Just How Fast Are C2 Small Blocks?

[Edmund C.]

Gents: My sons and I plan to race our '66 327/350 against our '71 Buick GS 455 in a controlled quarter mile environment. Both vehicles are in good condition with recent rebuilds. They're very different animals; any predictions on which will win? Any interesting stories of racing your Vettes back in the day or today would be good to hear. I used to occasionally race my former C4 and C5s in street or highway throw-downs, I was always impressed with their performance and high degree of stability under power. Just last weekend at a Car Show in a small town 100 miles north of Houston, these 2 old boys pulled in in a red and white '59. It was by no means perfect, but it was extremely cool and set up for street racing. The two guys were brothers and pretty colorful to say the least. It was neat to meet some other Corvette guys that were using and really enjoying their vehicle.

[Joe R.]

Re: Just How Fast Are C2 Small Blocks?

You don't have a chance to win against that 71 Buick GS!

Stay home and avoid the embarrassment to yourself and the Corvette badge!

JR

[Steve B.]

Re: Just How Fast Are C2 Small Blocks?

I agree with Joe unless the GS smokes the tires off line. That would make the race more interesting.

[Joe L.]

Re: Just How Fast Are C2 Small Blocks?

Gents: My sons and I plan to race our '66 327/350 against our '71 Buick GS 455 in a controlled quarter mile environment. Both vehicles are in good condition with recent rebuilds. They're very different animals; any predictions on which will win? Any interesting stories of racing your Vettes back in the day or today would be good to hear. I used to occasionally race my former C4 and C5s in street or highway throw-downs, I was always impressed with their performance and high degree of stability under power. Just last weekend at a Car Show in a small town 100 miles north of Houston, these 2 old boys pulled in in a red and white '59. It was by no means perfect, but it was extremely cool and set up for street racing. The two guys were brothers and pretty colorful to say the least. It was neat to meet some other Corvette guys that were using and really enjoying their vehicle.

Edmund------


A lot of people think that 1960's and early 1970's "Muscle Cars" like C2 Corvettes and your 71 Buick GS 455 represented the "Golden Age of Performance". That's utter nonsense. The "Golden Age of Performance" is NOW. Many cars available today are faster than the fastest of the 60's and early 70's. That's just the fact of the matter, like it or not.

[Jim D.]

Re: Just How Fast Are C2 Small Blocks?

Edmund------


A lot of people think that 1960's and early 1970's "Muscle Cars" like C2 Corvettes and your 71 Buick GS 455 represented the "Golden Age of Performance". That's utter nonsense. The "Golden Age of Performance" is NOW. Many cars available today are faster than the fastest of the 60's and early 70's. That's just the fact of the matter, like it or not.

Yup! Having owned many muscle cars from the 60's & 70's, compared to today's cars, they were slugs that got terrible gas mileage. My bone stock C-5 would run circles around my LS6 Chevelle while getting 30 MPG vs 10 MPG and my C-5 is slow compared to what's available today.

[Edmund C.]

Re: Just How Fast Are C2 Small Blocks?

Joe et. al.: I agree that the modern muscle vehicles are superior performers. Case in point, I bought a new Dodge Challenger SRT 8, 6.4 HEMI 6-Speed, 470HP. It was cheap and it's docile until you get on it. As a friend said "it's like having a 1970 HEMI with a warranty." Yet, the older cars make my heart and soul go pitter patter. The new stuff is neat, yet, when given a choice, I grab the keys to the older ones every time. The older Vettes in particular.

[Joe L.]

Re: Just How Fast Are C2 Small Blocks?

Joe et. al.: I agree that the modern muscle vehicles are superior performers. Case in point, I bought a new Dodge Challenger SRT 8, 6.4 HEMI 6-Speed, 470HP. It was cheap and it's docile until you get on it. As a friend said "it's like having a 1970 HEMI with a warranty." Yet, the older cars make my heart and soul go pitter patter. The new stuff is neat, yet, when given a choice, I grab the keys to the older ones every time. The older Vettes in particular.

Edmund--------


I'm not saying the old cars don't have a lot of charm and charisma. I obviously like them myself. If I didn't, I wouldn't be here. They have lots of wonderful attributes but performance exceeding today's cars is not one of them.

