- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
0
Posted on 12/8/14 at 10:59 am to jordan21210
quote:
I've always heard motors back then are overrated by today's standards for the reasons he mentioned (different SAE measurement). They tested motors with no accessories and no emissions equipment.
Honestly, I'm not familiar SAE ratings other than nuts and bolts. HP in the 60s was rated at the flywheel in BHP (Brake Horsepower). When you lifted the hood, BHP is the rating you would see on the air cleaner of every stock muscle car engine.
Most muscle cars were purchased for Drag Racing. Strip or street. Mostly street or county roads. NHRA sanctioned strips were far and few between in those days. It was similar to the wild west and gun slingers.
If you had the rep for owning a fast car, someone, from another town would look you up for a challenge. $$$ would be bet, keeping things interesting. Most true muscle cars were ordered without A/C & power steering.
There were many reasons for under rating HP. The biggest IMO was for insurance purposes. Insurance companies back then structured their premiums around HP ratings of the car and body style.
Drag racing was a huge problem for them back then. A lot of deaths & crashes due to unsanctioned racing on the street (I can name four during my fours years of HS).
Posted on 12/8/14 at 11:13 am to DownshiftAndFloorIt
Well, factories were pretty inconsistent back in the day. Sometimes they did it for Series requirements (old Trans-Am series) and sometimes they did it for marketing reasons:
The L71 proved to be the Corvettes leading engine upgrade sale. This was actually because, "Chevrolet understated the L88s output at 430+ to reduce its appeal to nonracing customers, who might have otherwise opt for the less expensive L71 package rated at 435 horsepower" (Licastro 38). The L88 was tested with an output of about 560 horsepower (Chevrolet Motor Division 176). Eric Hodel explains, "Chevy engineers proved to be shady when offering a L71 package with more horsepower at a lower price when in actuality, the lower rated L88 package offered far more horse power than the higher rated L71." The 1968 Chevrolet Corvette was a breakthrough for the many years to come of generation three Corvettes. The newly redesigned body style combined with a numerous amount of interior, exterior, and powertrain options allowed the 1968 Corvette to excel in a very demanding 1968 year. As David Holls puts it, "this truly is Bill Mitchells car" (Licastro 36).
The L71 proved to be the Corvettes leading engine upgrade sale. This was actually because, "Chevrolet understated the L88s output at 430+ to reduce its appeal to nonracing customers, who might have otherwise opt for the less expensive L71 package rated at 435 horsepower" (Licastro 38). The L88 was tested with an output of about 560 horsepower (Chevrolet Motor Division 176). Eric Hodel explains, "Chevy engineers proved to be shady when offering a L71 package with more horsepower at a lower price when in actuality, the lower rated L88 package offered far more horse power than the higher rated L71." The 1968 Chevrolet Corvette was a breakthrough for the many years to come of generation three Corvettes. The newly redesigned body style combined with a numerous amount of interior, exterior, and powertrain options allowed the 1968 Corvette to excel in a very demanding 1968 year. As David Holls puts it, "this truly is Bill Mitchells car" (Licastro 36).
Posted on 12/8/14 at 11:23 am to VetteGuy
quote:
Chevrolet understated the L88s output at 430+ to reduce its appeal to nonracing customers
Absolutely. In fact Chevy even deleted the radio option as well to keep the L88 off the street. We both know that didn't keep the serious buyers from grabbing up that monster of an engine.
Posted on 12/8/14 at 11:26 am to Traveler
There's other examples of this, mostly by Ford and GM back in the Trans-Am days.
Nobody does it anymore, but it was fairly common back in the 60s and early 70s when the factories were big into NASCAR and Trans-AM.
Nobody does it anymore, but it was fairly common back in the 60s and early 70s when the factories were big into NASCAR and Trans-AM.
Posted on 12/8/14 at 11:33 am to VetteGuy
To add, the L88 optioned vette, did not come with a fan shroud and was notorious for overheating with street use.
You are right though, the big three were putting limited amount of 'race cars' on the street so they could put them on the track.
You are right though, the big three were putting limited amount of 'race cars' on the street so they could put them on the track.
This post was edited on 12/8/14 at 11:35 am
Posted on 12/8/14 at 11:41 am to Traveler
quote:
notorious for overheating with street use.
yep. Looking a new Z06/Z07 now. It is basically a race car, minus the cage.
Posted on 12/8/14 at 11:47 am to VetteGuy
I've been waiting for you pull the tigger and sign the papers. Are you finding any Dealers that will budge off the MSRP? Both of those are awesome vehicles and I am resisting the urge to look or drive one. (Not sure how long I can hold out though!)
Posted on 12/8/14 at 11:57 am to Traveler
I just emailed the ins. guy to check the premiums.
Nobody is really backing off of MSRP, even on the M7 cars they have in stock. My issue with the Z is I want the CC brakes, but I really don't want these tires:
][/URL]
Would have immediately buy anther set of tires and wheels for street use.
Nobody is really backing off of MSRP, even on the M7 cars they have in stock. My issue with the Z is I want the CC brakes, but I really don't want these tires:
][/URL]
Would have immediately buy anther set of tires and wheels for street use.
Posted on 12/8/14 at 11:59 am to Themole
quote:
I don't know the reason behind the revised history, but a simple google will find more articles supporting my statement than what you claim. I lived those days, and under rating HP was the common belief at the time. I believe the skin of my bubble is thicker than yours. No bubble bursted.
You may as well have just posted "I don't know what I am talking about."
MUSCLE CAR HORSEPOWER WAS EXAGGERATED
I hope you actually read that.
As an example of just have over-rated muscle cars are, an '06 Honda Accord V6 - a pretty random, pedestrian car by most standards - is faster to 60 than a 1970 Chevelle 454 LS6!
Posted on 12/8/14 at 12:06 pm to VetteGuy
I would be curious to know what kind of ins rate you get.
And yeah, those tires might be good for the first month, but not for any length of time.
The CC brakes are a must though. What is your preference with replacement rubber?
Is Ross Downing still up in Hammond? He always had vettes on the floor.
And yeah, those tires might be good for the first month, but not for any length of time.
The CC brakes are a must though. What is your preference with replacement rubber?
Is Ross Downing still up in Hammond? He always had vettes on the floor.
Posted on 12/8/14 at 12:22 pm to Traveler
As
Most probably whatever is on the standard Z.
Ross Downing is still there, but they weren't taking orders on Zs until recently.
quote:
What is your preference with replacement rubber?
Most probably whatever is on the standard Z.
Ross Downing is still there, but they weren't taking orders on Zs until recently.
Posted on 12/8/14 at 12:25 pm to chinhoyang
I love that generation of Gran Torino, but not with the aero nose.
I'd love to resto mod one.
I'd love to resto mod one.
Page 3 of 3
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News