Horespower Deficit Disorder

HiTempguy wrote:

Adrian_Thompson wrote: How about selling the 944, then buying a 3.6 from a wrecked 996 and putting it in the Boxster? That or there are supercharger kits out there for the Boxster.

You'd be faster for "cheaper" doing the LSX swap. See, 350hp is just a starting point for the 944. Really, if you do all of the common bolt ons plus a cam, we're talking close to 400whp in a 944. Not much will realistically touch it! And after driving a 1994 LT1 6 speed camaro, having "only" 275hp and 350tq's in a car under 3500 pounds will make you smile EVERY. SINGLE. TIME you drive it. Especially when you kick the ass end out around corners because you can.

You'd be faster, but for how long? 944 transaxles aren't renowned for their strength. If you swap in a 951 trans you've added a lot to the cost.

Also, and I know this is just personal preference, but much as I love 944's a V8 one just dosn't hit my buttons, but it's the OP's choice.

All this swap stuff and me trying to sell you my race car aside - is there any reason not to just go get a 1st gen viper? ... or if you want to really impress yourself - any japanese litre bike with racing pedegree will shock the E36 M3 out of your idea of automobile acceleration.

^ This . . . and you don't need a liter bike to do it.

My VFR800 makes my CTS-V feel like it only has 200hp

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: or if you want to really impress yourself - any japanese litre bike with racing pedegree will shock the E36 M3 out of your idea of automobile acceleration.

That entirely depends on your previous automotive background. Once you've driven a serious drag car that can launch the wheels and beat 99% of the bikes ever made they all start to look slow.

But yes, Viper. Especially a Gen 1 RT/10 with the no roof and ankle-burning sidepipes. Love that car!

In reply to Javelin:

That Viper isn't $5k though...

I remember the owners manual for the 1986 VFR1000R first few pages.

"Do not apply excessive throttle in first or second gear for danger of rear tip over may occur"

I always have loved those bikes!

Yes in a straight line a bike will kill just about anything on 4 wheels. We are talking adding zeros to keep up.

Take a 2011 ZX6R from Kawasaki (hehe I said Saki!)0-60 in the 3.3 range, top speed 170+mph. For $9999 MSRP off the showroom floor (The new ones are $10,600 MSRP but that is no haggling so there is room.)

More speed per $ than any car, period.

If you want to go all out. Look at the new ZX14R. Not the turner the 600 cc bike is but it will kill a 'Busa, and with a tuning box (Japanese agreement not to produce bikes that will go more than 200 mph, so they detuned and limited them. Simple as a plug in and remap) and you are well past 200.
We are talking Hypercar territory. " 0-60 mph speed is attained by this super-horse in just about 2.5 seconds with top speed being limited to 299 km/h on special pact entered by both leading Japanese and European Bike Manufacturers."

You can buy a faster car but you will be spending 4-5 times the amount of money to get something new, and off the shelf.

Bikes are the cheapest and quickest way to straight line speed.

Cars still have an advantage in the corners.

just my $0.02 but unless you are really good though a bike can be terrifically hard to launch.

want to think outside the box?

Hows about a Pinto with a heavily turbo'd 2.3? Hot Rod showcased one that was built for less than $10k that was knocking down low 10's. FWIW it could run in the import classes too because the blocks were cast in Brazil

In reply to Carro Atrezzi. Or the OP fomerly known as A401CJ:

That used to be true, very very true.

But the ZX14R has launch control.

10 second quarter miles with a 3 year warranty anyone?

Although just the satisfaction of running the Ford in an import class would have me going that direction...

Honestly, the CHEAPEST way to get goofy, kinda scary power in a car is still a FWD turbo dodge. There are lots of other platforms that can achieve the same thing for the same dollar much less consistently (have to get lucky on buy-in price), but the turbo dodge wins on easiness by how consistently worthless the actual car's cost is.

You can EASILY build a mid-12s@~110mph car for ~2k, including the car. Then you have to replace the stock turbo!

My $2009 challenge car has actually, not theoretically, made people scream. Tq/weight.. turbo dodges are good at this, and this is where the freak-out comes from. You can make power/weight and not really have that high drama. That $2009 car makes more torque per weight than all but the fastest diesel drag trucks, for example. It's a completely stock longblock with a stock turbo and it's not even close to maxed out.

An earlier comment was made about an lt1 camaro.. honestly, i think i got a little spoiled on turbo dodges. Ill just leave it at that. lol

Vigo does speak the truth on what scares people. For some reason it's more prevalent in turbo cars because of the WAY the power is delivered.

If you have a spool up that makes your belly button feel weird, people will be scared.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: All this swap stuff and me trying to sell you my race car aside - is there any reason not to just go get a 1st gen viper? ... or if you want to really impress yourself - any japanese litre bike with racing pedegree will shock the E36 M3 out of your idea of automobile acceleration.

Nads son ,they call em nads wanna spill em on a rock wall at 130mpph?

Vigo wrote: An earlier comment was made about an lt1 camaro.. honestly, i think i got a little spoiled on turbo dodges. Ill just leave it at that. lol

Having owned a turbo dodge and never having found one in remotely good shape, I really don't take offense. I still know which one I'd rather own, I've basically written off fwd cars unless I need a daily driver for work... even then, rwd just makes everything more fun, and I've been racing fwd cars for the past 8 years.

You want stupid fast for stupid cheap?

I think Hot Rod already covered that with "The Bad Seed" Chevette.

It was crude as all hell, but you could build TWO for your budget.

Formula was: Chevette - EVERYTHING + 500 Ci Caddy with 472 heads.

Course, Chevette + $4000 5.0 = silliness as well.

There's a difference between what you can build for cheap when you already have welders and metal fab tools and all the skills to use them, and what you can bolt together cheap with regular hand tools and no fabrication required.

Some of the Nelson family GRM Challenge entries come to mind. Yes, it is possible to do things that cheap, but if time is money, most people would spend more time/money learning to get to that point in car-building, than they would spend building a $15k car that didnt require any special talent or fab work. Not that im advocating one way or another, just saying.. Cheap is relative to your talents and improving your talents isnt cheap where time is concerned.

TRoglodyte wrote:

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: All this swap stuff and me trying to sell you my race car aside - is there any reason not to just go get a 1st gen viper? ... or if you want to really impress yourself - any japanese litre bike with racing pedegree will shock the E36 M3 out of your idea of automobile acceleration.

Nads son ,they call em nads wanna spill em on a rock wall at 130mpph?

Why am I reading that in Sam Elliot's voice?

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:

TRoglodyte wrote:

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: All this swap stuff and me trying to sell you my race car aside - is there any reason not to just go get a 1st gen viper? ... or if you want to really impress yourself - any japanese litre bike with racing pedegree will shock the E36 M3 out of your idea of automobile acceleration.

Nads son ,they call em nads wanna spill em on a rock wall at 130mpph?

Why am I reading that in Sam Elliot's voice?

In a bowling alley, while drinking a good Sioux City sarsaparilla? That's how I read it too.

I take comfort in that. Knowin' that there's someone out there, takin' 'er easy for all of us sinners.

Build a bike engined locost.