HP required to go 100mph?

[TheJDMan]

I'm wondering how much power is required to cruse a 1st Gen Camaro at 100mph in a typical open road challenge. I know it is probably a calculation based on vehicle frontage area. Does anyone know of HPvsSpeed calculator and also what the frontage area of a 1st Gen Camaro is?

[formula350]

I'm thinkin the only upgrade you'll need for that is steel toe boots lol :)

[SRD art]

I had an 84 Chevette that could hit 105 and could maintain 100 fairly easily. It came from the factory with 79 hp, had 3.36 gears and a 3 speed auto. Mods were it was lowered 3" and had a high flow exhaust. Everything else was stock. If your car can't hit 100 mph you should trade it in on a Prius. ;)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2013/01/17s-1.jpg


Are you sure you didn't mean 200? :)

[4mul8ion]

Try http://www.wallaceracing.com/Calculate%20HP%20For%20Speed.php.
and try downloading the original GM vehicle info kit for your car from http://www.gmheritagecenter.com/gm-heritage-archive/vehicle-information-kits.html to find the height and width.

Kevin

[RSX302]

I think I've seen some of the equation in the past somewhere but forgot where. Cf drag, drivetrain losses, Rolling resistance, etc..

I have used this dos program many years ago that was cool. This might help get your answer. Looks like it will run in java now.

http://www.cartestsoftware.com/cartest4.5/

[David Pozzi]

The book "Camaro Exposed" by Zazarine lists a 1967 Camaro frontal area of 20.6 Square Feet
A coast down test would give you a better idea of actual drag. Remember, there is Aero drag and Rolling drag. Rolling drag does not increase with speed like Aero drag, but it does go up a little.

Most any Camaro will be able to go 100 unless it's up a darn steep hill.
I'd look at what RPM's you would be turning for your rear axle ratio and can your engine do that for 90 miles in the case of the Silver State - without puking oil or other issues.
David

[Slick68]

David is right. the questiion shouldn't be how much horsepower you need, it's what gear ratio and trans setup to run.

For example, my 68 C10(frontal area of a brick wall) would easily hit 100mph with a stock 350/TH350 with a 3.73 gear ratioand a 28" tire, but I was turning just over 5000rpm. I later switched to a 3.07 gear and a 29" rear tire and I could run 100mph at around 3800+/- rpm. At that rpm, the engine was still churning pretty good, but was alot more comfortable than at 5K.

The ideal setup would be with an manual overdrive(6 speed recommended) transmission with a modest 3.55-3.23 r&p gear set. Even any decently built sbc(approx. 300-350hp) would be happy with that setup. A Gen 3/4 LS engine would also be happy doing those duties. If you go with LS, look into slightly larger than stock cam profiles, but nothing too radical so the torque curve still stays somewhat level throughout the power range.

[cornfedbill]

My 74 Nova with the stock 350/140 horsepower motor, TH350 and 308 gears would barely break 90 mph back in the day before I woke it up with some needed mods.

My 74 Vega with the stock 140 CID/85 horsepower motor and some aerodynamic mods would hit 110 to 115 on a good day.

My guess would be somewhere near 130 to 150 crank horsepower would get you to 100 mph if you are patient enough.

I don't believe you will be able to compete in the 100 mph class unless you have more than double the needed cruising power. Remember, you have to get there and go up hill too. If I wanted to cruise along in the 100 mph class, I would shoot for no less than 300 crank horsepower so I could get to speed in a reasonable time and could hold that speed going uphill without taxing the motor.

[TheJDMan]

At this point this is a mental excersice with an eye to running the Silver State Classic in the future. I currently have a healthy 1st Gen 350, T-10, 3.50 rear, 26" tires. At 60mph I'm turning 2700rpm. This is a very comfortable long range crusing rpm and the engine is well into it's power range. If I were to add a couple of OD gears I think this would easily cruse 100 for extended distance.

[Slick68]

Sho Nuff!!

[RSX302]

Not sure how accurate the Cartest program is, but I come up with approx 50hp/50tq to push a 3600lb car with the 20.6 frontal area, 3.50 gears, 26" tires (335/30/18), 4th gear 1:1. With a .63 OD, 80hp/80tq required.

Makes sense since the engine needs to work harder to turn OD ratios.

[David Pozzi]

Remember it's a standing start, so you will need to drive at something like 120 for a while to average 100 for the course.

[SLO_Z28]

I have a ticket for 100mph in my old 65hp truck. My camaro with 2.42:1 rear gears does a hundred at about 3200rpm.

[cornfedbill]

Open road racing is cool. It is one of my goals to run one of the open road races when I get my car done and dialed in.

From what I have found, heat is your biggest enemy. Without coolers your engine oil can get hot enough to melt the nylon drain plug gasket.

I would recommend good engine, trans, powersteering and diff coolers. My 1988 BMW 325is had a lot of cooling from the factory to handle the autobahn it was bred for. US highways did not pose a challenge.

The other issue is proper tire pressure. They heat up as you go and cause the pressure to rise.

100 mph is easy for 10 or 15 minutes. But for an hour it is another story.

[fsfewwr]

I'm thinkin the only upgrade you'll need for that is steel toe boots lol :)

steel toe boots lol is the only thing he needs for?