[Larry E.]

Re: Just How Fast Are C2 Small Blocks?

[QUOTE=Edmund Chapman (41141);743871]Gents: My sons and I plan to race our '66 327/350 against our '71 Buick GS 455 in a controlled quarter mile environment. Both vehicles are in good condition with recent rebuilds. They're very different animals; any predictions on which will win?

Depends on the Rear End Ratio on both cars. Vette has weight advantage/Buick torque advantage. Larry

[Mike T.]

Re: Just How Fast Are C2 Small Blocks?

Ed - Good for you, glad to hear you're going to take the cars to the track. Doesn't really matter who wins or not but it should be a good race. The Buick has a ton of torque but also a lot more weight than the Corvette to push down the track. So, fill us in on the specs on both cars and when you do get them matched up at the track, post up some pics, should be fun.

[Duke W.]

Re: Just How Fast Are C2 Small Blocks?

Edmund------


A lot of people think that 1960's and early 1970's "Muscle Cars" like C2 Corvettes and your 71 Buick GS 455 represented the "Golden Age of Performance". That's utter nonsense. The "Golden Age of Performance" is NOW. Many cars available today are faster than the fastest of the 60's and early 70's. That's just the fact of the matter, like it or not.

For probably the last decade, a V-6 Honda Accord or V-6 Toyota Camry off the showroom will do 0-60 in the fives and run the quarter mile in the high13s/low 14s at over 100 MPH, which beats all but a couple of "showroom stock" muscle cars from the sixties.

In addition, with base suspension and tires, they'll pull over 0.8g on a skidpad, which no car with OE tires could do in the mid-sixties.

And, without speed limiters they would top out at over 150 MPH with excellent stability, but then the manufacturers would have to install stiffer riding V or above speed-rated tires instead of the standard softer riding (and less expensive) H-rated all season tires, so the speed limiters engage at something a little under 130.

Duke

[Domenic T.]

Re: Just How Fast Are C2 Small Blocks?

I agree with Larry. I say go for it. I had a C2 365 HP in front of a 4:11 and it did the BB's in.
The SB also has a RPM advantage as you know. One once told me that HP can also be calculated by how much exhaust (CFM) comes out the back. The quicker & higher revving SB can put Out LOTS of CFM.

Dom


QUOTE=Larry Evoskis (16324);743882]

Gents: My sons and I plan to race our '66 327/350 against our '71 Buick GS 455 in a controlled quarter mile environment. Both vehicles are in good condition with recent rebuilds. They're very different animals; any predictions on which will win?

Depends on the Rear End Ratio on both cars. Vette has weight advantage/Buick torque advantage. Larry

[Tracy C.]

Re: Just How Fast Are C2 Small Blocks?

Gents: My sons and I plan to race our '66 327/350 against our '71 Buick GS 455 in a controlled quarter mile environment. Both vehicles are in good condition with recent rebuilds. They're very different animals; any predictions on which will win? ...

Depends on many things and the most important one will be the driver....especially if either is equipped with a manual transmission. Rear gear, tires, trap time will all factor. Suggest having each of you drive each car and just average the time slips for each car at the end of your day of fun.

Report back when you have the answer.
tc

[Edmund C.]

Re: Just How Fast Are C2 Small Blocks?

All: Will do. The weather in Houston still continues to pour. So it'll likely be next weekend. Had a break in the weather last evening for the Dave Matthews concert which was cool. BTW, Buick is an automatic TH400 With 3.43 posi. The C2 is a munci 4-speed. Both vehicles are running radials in a stock size. I actually bought the Buick rag top from my Dad ($1k) in June of 1977.

[Edmund C.]

Re: Just How Fast Are C2 Small Blocks?

Gents: Here are photographs of the 2 vehicles. The Buick is a big gal.image.jpg

[Michael G.]

Re: Just How Fast Are C2 Small Blocks?

Edmund........Forget all the hub-bud that's been pointed out well off the subject. Believe the Corvette will lead off the line however.....not for long due the torque monster Buick. Many variables here: driver experience, car prep even the weather. I say "spin'em to 3000 and side step the clutch.....may the best driver and car win!...wooooo....hooooo.