The Trans Am/Formula aerodynamics are a little bit better than the Camaro's, but both are pretty sleak. I have June 1995 issue of Road and Track somewhere with "The Battle of the fastest Cars in America". The list included modded and stock versions of a Mustang GT, Camaro Z28, T/A/Formula, Corvette ZR1, and Viper RT/10. Stock the Camaro topped out at 155mph, the formula/T/A at 157mph, and the Mustang GT at 135mph.

In the modded competition it was a Saleen Mustang, a Vortech supercharged Camaro, a Lingenfelter 383 T/A, a Hennessey Viper, and a Doug Rippie ZR1. Guess who won the top speed competition overall despite having less hp than the Viper and ZR1? The Lingenfelter 383(rated at 440bhp) Trans Am topped out at 192mph. The ZR1 was next at like 186mph. The T/A had no aerodynamical modifications, the only thing done was 200mph tape placed over the inlets to its aftermarket Ram Air hood. The driver couldnt believe he had been going that fast when they told him.

 

I can tell you that my biggest concern would be the aerodynamics of the car at those speeds, as compared to the cars you're wanting to race. A Ferrari feels solid as a rock at 150, whereas a Camaro feels like it's being lifted off the ground. Couldn't tell you what either feels like at 180, I haven't been there...

Dave

 

You think I could hit 160 with my setup? Safely?

 

A stroker with 400rwhp can hit 6200 rpm in 5th gear with 3.42 rear gears. I'm pretty sure thats over 180mph.
Malcolm

 

You can definetely hit 160 with that, some people come real close, if not over 160 stock. But safely, well, thats another matter. It all depends on where you do it. Anywhere public is not really safe, even though lots of us have done it

 

i got a great set of 2.73's and i creep my way up to that speed

Cory

 

In the new popular hot rodding mag. there is a pic of a LT1 Z running in a road race in the 170+ mph class. It's pretty impressive. Looks like the only things done to the body of the car are ground fx, blackouts or tape?, a taped off fog light/grill area and maybe some lowering.

 

You guys forgetting about the article in GM High Tech? About a year and a half ago, there was a dude out in Montana (while the speed limit was NOT n effect) that had a 94 (coulda been a 93 even) Z, lowered to just about scrape the ground, full belly pan, and a blown LT1 putting down around 650 RWHP. Well, being an early 6 speed car, it had the fortune of having a bit wider ratio in the trans than the later models. The artical goes on to describe the car a bit more, but the bottom line is that it was clocked by the cops radar gun at 212 MPH. Thats pretty impressive, considering that the 4th gen F-bodies are basically as aerodynamic as a brick, despite looking the part. The CD is somewhere in the .34 range. It truely does suck for high speed unless some fairly major work is done to the undercarriage, as in a full belly pan, filling in all the nooks and crannies in the nose (of either camaro or TA), etc... Believe it or not, 3rd gens (both camaro and TA/firebird) have much better aerodynamics that the 4th gens. All that crap hanging down under the car really screws us when the MPH starts to climb north of 165, and it takes a LOT of both horsepower AND cajones to go REALLY stupid fast.

Just another view
Dave C.

 

i've broke 160 with my 93z with a A4, and it was still pulling.... only mods are CAI, cat-back, and DR's. gets kinda hard to tell how fast your after your off the speedo, but i know i wouldnt recommend doing 180 with stock ride height cuz my car was getting real squirly after 150.

 

That's pretty sad 135 mph top speed out of a mustang GT, I've hit 129mph in my 99 civic SI, confirmed by iowa state police radar (yeah, that sucked, just got a notice that i'm not allowed to ever drive in the state of iowa again, good thing I dont live there, LOL)

 

[QUOTE=357]What it takes to go 180 mph with a 1997 SS M6?
A cam change, a stroker, a supercharger?

no but three other things come to mind ...


1. plenty of insurance in case you kill someone

2. you being willing to do some serious jailtime for manslaughter

3.an endless supply of points on your license

I know I would have to point out the reality of it and spoil all the fun.

 

i've hit 163-4 in my stock Z. all i had was a HPP3 with the limiter removed, and a filter and exhaust...topped out 3rd gear and roasted my TC. well, i didt top out 3rd, it was at about 4800 in an auto with 2.73s

 

I think alot of what makes it squirrely is the air dam underneath, at higher speeds its forcing air up against the radiator and plastic cover with no where to go, lifting the front end up making it feel "floaty".

There may be some areas of drag(such as the headlight inlets on the camaro) but I think the basic shape is pretty sleak and the car decently stable at high speeds.. I know on the Mustangs, they have issues with the hood arcing upward and the car being unstable at highspeeds. The C5 also has issues with the hood shaking real bad at highspeeds,.

 

If you're thinking of the same article I am then it was more like 3-4 years ago. It was a Patriot Red '93 M6 Z28 (w/ factory 2.73s). It had a 355, 383 or 396 (can't remember) with a Vortech and some other goodies.

IIRC, it was clocked at 219mph, not 212. Very fast either way.

 

you can get 162 out of your car stock.