dj2005

iTrader: (3)

A bud of mine thinks his 1997 SL500 is much faster than my 1998 TA so we will be doing a few runs Friday. In the meantine, I am curious as to which is faster if both were stock with the same skilled driver? Anyone want to give me a sure answer?


Hope this is in the right section.

darrensls1

According to this:

http://www.edmunds.com/used/1997/mer...tid=ik16231731

The 1997 SL500 has a 315 HP V8 motor, weighs 4165 lbs and does 0-60 in 6.7 seconds.

The LS1 F-body has a 345 HP V8 motor, weighs 3600 lbs and does 0-60 in 5.3 seconds (give or take on the 0-60).

Stock for stock should be a clear cut win for the LS1 with drivers being equal.

dj2005

iTrader: (3)

Ahh, thank you. I wasn't sure whether websites showing the 315hp were going by rwhp or crank.

'Trust'

iTrader: (24)

You will eat him alive, just make sure he means 97 SL500 and not say an 04 SL500, lol.

faster_n_you98

iTrader: (31)

^^what he said exc. power in my 98 trans am owners manual says 305 hp not 345. i bet it will be a good race but you def should win so make sure you put some money on it

'Trust'

iTrader: (24)

Your owners manual is full of crap, marketing ploy on GM's part to sell more Vettes. ALL LS1 cars (Vette, F-body, GTO, aussie versions, etc.) have 345-350 HP, no special tuning for the Vette to boost it up or anything.

BigDaddyBry

iTrader: (15)

Add to the equation that Mercedes drivers usually baby their rides....

darrensls1

Don't believe your owners manual. It lied to you. Or rather GM lied to you. Why? Because they suck.

Ok that was sarcastic. The truth is that in 1997 the LS1 motor came out in the C5 Corvette. Then in 1998 they put the same motor in the F-bodies. Now GM didn't want to **** off the loyal Vette owners who would be up in arms if a lowly Trans Am was as powerful as the mighty Vette. That left two choices. Make a more powerful motor for the Vette or underrate the HP numbers for the F-bodies on paper.

GM choose door number two. Many M6 F-bodies dynoed 300-310 rwhp stock. So riddle me this Batman. How does a drivetrain add 5 rwhp to a car? It can't. 12-20% drivetrain loss is normal and we really got the same 345 HP motor that the Corvette did.

darrensls1

I guarantee that's crank. You should walk him hard considering the HP and weight advantage. Just don't let him sucker you into a roll race that's in your dead spot and you'll be fine.

ICEMAN 31

put some money on it

Coy

iTrader: (4)

RPM WS6

iTrader: (3)

If these numbers are correct and real-world accurate, then you've got nothing to worry about (assuming his car is stock).

dj2005

iTrader: (3)

Thanks for all the encouragement/help guys. This is the first time I'm actually going to race so it'll just be for fun. Any tips/tricks I should know about?

RussStang

3600lbs is a pretty hefty weight, even for an fbody.

It won't even be a race. The Merc is done.

brejcha

Even an LT1 would own...

Specifications

Edmunds Type: Midsize Coupe
Where Built: Canada
EPA Class: Subcompact Cars
Dimensions

Exterior
Length: 197 in. Width: 74.5 in.
Height: 51.7 in. Wheel Base: 101.1 in.
Curb Weight: 3311 lbs.
Interior
Front Head Room: 37.2 in. Front Hip Room: 52.8 in.
Front Shoulder Room: 57.4 in. Rear Head Room: 35.3 in.
Rear Shoulder Room: 55.8 in. Rear Hip Room: 44.4 in.
Front Leg Room: 43 in. Rear Leg Room: 28.9 in.
Luggage Capacity: 12.9 cu. ft. Maximum Seating: 4
Performance Data

Performance
Acceleration (0-60 mph): 6.1 sec. Braking Distance (60-0 mph): 121 ft.
Road Holding Index: .84 g Base Number of Cylinders: 8
Base Engine Size: 5.7 liters Base Engine Type: V8
Horsepower: 285 hp Max Horsepower: 5000 rpm
Torque: 325 ft-lbs. Max Torque: 2400 rpm
Drive Type: RWD

Fuel Data

Fuel
Fuel Tank Capacity: 15.5 gal.
EPA Mileage Estimates: (City/Highway)
Manual: 16 mpg / 26 mpg Automatic: : 17 mpg / 25 mpg
Range in Miles: (City/Highway)
Automatic: 263.5 mi. / 387.5 mi. Manual: 248 mi. / 403 mi.

greysteel_M6

iTrader: (5)

That should read 3400, maybe he was thinking race weight?

darrensls1

The LS1 F-body can be anywhere from 3400 to 3600 Lbs. A 3400 lb F-body would be a Z28 or Formula M6 stripper car (no power anything, no air, ect). The average non-convertable F-body with the average options will weigh at least 3500 lbs. Fully optioned convertables will weigh over 3600 lbs.

An auto Trans Am with air, power seats, windows, locks, T-tops, ect will likely weigh between 3500-3550 lbs. I simple quoted the high end of the F-body weight spectrum just so it wouldn't look like I was low balling the F-bodies weight.

In stock trim we are heavy pigs. The stripper versions may be a little more respectable but they are still too heavy IMO.

RussStang

Your weights are still incorrect. Even a fully loaded SLP car should not nudge over 3500lbs, and if it does it is by very little. Unless we are talking about verts.

Stripper cars have been known to be under 3400lbs.

darrensls1

Not according to this:

http://www.modernracer.com/pontiacfi...ransamws6.html

Or this:

http://www.theautochannel.com/vehicl...ergap0142.html

Or this:

http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/sp...=94338#trimsel

Or this:

http://www.motortrend.com/cars/2002/...ons/index.html

Basically they all agree that a Vert is 3600 Lbs and coupes are 3500 lbs. Give or take. I wish we were all 3400 Lb cars but the only stock LS1's I have heard of weighing that little are stripper Z28's and stripper formulas. Again we are talking power nothing, cloth seats, no AC, ect.

02 Camaro SS

iTrader: (4)

You'll eat him. Let's see if he's so confident when you want to put some money on it.