68 Camaro too fast?
68 Camaro too fast? So question... if I have an old 68 camaro which will more than likely be able to do 150 mph because of my LSx swap and overdrive tranny, and I have all the good suspension stuff (SC&C stage II plus kit, lowering front springs, sway bar, IAS shocks, GW SFCs, posi 14 bolt 9.5" rear), how fast can I go before the car starts to try to fly and understeer becomes dangerous? I have no spoilers on either end.
What if I add a front spoiler?
Also, if my rear gears and tires allow 148.61 MPH at 5000 RPM (per calculators), then will I be able to hit 150 MPH with a 400RWHP engine?
What if I add a front spoiler?
Also, if my rear gears and tires allow 148.61 MPH at 5000 RPM (per calculators), then will I be able to hit 150 MPH with a 400RWHP engine?
So - what are you trying to do with this car that makes you this concerned about this? Running an oval somewhere? Open course road race in Nevada?
My experience is that during drag racing, it doesn't matter that much...plus you would never trap 150mph+ in the 1/4... Road course racing, you might be able to BRIEFLY see 150mph on a straight, but you are certainly back on the brakes before you ever start turning...
I would bet with 400rwhp, you could easily get to 150mph. Your gearing might actually be your limiting factor. You will be turning some very high RPMs for a very long distance trying to get to 150.
Anyway - that is my $0.02. I have a Chevelle, not a Camaro. Hopefully someone with a Camaro will be able to tell you from their real-world experience, not mine.
Good luck!
Troy
My experience is that during drag racing, it doesn't matter that much...plus you would never trap 150mph+ in the 1/4... Road course racing, you might be able to BRIEFLY see 150mph on a straight, but you are certainly back on the brakes before you ever start turning...
I would bet with 400rwhp, you could easily get to 150mph. Your gearing might actually be your limiting factor. You will be turning some very high RPMs for a very long distance trying to get to 150.
Anyway - that is my $0.02. I have a Chevelle, not a Camaro. Hopefully someone with a Camaro will be able to tell you from their real-world experience, not mine.
Good luck!
Troy
Spoilers wouldnt hurt.
Ive had my hunk of steel up to 145 on a long stretch of deserted highway without any weird feelings. Same SC&C suspension in the front and lowered down pretty good. I been thinking of adding a chin spoiler and maybe a small trunk one but they dont look good on a Nova.
I dont think 150 will be a problem.
Ive had my hunk of steel up to 145 on a long stretch of deserted highway without any weird feelings. Same SC&C suspension in the front and lowered down pretty good. I been thinking of adding a chin spoiler and maybe a small trunk one but they dont look good on a Nova.
I dont think 150 will be a problem.
Well the top end question was just for curiosity. I'll never get THAT fast. Well, maybe if I find an oval somewhere I'd certainly try. 
But most definitely not on the street. Too many families on the road.
About the most I could ever see myself doing is 95 mph on alligator alley (big, long, straght highway that goes from Miami to Naples), which I've done in my 99 trans am. I've heard that once you get to certain speeds in a old first gen Camaro the air pressure underneath the car causes the front of the car to lift a great amount to the point of understeer/loss of control. Hence my question.
But most definitely not on the street. Too many families on the road.About the most I could ever see myself doing is 95 mph on alligator alley (big, long, straght highway that goes from Miami to Naples), which I've done in my 99 trans am. I've heard that once you get to certain speeds in a old first gen Camaro the air pressure underneath the car causes the front of the car to lift a great amount to the point of understeer/loss of control. Hence my question.
I seriously doubt you could hit 150 mph with your mods in a 1st gen with only 400 hp. The aerodynamic drag would be tremendous. Bob
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I am working on a land speed Jeep Comanche truck that hit 155 with 450 HP 4.0L 6 cylinder. It was like driving a brick through water! There is a good chance you could get to 140 at least, just gonna need a lot of road.
With 400 rwhp and enough gear, that car will go 150+, provided the suspension and tires keep it on the road. I need to put a governer in my car because I've already exceeded what I said I would.
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I've done 130mph on a backroad in my rebuilt-to-stock suspension Nova with a mild 350 build (maybe 375hp?). I wasn't out of power at that speed, but the car felt very floaty. 150? I personally wouldn't do it, but I'm sure it's been done.
I don't think the geometry of your suspension is going to come much into play on a straight line top speed run, but the added suspension stiffness and lowering of the car will have an impact. Lowering likely will help keep the car down, but I don't know about the stiffer suspension - it may get upset more easily if you're not on a good smooth surface.
I wouldn't attempt it without a rollcage, helmet, proper safety belts, and someone ready to come retreive you from a mangled Camaro - just in case. Make sure your life insurance is current and enough to support your family. And of course don't try that on a public road.
I don't think the geometry of your suspension is going to come much into play on a straight line top speed run, but the added suspension stiffness and lowering of the car will have an impact. Lowering likely will help keep the car down, but I don't know about the stiffer suspension - it may get upset more easily if you're not on a good smooth surface.
I wouldn't attempt it without a rollcage, helmet, proper safety belts, and someone ready to come retreive you from a mangled Camaro - just in case. Make sure your life insurance is current and enough to support your family. And of course don't try that on a public road.
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A stock LS2 GTO with stock 3.46 gears and a T56 will go faster than 150 with 400hp. It will do 140 in 4th (1:1). The car is more aerodynamic, but weighs several hundred pounds more. I would think that 150 would be no problem for short durations of time.
Staging Lane
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
From: upstate NY
If you drive those kinds of speeds, I hope your brakes are rated for them.
Remember, that chassis was built 40 years ago, when crash modeling wasn't nearly as advanced. Crumple zones and so on- If you crash, even at half that speed, don't expect to be as safe as in a newer car. I hate to be the downer, but it is the truth.
Remember, that chassis was built 40 years ago, when crash modeling wasn't nearly as advanced. Crumple zones and so on- If you crash, even at half that speed, don't expect to be as safe as in a newer car. I hate to be the downer, but it is the truth.
Staging Lane
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
From: Portland, Oregon
just remember - not only does a floaty front end mean potential turning issues but it also means a longer time before you can get back on your brakes hard - have to wait to bleed off the speed to get the nose down to get into the brakes
Before last winter, my Camaro would start to get floaty at 90mph. With all new parts on the subframe and a three inch drop, it is stable at more than 140mph. I didn't mean to find out, it just sorta happened by accident. And that's how I found out. It was so stable, I had no idea how fast I was going until I glanced at the speedo. I know it will do 150, but I have no intention of finding out.
I'm gonna guess that I have approx 375-380 HP. The car easily gets to 120 @ 1:1 in no time. From there, 5th gear is 0.64 & room for a higher top end. I then back off because faster speeds are too much for these old reflexes!
At these speeds, & with all new FE components, the steering gear box becomes the weak link. Otherwise, the car is rock solid. And as someone else said, braking becomes very important.
At these speeds, & with all new FE components, the steering gear box becomes the weak link. Otherwise, the car is rock solid. And as someone else said, braking becomes very important.
I have a 67 camaro with similar mods. Back in the day when I was younger and Stupider (sp?) I took it near 150 mph. I was running a 425 hp 377 CID motor. It was on the street (Stupid!) It wouldn't go any faster, It has the chin spoiler and the rear spoiler and the front end still started to float at that speed. I barely had any control of the car, it was more like flying an airplane! I now drive my WS6 that has much better aero for track days and it's still not enough. At those speeds you def need areo mods to manage the air going through the grill and going under the car. Do a search for Big Red, the original pro touring 69 Camaro and the areo mods that was done on that car.
