Nitro, that car would be a good one to check out "aero-wise" to get a general idea of what's required, as I believe they are shooting 200 as well. There are a few pics on the homepage.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/mul...content.3.html


I just couldn't resist. But seriously, Nitro, you keep acting like you just need a rear anti-roll bar and some suspension work to get you there. Did you watch the 200 mph Mustang videos? Take note of just how fast everything is going by and how much steering correction is required in a vehicle specifically built for that kind of speed. The best brakes in the world won't save you if you get out of shape at that speed. If you follow NASCAR at all, the 'new guy' David Gilliland, who's been racing for years, needs to be cleared to race at Talladega, as do Indy rookies. That type of speed is serious business.

Ryan

I have to start somewhere..... and I would think making a suspension that would be up to the task would be the first step in stability, correct?? That is why I am currently asking and talking about suspension. Then with experimentation I can figure out what type of aero mods may help any instability at a given speed I am trying to reach.

Okay i'll jump in and set up a game plan kinda, maybe we can add to this list as what people think and know you will need to blast your way to 200mph. It will be your decesion to add what you want and feel comfortable doing. I think i remember reading that you didn't want a cage. That would be your call but if you learn and know what is required it may help you with your build.

PS -- Even if you don't plan to put a cage in the car build it like you were going to just in case you change your mind down the road.

Step One - Chassis Modifications
1. Frame Bracing
2. Place to hang weight on the nose (seems to be on all of them)


Step Two - Front Susp Mods
1. Upgrade Control Arms (stock are flimsy at best)
2. Adjustable type shocks
3.

Step Three - Rear Susp Mods
1.

Step Four - Roll Cage & Saftey Mods
1.

Step Five - Interior Mods
1.

Step Six - Aerodynamic Mods
1.

You get my idea's - maybe someone with much more knowledge then me can help you out. I know there are many books on building land speed cars that you can use for reference. Maybe you can find some and update some of us on what they reccomend or require.

What sucks is the only real way to know what changes are affecting what is to have some type of wind tunnel.

My testing would have to be at Road America down the straight. My buddies who race sport bikes are hitting about 165-170 down the straight. My car accelerates much faster then there bikes do (RC51 & R6) so I should be able to dable at least up to 180-190 there when I am setup and ready to start trial and error testing eventually.

You know I've seen this before; this type of argument. The poster asks a very loaded question but thinks it is simple, then as people try to inform him of how serious it is, and in the process go overboard a little. Then the original poster gets a little defensive and starts losing grip on what he is talking about and digs himself a bigger ditch.

The truth lays in the middle. NO you are not going to hit 200mph in that chevelle of yours, its that simple, you obviously don't have the budget or knowledge "yet" to do it. But you could definetly improve what you have and set a goal higher than your already acheived 150. While everyone wants to jump on the bandwagon and knock down your efforts, I have only seen 1 person here who really has any first hand knowledge of what it takes, although I am not discrediting a lot of the good info from the bench racers, as a lot of it is relevant also

The key here is to take it one step at a time, like all the good info that you have recieved, 200 is much different than 150. So let down your defenses, come back to planet earth, and set some realistic goals for yourself, and do take everyones advice and really think about the safetly equipment. A rollcage is minimum, along with some racing seats and harnesses, and a safety cut off switch.

And even though we know we all push it on the street, just keep it to yourself about your 150mph on ramp blasts. Of course everyone is a hipocrit and does similar things themselves(or maybe they don't, but I know I have) but its common sense not to announce it to the world, as if it is the thing to do.

Fastest I have ever done was on my bike 140 on the freeway, and that is a corrected speed, most bike speeods read high, but mine is corrected. I do not plan to ever push it on the street like that again, all that was running through my head was "what if". I have done 125 down the straight away at thunderhill and had to brake to about 75 to take turn 1 which is scary as hell, but the fast guys do about 150 down the straight and probably cary about 90 into turn 1 :willy:

So do your mild suspension upgrades and see where that gets you, and take it one step at a time. This is the key in any racing, NO ONE jumps in head first and shoots for the highest goal. So maybe your next question should be more along the lines, of how to get your car faster, smoother, and more stable, not a MPH goal.

your buddies "could" be full of it, as I said, sportbikes speedometers from the factory are about off my %5-10, plus most race bikes are re-geared which makes the speedo even way farther off. Plus almost anyone who carries that kind of speed at the track is going to very good, and the very good riders don't have speedos or they tape them up, and most of them don't even look down to see how fast they are going. So judging how fast "you think" your car will go based on what they are telling you is not realistic. You really need to get on the track and see how fast maybe 160-170 really is. And the thing about it, is you don't get a second chance if something goes wrong at those speeds, and most likely your 35 year old car has some things wrong with it :thumbsup:

What type frame bracing can you do to a Chevelle fram besides a cage, I have wanted to install some type of roll bar/cage but I have been a little to busy, with all the hours I work and my family, I nedd to find time to bend one up and weld one in, just have not decided how crazy I want to go. This upcoming winter I was planning on putting a rack in the car as well as make some front control arms. The rear is all tubular adjustable uppers and lowers with Hiem joints, is feels real solid and precise in the rear while driving.

It's been a long time since i've been under a chevelle. You can look at the bracing and boxing we did on my project to stiffen up the chast to prevent it from twisting.

As far as a cage is concerned that is something that you are going to need to look at a rule book and build it to the requirements. I have a picture of a 24 point cage that was installed in a lotus (yep a lotus) to meet the rules at the salt flats. It was one of the most insane cages i have ever seen. There were bars everywhere and to everypoint you could think of.

Personally i would start with a good 12 point cage which would allow you to run your car at the Grove which would allow you to really see what your car would do.

PS - I have a ticket from my younger years 156mph in a 72 Cutlass Convert. Looking back it was pretty dumb but that is the fastest i have ever gone and i was young back then and didn't have kids oh yea and a wife.

Honestly, step four really ought to be step one.