ClassicOldsmobile.com - View Single Post - what kind of performace figures should u get with a 455 in a 3750lbs car?

344870M · 05-21-2008, 10:53 AM

I had a 66 Starfire for my first car. I remember reading (and not knowing what it meant) a "taxable" horsepower figure for the car. I think it was about 75. This means (I guess) that there was about 300 horsepower at the rear wheels. I raced the car in the eighth mile and ran my quickest run at 9.36 seconds. Not bad for a 4200lb car with 3.08/3.23 (?) gears and an auto. Can someone w/a Starfire confirm that number?

This calculator would then put my big ol Starfire at 14.04 in 1/4 with a trap speed of 97. It was pushing 75 in the eighth.
That sounds about right.

However... My 70 W30 4 spd w/4.33's... I would hope/think that this car has more rear wheel hp than the Starfire. They're both rated at 375. Sure. OK.

Never raced it, but using figures I've read. A 3750 lb car running the recorded time of 13.88 puts r/w hp at 257. That's about -30% loss. And makes the car a dog. It is NOT a dog. And it gets ALL OVER that big Starfire. I find it hard to believe that after all that was done to the W machines it would only run .16 seconds quicker. Or am I figuring something wrong.
The original owner told me the car ran high 12's.

But then memories get fuzzy don't they.

Here's a clip of the W from a few years ago. She was loosing vacuum out the back of the intake so she wasn't running as well as she could.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y_OKnABGJ0

05-21-2008, 10:53 AM	#17 (permalink)
344870M Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: n/w PA Posts: 24	I had a 66 Starfire for my first car. I remember reading (and not knowing what it meant) a "taxable" horsepower figure for the car. I think it was about 75. This means (I guess) that there was about 300 horsepower at the rear wheels. I raced the car in the eighth mile and ran my quickest run at 9.36 seconds. Not bad for a 4200lb car with 3.08/3.23 (?) gears and an auto. Can someone w/a Starfire confirm that number? This calculator would then put my big ol Starfire at 14.04 in 1/4 with a trap speed of 97. It was pushing 75 in the eighth. That sounds about right. However... My 70 W30 4 spd w/4.33's... I would hope/think that this car has more rear wheel hp than the Starfire. They're both rated at 375. Sure. OK. Never raced it, but using figures I've read. A 3750 lb car running the recorded time of 13.88 puts r/w hp at 257. That's about -30% loss. And makes the car a dog. It is NOT a dog. And it gets ALL OVER that big Starfire. I find it hard to believe that after all that was done to the W machines it would only run .16 seconds quicker. Or am I figuring something wrong. The original owner told me the car ran high 12's. But then memories get fuzzy don't they. Here's a clip of the W from a few years ago. She was loosing vacuum out the back of the intake so she wasn't running as well as she could. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y_OKnABGJ0 __________________ 1970 W-30 4spd, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y_OKnABGJ0 Why is there a "Z" on my trim tag!!??