Anyone going over 200 mph???

[MSchu]

Man, this is like a bad wreck, you can't help but to look.
Here's the article in Hot Rod, it talks about the setup of car: http://www.hotrod.com/projectbuild/1...nal/index.html
Next check out www.landracing.com and www.openroadracing.com. Both have forums, people there would be able to help you more than everyone here combined, but, dig how few people are in the 200mph club. Notice how everyone is competing w/ RACE CARS and not STREET CARS? You have the power to do it, noone is doubting that. Read up on the rules and get the car to pass tech ie: full boogey Cage, not a 6 pt. bar, and everything else that will turn your STREET CAR into a RACE CAR really quick. One last point, you can't just show and proclaim "I'm gonna run 200mph in my sUper SiC 1,000hp Chevelle y0!" You have to go in stages up to Unlimited. Take it in steps, do the reading and researching, add the safety items and then add some more, then you can do it. With luck. Maybe.

[Damn True]

Originally Posted by nitrorocket

Here we go again, some good info, and some stupid stuff.

Stupid stuff? You mean people being concerned for you and your safety? That kind of stupid stuff?

People not wanting to find out on a Monday morning that you made a smoking hole in the desert?
I would hope people might be so "stupid" regarding me someday.

How have I lost respect of anyone??? By saying I want to try to hit about 200 mph and that I have the power to do it so tell me what stuff people are doing to be stable at these speeds???

Shut down the pride for a minute and you will see that is exactly what people have been doing. There have been suggestions regarding required body, suspension, and safety modifications required to make your STREET car at least survivable at those speeds. But the overriding theme is concern for your safety. The reason is that you are, and you must admit to this, using a frying pan as a screwdriver.

A '71 Chevelle is not the right tool for the job. By saying that I am by no means saying you shouldnt try. If you did it, it would be bitchin as all-get-out. However, it will be VERY tough, VERY expensive and VERY VERY dangerous to do so.

I and the rest, are simply trying to make sure you are aware of the obstacles and the HUMONGUS risk you are undertaking.

[Van B]

Originally Posted by Damn True

But the overriding theme is concern for your safety.

What he said.

[Steve Chryssos]

Originally Posted by nitrorocket

.....
I have been checking at all the trans places I can find to see if the 4th gear on a 4l80 can handle full power and live, Hipster said no, but a few other places are getting back to me. Looks like a Gearvendors unit might be the only choice?? That would suck because I really want one of those super trick paddle shift steering wheels!!

On a 4L80E, Overdrive will not handle 1000HP at high speed. It is designed for economy--not high load applications. That said, you can hang a gear splitter off a 4L80E just as easily as with any other transmission.

[Colvindesign]

I don't think the main problem here is lift, but Drag.

The Chevelle (however beautiful it is) is not the most aerodynamic shape to come out of Detroit.

1. the front bumper being angled downward provides lift.

2. The entire grill and head light area being nearly flat creates drag, and a lot of it.

3. the entire underbody is drag.

4. The hood creates downforce.

5. The windshield creates drag.

The problem of flipping occurs more with cars with smooth underbodies that are close to the ground, with too soft suspension. As they hit a dip or bump, the car bottoms out and loses all the downforce created by the smooth underbody and if the front is any higher than the rear at any point, at high speed the amount of air that gets rammed under the car will lift it.

The problem is not Flipping at 200 mph, but being controllable at 200 mph. There are supercars that are scary to drive over 150. Then again there are high powered sedans that will cruise at 180 like they are doing 100.

Here is the thing, do you want to do 200 mph once and survive and be able to say "I built a car that did 200 mph" or do you want to build a car that can do 200 mph comfortably without scaring the hell out of you?

Honestly, at 200 mph with a full cage you might not make it if you hit a bump. At 200 mph with a full tube chassis and the proper safety equipment you still might not make it if you hit a dip. Chances are you will if you have the right ssafety euipment, but there is also a chance you might not. I am not saying you will flip, but if the car is unstable at speed, it will be uncontrollable. Also, the road you might know very well now, will make your car behave VERY differently at 200 mph. Plus any type of lane change if not done extremely gradually (about 6-10 seconds) will be fatal. Think about how far you will travel in 6 seconds at 200 mph.

180 mph is like the sound barrier for cars. It is mysterious, it changes things.

If it was no big deal, we wouldn't have speed limits. There is a reason people are telling you it is crazy, it is extremely dangerous. It's a route people have taken before and not come back from.

Why are people telling you to work on the aerodynamics of the car? To make it more stable and controllable. So you will be able to predict how the car will behave and you will come back.

[Colvindesign]

Originally Posted by nitrorocket

I have to KEEP mentioning my 1000 hp not to brag, but have you seen all the replys saying I dont have enough power!, I am simply stating I do, so don't keep talking about it and doubting 1000 hp could hit 200 mph. Talk about things I need to know about handling! Handling is the issue, not my power but people kept going on it.

At high speeds, handling is well beyond just the suspension. You need the aerodynamics to make the car stable. I am not talking about a full pro-mod body, but a front air dam, the right rake, a proper spoiler and perhaps work under the car.

I think the philosophy here is "if you are going to do it, do it right" therefore make the car stable as you possibly can at 200mph, instead of just making it barely able to reach 200.

I know for a fact that 1000 hp can get you to 200, but if the car is producing more lift at the front than downforce, your steering control will be extremely limited (think slushy roads) and your upgraded shocks will be useless because you will not be able to controll your car very well. This is avoided by aerodynamics, specifically downforce (air dam).

[nitrorocket]

When I put up this post, I wanted to know what people are doing to go 200 mph, being that it sounds almost impossible to hit the actual 200 mph mark, I don't mind. Even if I can only be stable at 180 mph, that cool with me, but I have a goal to be able to do this. So far, I feel real comfortable at 150. The car is real stable and feels smooth and quiet. It's gets to there reall fast and smooth and also comes down from that speed real fast and smooth. At this point it really does'nt feel like I am going that fast at all, that's why I thought 200 would'nt be to far away! You never know, maybe someday.

All the safety stuff is easy as far as finding out what I need, that will just depend on where I race the car. My big concentration right now is part selection to make the car stable.

Currently I am thinking, Hal adjustable shocks(unless I get first hand input otherwise), HR parts adjustable rear anti roll bar, Y rated Tires like the newer G-force BFG's, Gear vendors overdrive unit to handle full power(4L80 will not hold).

From there I will try a local track day at Road America and just start creeping up in speed and see how the car acts. I will be interessted to see ho the car will react to individual changes in front and rear ride height. I would think keeping the rear where it is and lowering the front a tad more would be benificial for front end lift.

Would sure be nice to have unlimited access to a wind tunnel and move ride heights around to see what works best without have to even take it out! Has anyone seen any tests on an actual Chevelle?????

[Stuart Adams]

Just the mere fact you asked your last question leads me to believe not many 71 Chevelles are racing at 200 mph. Good luck with your journey, I don't think this is the place for your answers. 200 mph and 71 Chevelle, sounds like oil and water to me.

Good luck with your project.

[nitrorocket]

Also, maybe a real good wax would help!

[syborg tt]

okay quick picture of a "Wicker" on the fender of the Cuda.

Jack explained to me that the car would be a plane without it.