Hey guys, I have a few questions for you all:

I have a buddy with a 1992 s10 4.3 2wd. Stock rearend (3.23? open) and lowered. He has swapped the intake for a carb'd 4bbl with like a 500cfm edelbrock. His speedo doesn't work but he claims he has pinned his truck at 140 with gps with a 4.3. I called bs and that my z28 won't ever go that fast and he wants to race now.

Here is some of my research, please correct any errors as necessary:

1983 Chev Camaro 305 TBI:
Redline -> 5000
Trans -> 700r4
FDR -> 2.93lsd
Tires -> 215/65/15
Weight -> ~3200lbs

Stock Horsepower - 175
Stock Torque - 250
Drag Coefficient - 0.369
Frontal Area - 24sqft

Mods:
Ported intake and TBIs. Mild head port.

1992 Chev s10 4.3:
Redline -> 5500
Trans -> 4l60
FDR -> 3.23open
Tires -> 215/65/15
Weight -> ~3300-3400lbs

Stock Horsepower - 160
Stock Torque - 230
Drag Coefficient - 0.44
Frontal Area - 24.4

Mods:
V6 4bbl intake and MSD ignition.

Theoretically, the top speed for both without consideration for drag, friction, drivetrain loss, suspension, weight etc. is 188mph.

To go 120 though, my car needs 135.7hp while the s10 needs 160.9. Am I all wet here?

Also, I run a 17.0 e/t with a reaction time of ~.5 (I reaaally suck at drag racing) while he runs a 16.5 with experience.

Just wondering who would prevail here. Any opinions?

 

4.3 are some strong little engines you guy might go toe 2 toe in a drag race

 

I had a 4.3 cpi in my blazer and it hauled but his is tbi and we're talking top speeds. I think he'd have me in a pass but I don't think he'll touch 140

 

I had a Q-Jet fed 305 in my 83 G20 that had no issue pushing the Van above 120 mph on flat land. I had a very mild 204/214* cam with Doug Thorley Tri-Ys and an edelbrock performer RPM intake.

 

I would call bs unless me was going down the side of a mountain.

 

i think that s10 will win by 2ft.

 

Not at all buddy....5,000+ RPM in 3rd gear, with 3.08 gears and 28.5" tall tires. Do the math, its ~125 mph. Its replacement engine has seen 6,400 rpm in 3rd gear ~150. Box on wheels gets moving pretty good.

 

I have two words for you "wind resistance". The S10 in question doesn't have enough beans to get it up there. I am not saying it isn't possible but you would need more than 160ish hp at 5500 rpm. I had a 80 z28 that would do 140ish but it was a lot more streamlined had twice the hp and 1000 more rpms but more gear.

 

I tend to disagree with you, having had a 2.8 TBI/5spd S10 up to 110-120 mph myself. I had my heavy 4x4 S15 Jimmy 2.8TBI/Automatic up to 110+ a couple of times too and at the time it had nearly 200K on it. A carb 4.3 has atleast 170-180 hp if its tuned well, maybe more.

Look at how well this little 200 HP 4.3 pushes a brick of a heavy Astro.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lIMadRw7zo

 

Well I would have to see it. When it comes to top speed rpm is just as important as hp. Considering the engine in question is limted to 5500 rpm. Heads, cam, and springs would have more to do with red line than carb. I can't remember where od kicks out on a 4l60 its half or 3/4 throttle on a stock tranny and 3.23 gears. So od would be iffy. I ran those numbers through one of those theoretical top speed calculators and 131 was top speed with the extra power to overcome all the resistances.

 

Some 4L60 transmissions did not downshift at WOT above about 80 mph and would also do a WOT 3-4 upshift. Contrary to popular belief they were not only installed in the Corvette and some F-cars. Some trucks had them as well.