 140hp stock with 180 ft/tq wieght of 3121 less driver..... Car two 1974 ford maverick 302cid 138hp and 246 ft/tq with a wieght of 2900lbs less driver. I am not sure of the exact curves on the torque between the two cars, altho the firebird will pull to 4500rpm while the mav starts to slack off at 4000. Now heres the question - i already know the answer but figured i would give ya all a homework assignment

1: which car will have the lowest 0 to 60 ft time - why?

2: which car will have the lower 0 to 60mph time and why

3: which car will pass the 1/4 faster - why....

Side info ya may need:

Firebird has 3:23 gears and a 4 speed auto
Maverick has 3.00 gears and a 3 speed auto it also sports a true posi rear.

Driver weight(s) is 245 pounds and equal on driving skill between the to cars. Launch is done at 2700 rpm and both cars (for the sake of arguement) hook hard with no wheel spin.

After awhile i will post the answers...

David

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1974 Ford Maverick Grabber 302 - yeah its fast enough. Former owner of a 1991 Firebird - long live the firebird.

[This message has been edited by Red91Bird (edited August 16, 2001).]

TomP

Hm, I would've said the Maverick on all 3 counts, but the Firebird had lower gears and a higher powerband. I'll guess the Mav' for the first two (more torque, less weight) and the 'bird for the 3rd question.

W/even motors & weight, the 'Mav should be faster in the 1/4, but the 'bird would be quicker?


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l)

Project: 85 2.8 bird

here's my geustament:
1&2: The mav will take both why?: the ford has more torque (torque makes you accelerate)
plus it has the lighter weight and with posi, is able to utilize the torque better.

As for the 1/4 the bird will take it. Why?: even though it may way more, it has more horse power (hp makes you go fast) and better aerodynamics.
I would mention gears, but i fel the above answer is good enough.

and no..I did not read TomPs' answer before posting
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85 Firebird. $150.00
2.8 Auto.
Blown Head Gasket.
Mods Galore to Come....

[This message has been edited by Project: 85 2.8 bird (edited August 16, 2001).]

Ovrclck350

The Mav will take the 60 foot, it's lighter, has relatively CLOSE gears, and it's got posi, and better torque.

The Bird will take the 0-60 because of the advantages of better gearing.

The Mav will take the 1/4 mile easily. Guessing it'd pull about .3 better than the Firebird. Reason? Lower gearing gives for higher MPH at the end, the torque helps pull hard, and the HP is only 2HP lower. I would say that it'd be close to redline at the end of the 1/4 and at about 80 MPH, but I'd say that the 3.00 gears would help it out.

David, I'm impatient, mail me the answers.

3.1 firebird

I;m guessing the maverick all 3 categories. The torque, gears coupled with the low redline should keep the maverick in its power zone, and the lighter wieght.

Red91Bird

Ohhhh some good quesses.... anyone else?

David




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1974 Ford Maverick Grabber 302 - yeah its fast enough. Former owner of a 1991 Firebird - long live the firebird.

Graeme'sFirebird

The firebird in all 3...why? Cuz nobody has guessed that yet.. (i didnt want to put any thought into this )

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1989 Firebird
-New Drivetrain Soon-

"I'd rather run last in a full out race, than to NOT have run at all"
#3 Forever

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Red91Bird

Ok ok ok.... i will tell ya


The firebird and mav line up...

Off the line - traction being excellant the mav WILL launch harder with its 66 ft/lbs more torque and 221lbs lighter wieght, in other words the driver will feel slightly more "g" force. Now here is where it gets interesting. As the cars move out the lower gear ratio firebird will start into its broad torque curve and start to pull up on the mav. At the 60 foot mark the mav will take the win by afew tenths. Just after the 60 foot mark the firebird will start its slow down to hit second gear (roughly 45 mph) the mav will have already hit 2nd and start back into its torque curve. the 60mph win will goto the mav here too, as the lighter wieght, near identical gears and more ft/lbs help in its acceleration. it will win this by afew tenths as well. As the cars start toward the 1/4 line the firebird will enter into its power curve and start using its great areodynamics. This 2 hp gain over the mav makes no real difference in this. The fire bird will eventually lose the 1/4 race BUT will hold a higher MPH thru the traps with a lower ET.... I am not sure exactly why that is, and it makes no since to me. The mav hit the traps about a second before the firebird with the firebird pulling on the mav. It would take about another 1/8 mile for the firebird to pass the mav. Now... I bring all this up as theres a lesson to be learned here. The secret to the firebird V6 is to build torque and get 3.73:1 to 4.11:1 gears in the rearend. Use smaller tires - like 24.7 to 26" radius. If you do that you will be more competitive on the street and track where most races never go beyond 110mph. I am almost positive if the firebird had 373's in the rear it would hang with the mav in this test. This test was according to a dyno as well... My mav actually will waste a lightly built 305 bird in a heartbeat <--- but we haven't tryed long haul or top end were i will get my **** handed to me... That will change when i get the T5 installed.


David

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1974 Ford Maverick Grabber 302 - yeah its fast enough. Former owner of a 1991 Firebird - long live the firebird.