why does a 375 hp(crank) thirdgen run in the 12's but a 350 hp(crank 4th gen run in the 13's?

 

Weight differences, differences in torque output/powerband, drivetrain differences, etc. That would be my guess, anyway.

 

maybe they forgot to turn the traction control off on the 4th gen theres more to it than an engine such as the gear ratio, tires, tranny setup etc.

 

yea but a second in the 1/4? i see a bunch of 3rd gens with about 375 horse in the 12's and a bunch of 350 horse 4th gens in the high 13's. theres not that much of a difference in weight and such.

i worked at dragway 42 for 3 years, i saw lots of later 4th gens, ss's,z28,s ws6, all in the high 13's, right around 13.5-13.8, now i see people on here advertising 12's in the quarter with like 325 hp at the wheels. 325 at the wheels, guess that would be closer to 400 hp at the crank..

dunno, seems like a rather large decrease in ET for a small increase in HP

 

4th gen drivers just dont know how to drive. haha im j/k. it is mostly weight differences and traction issues. my friends 98 t/a has over 400 hp at the crank and he cant get out of the 13's b/c he spins them through 2nd

 

we get better traction? doesnt make sense

 

yeah... idk

 

The driver still has a great deal to do with it. That's even more true if it's a stick shift.

I had a 97 Z28 back in 1999/2000 that just had a Borla catback, TB coolant bypass, the air silencer off the elbow removed, and the factory intake box cut open with a K&N air filter. It pushed 275 HP and 350 ft lbs of torque at the wheels. It made no less than 300 ft-lbs of torque starting at 2000 rpm. It ran nose to nose with a 12.5 second 90 fox body mustang coupe on the street. I could never get the damned thing to hook at the track though. It didn't matter how much I eased on the throttle. It sat sideways through the 1/8th mile mark then it would hook.

Sure my flat band of torque helped but, my shifting played a huge part in what it would do on the street. Hell, the 88 Camaro I have in my sig beat a 3rd Gen that had a blower on it by at least a car length on the street. Why? He had a stick and I had an auto. Again driving skills and the lack there of.


As for the 3rd Gen vs 4th Gen issues, the 4th gen weighs about 300 lbs more dry than a 3rd Gen. It's also larger in length and width. As a result, rear end is wider and will stick out beyond a 3rd Gen's wheel wells unless you get properly backspaced rims. They are just very different cars despite being so similar.

 

huh.. well the weight thing is something i cant figure out either
4th gens, plastic fuel tank, aluminum heads and driveshaft, plastic fenders and fiberglass hatch and doors, smaller rear glass, lighter wheels and 4 wheel disc brakes, and it weighs MORE. where's that extra weight? i can see a TA weighin in high with all the extra fairings and shiit but jeez 300 lbs? it has alott of lighter parts!

sounds like if i combine a 4thgen and a 3rd i can prob drop 1-200 lbs off my weight with the parts mentioned above.

quick note, you guys ever realize just how light a freakin small block chevy is, specially a gen3? ls1 weighs like 400 lbs, my 4 banger in my truck weighs like 350lbs with half the literage.the downside is our VE sucks! i get 145 horse outa my stock 2.4 liter truck, i get 170 hp outa my 5 liter camaro, CRAPPY

 

Yea I know, it makes no sense but those are the round about numbers. You can find them in the tech data and on the car's titles. The 300lbs is the greatest difference though. Most of them are probably around 200lbs heavier. You have to consider though that the 4th Gens have a lot more dash, a dual air bag setup, and many things like that that will add up. And again the 4th gen's are wider and longer so that means more floor pan, a revised unibody structure, more windshield glass, etc. They also have more speakers and a bose amp wil be lurking about somewhere. It all just adds up and it's hood is still very much made of steel.