Automotive trivia (15)

[Jimdandy]

What was the biggest limiting factor in the ability to produce horse power of the stock (unmodified, off the assembly line) Corvette's of the 1960's.

[SwampRat]

Thats EEEEAsy.  Ahem,.....IT'S A CHEVY!

Swamp<<Ford dood and hated by entire extended family for it

[Jimdandy]

Hint: It was a clearance problem with a specific body part of the car. It actually limited the car's performance in the 70's also. Even though the emissions controls would have even if this hadn't been a problem. Take a guess guy's.  

[This message has been edited by Jimdandy (edited 02-21-2001).]

[AKDejaVu]

If I had to make a guess... I'd go with the radiator size or opening.

AKDejaVu

[Jimdandy]

Not a bad guess DejaVu but that's not it. Last hint than I'll give up the answer: You have to deal with it if you want to add water in the radiator. Remember it's a body.

[Sorrow[S=A]]

As I recall there were several problems with the SBC during the first versions- the braid style rear crankshaft bearing seal, the problems oiling the top of the motor at high speeds (the initial SBC did not have an oil main running up the back to the heads yet). But I would have to say the most limiting factor would probably be the carb- even the first SBC designs developed over 100 extra hp with mechanical fuel injection until carbs got big enough to let it breathe properly.

[funked]

I think it's the hood.  If you built the most effective injection system for one of those big mothers it would not fit under the hood.

[Jimdandy]

Actually it was hood clearance. Especially in the later big block cars like the L-88 and ZL-1's where they were pushing the limits of the stock configuration. Even with better carbs it was very hard to fit a high rise manifold and large air cleaner under the hood. An even better example of that was the Mustang BOSS 429. It would have went much faster if they had had the hood clearance to put a better manifold and air cleaner on it. Not to mention the other things they compromised to get it on the street.

Ooops funked I was writing this as you replied. You got it. <S>

PS I'm comparing the hood clearances to the other vehicles that had similar engines like the Camaro, Chevelle, and the Impala. They actually added blocker tabs inside the carbs on the hotter Camaros' to reduce the maximum opening of the secondary barrels on the Quadrajet carbs so the performance wouldn't (hopefully) exceed the flag ship Corvette. As it turned out in the late 70's Z28 were both faster in the 1/4 and handled better than the Corvette's. The Vette's had gotten to heavy.
[This message has been edited by Jimdandy (edited 02-22-2001).]

[This message has been edited by Jimdandy (edited 02-22-2001).]