Confusing Race

1621 Views 18 Replies 11 Participants Last post by tmonster, May 3, 2004

smc540

Discussion Starter · Apr 29, 2004

Ok, so we just got out of band practice, and my friend is driving his mother's 96 Suburban, which has a 454 in it, putting out 300hp and 410ft/lbs of torque. This isn't just a claim, it's accurate. So we lined up in the schools parking lot (this was about an hour ago). We both launched and throughout the entire first race, I had him by a nose, although neither of us were gaining/pulling away. we lined up again, and again we both had decent launches, and again i had him by maybe 6 inches, but he wasn't gaining at all, it was just even. Now, I know I have Mad Vulcan Powah and all

, but I thought for sure I was going to get my arse handed to me. I know he can launch well, because I sat in his car for a couple of runs and he showed me how he was brake torquing and launching, and it was the same as I would.

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93taurusSX

· #2 · Apr 29, 2004

Considering his engine is pushing well past 2 tons of weight, coupled with a suspension that is designed for rough uneven surfaces than pavement, it would have been an embarassment if YOU lost the race...

majisto

· #3 · Apr 29, 2004

Just because the car has a big motor doesn't mean it will be fast. You ever driven a big rig before?

Still...I'm shocked they even put 454s in Suburbans at that year. I could have sworn by then it would have had an LT1 350 or something in it. You sure it's a 454? Eh, maybe I'm wrong, but still, Suburbans were never geared to be fast.

You want to be beat by an SUV? Go race my Explorer.

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smc540

Discussion Starter · #4 · Apr 29, 2004

Yes, it was a 454. I don't think the engine was stock, I believe his father had it replaced. Although I don't know all of the details.

What made me think I would lose is that I drove it around a bit, and it felt quicker than my car. Maybe it was just from sitting up higher, I dunno....

spridget

· #5 · Apr 29, 2004

It's called Power to Weight Ratio.

G

· #6 · Apr 29, 2004

Ah, welcome to the fallacy of GM.

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PRLatinLoco

· #7 · Apr 29, 2004

The key to having any car run fast is its power to weight ratio. I tell you this, I if was able to take my vulcan out of my car and transplant it on say, a riding-lawn mower, I'm not sure I know of a car I wouldn't be able to burn.
That's actually another draw-back to the Taurus, especially the Gen III's; We got some Fat-bulls

93taurusSX

· #8 · Apr 29, 2004

Speaking of, that's why the Gen1 SHO's got their muscle-car-beating reputation. Out of all of the years, the Gen1 was the lightest car (by about 200 lbs), thus these things were able to pull low 15 1/4 miles, some factory freaks even breaking into the high side of 14's. That's why even though the Gen3 SHO came with a V8 making slightly more power than the old Yamahammer, it's still consistenly slower than a Gen1, or even a Gen2 for that matter.

smc540

Discussion Starter · #9 · Apr 29, 2004

We've agreed to race again, this time myself against the Suburban and his 88 Chevy POS wagon, I'm not sure what model it is exactly. It's all for fun though. I asked his girlfriend (one of my good friends) to race me in her '01 Eclipse Spyder GT, she won't, even though we're both sure she'd win, she's afraid to race, ah well. I've gotta take it easy on my car though, i'll be selling her in a couple of months

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Devin

· #10 · Apr 30, 2004

I thought the Gen3 would have been the lightest since it had an all aluminum block. What else did they cram on that car?

smc540

Discussion Starter · #11 · Apr 30, 2004

Originally posted by T3mplar@Apr 30 2004, 12:10 PM
I thought the Gen3 would have been the lightest since it had an all aluminum block. What else did they cram on that car?

Gen3's are pretty heavy, about 3300lbs heavy. I'm not sure what makes them so heavy though.

mwt

· #12 · Apr 30, 2004

Originally posted by PRLatinLoco@Apr 29 2004, 07:55 AM
I tell you this, I if was able to take my vulcan out of my car and transplant it on say, a riding-lawn mower, I'm not sure I know of a car I wouldn't be able to burn.

Where do you get the speed rated lawn mower tires?

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mikehawk

· #13 · Apr 30, 2004

Originally posted by mwt+Apr 30 2004, 03:15 PM-->QUOTE (mwt @ Apr 30 2004, 03:15 PM)

<!--QuoteBegin-PRLatinLoco

Click to expand...

@Apr 29 2004, 07:55 AM
I tell you this, I if was able to take my vulcan out of my car and transplant it on say, a riding-lawn mower, I'm not sure I know of a car I wouldn't be able to burn.

Click to expand...

Where do you get the speed rated lawn mower tires?

[/b]

He could probably use the slicks that junior dragsters use.

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markus

· #14 · May 2, 2004

Originally posted by jason8225@Apr 29 2004, 08:45 AM
Ah, welcome to the fallacy of GM. h34r:

Just what fallacy are you referring to?

Mark
95 SHO

smc540

Discussion Starter · #15 · May 2, 2004

Originally posted by Markus+May 2 2004, 06:44 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Markus @ May 2 2004, 06:44 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-jason8225@Apr 29 2004, 08:45 AM
Ah, welcome to the fallacy of GM. h34r:

Just what fallacy are you referring to?

Mark
95 SHO [/b][/quote]
Perhaps something along the lines of GM cars having impressive numbers, but lackluster performance? Hmm.....either way, I'm not a fan of GM cars.

Postmortem

· #16 · May 3, 2004

Originally posted by smc540+Apr 30 2004, 02:40 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (smc540 @ Apr 30 2004, 02:40 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-T3mplar@Apr 30 2004, 12:10 PM
I thought the Gen3 would have been the lightest since it had an all aluminum block. What else did they cram on that car?

Gen3's are pretty heavy, about 3300lbs heavy. I'm not sure what makes them so heavy though. [/b][/quote]
Their size.

tmonster

· #17 · May 3, 2004

Gear ratio's on those trucks are usually ment for towing. I raced my friends brothers Sierra HD 2500 with the Duramax... It was equal until I hit second gear, then I just waved. I stay side by side with another friends Tahoe 350, and thats in my duratec. However those BMW X5's....they dont impress me much, specially on the highway. Then again I haven been impressed by a BMW in a while. But anyways. Go ahead and race that Eclipse, as long as its an RS, you should be able to take it.

93taurusSX

· #18 · May 3, 2004

Originally posted by Postmortem+May 2 2004, 07:59 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Postmortem @ May 2 2004, 07:59 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>

Originally posted by [email protected] 30 2004, 02:40 PM
<!--QuoteBegin-T3mplar

Click to expand...

@Apr 30 2004, 12:10 PM
I thought the Gen3 would have been the lightest since it had an all aluminum block. What else did they cram on that car?

Click to expand...

Gen3's are pretty heavy, about 3300lbs heavy. I'm not sure what makes them so heavy though.

Their size. [/b][/quote]
AFAIK, its the extra electronics, bracing, sound deadening material, gizmos and doodads etc. The Gen3 SHO was Ford's bid make the SHO more upscale (around 30k...competing with japanese and euro sport sedans of the day), so luxury was expected to come with the performance - at the detriment to the car's curb weight.

tmonster

· #19 · May 3, 2004

They should've kept the V-6 and modded it, or made an SVT duratec.
If they designed the 3.0 Duratec like they did the 2.5SVT. the 3.0 Duratec probably would have had better numbers then the V8 Yamaha.

Or they could have just not screwed up the cams.... <_<

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