Id like to play devils advocate

[toilets]

PLEASE NOTE- Im not trying to start something, but would like to verify my math.

So Zl1- 4120 pounds and 493hp at the tires (taking into account a 15% drivetrain loss which seems standard for GM)
Gives you a power to weight ratio of 8.35

An SS- at 3700 pounds (what my car weighs now) at 450hp to the tires has a power to weight ratio of 8.22

Am i missing something? I cannot believe because of this, that essentially the SS with simple bolt-ons and a cam has the ability to out accelerate a Zl1 because of the weight ratio being lower on the SS

Any input? Does the GT500 have a lower weight ratio currently?

[mgoodbar]

not sure about were you got the numbers from... I saw that the LS3 was 3829.00 lb and a L99 was 3900 something it was a hundred lb more...... i dont know about the ZL1 I would guess 4000lb.... if we add a blower to a M6 trans... these numbers are off a little.. I know the LS3 is more than 3700 though.. I think the Gt500 was 4200 or something... it is supose to run a 12.5 1/4 with the right driver... so I would say the ZL1 should run a 1/4 in less time like a 12.2

[toilets]

Zl1 is locked in stone at 4120. and my car weighed in at the truck stop at 3720 but I still had my crap in the rear of the car. So I was just using my car as a reference

[newagemuscle]

I thought the ls3 was 3860 and the l99 was somewhere aroung 3940. I could be off though.

[1st Gen Forever]

Apples to apples would be to look up the power of an LSA with a cam, pulley, headders and tune then use that in your math with the weight of a ZL1 compared to your SS...

[toilets]

Originally Posted by 1st Gen Forever

Apples to apples would be to look up the power of an LSA with a cam, pulley, headders and tune then use that in your math with the weight of a ZL1 compared to your SS...

TRUE- but then my new zl1 would kill my ss!!!!

I was just throwing it out there since it seemed a little odd to me that with simple bolt-ons and a cam I would then have a lower Power to weight ratio than the zl1

[BiggFoot]

Originally Posted by toilets

PLEASE NOTE- Im not trying to start something, but would like to verify my math.

So Zl1- 4120 pounds and 493hp at the tires (taking into account a 15% drivetrain loss which seems standard for GM)
Gives you a power to weight ratio of 8.35

An SS- at 3700 pounds (what my car weighs now) at 450hp to the tires has a power to weight ratio of 8.22

Am i missing something? I cannot believe because of this, that essentially the SS with simple bolt-ons and a cam has the ability to out accelerate a Zl1 because of the weight ratio being lower on the SS

Any input? Does the GT500 have a lower weight ratio currently?

I believe your answer will come when GM announces the 1/4 mi ET's for the stock ZL1 in the high 11's. Nuff said!

[mgoodbar]

+ 1 on the 3860 and 1960... thats what I saw... I have my exhaust gutted so I am guessing my L99 is now 3900 even...

[toilets]

Originally Posted by BiggFoot

I believe your answer will come when GM announces the 1/4 mi ET's for the stock ZL1 in the high 11's. Nuff said!

LOL, I hope soooo!!!! I better not being paying xx,xxx for nothing!!!

[mgoodbar]

I would like to know how much some of the parts of our weigh's... like the hood, would we benifit from a carbon fiber hood? I saw some carbon fiber doors 2 grand, but if I could drop 250 lb hey great...I would love to get my car down to 3600.. my 67, camaro was 33 something...

[mgoodbar]

I agree I hope the ZL1 runs a 11.8 flat out or faster...

[IOMZL1]

If your SS does weigh 3700 lbs you’ve done some big weight savings mods as the curb weight is listed as 3860 for the manual and 3913 for the automatic. Remember that curb weight is calculated with a full tank, so if you weighed your car when close to empty that will account for up to 114 lbs (approximate weight of 19 gallons of gasoline). That means to compare apples to apples you have to subtract the same weight from the ZL1. Or if you haven’t done any weight savings, I’d just use the curb weight of the SS for consistency sake because the scales could have been off, etc.

Usually power to weight ratio is calculated from engine HP, not RWHP. There are other factors to consider such as area under the HP/Torque curves – not just the peak power. You can have a higher peak but the curve of the LSA is relatively flat so there is more power through the RPM range. Factors such as gearing can also play a part in acceleration.

That said, if your SS weighs what you say (with a full tank) and has the HP you say, the power to weight is about the same or slightly better ratio than the ZL1 (given room for measurement errors). Assuming you can get as much traction as the ZL1 you should be able to equal or beat it in acceleration. Don’t forget that the ZL1 has PTM and launch control to assist with its launches.

[mgoodbar]

I saw a video somewere of the ZL1 being dialed in at the track.... That thing hooked like it had slicks on it.... If our cars stock hooked up like that a 13.0 would never be a issue.... in stock fourm...... just saying

[toilets]

Originally Posted by IOMZL1

If your SS does weigh 3700 lbs you’ve done some big weight savings mods as the curb weight is listed as 3860 for the manual and 3913 for the automatic. Remember that curb weight is calculated with a full tank, so if you weighed your car when close to empty that will account for up to 114 lbs (approximate weight of 19 gallons of gasoline). That means to compare apples to apples you have to subtract the same weight from the ZL1. Or if you haven’t done any weight savings, I’d just use the curb weight of the SS for consistency sake because the scales could have been off, etc.

Usually power to weight ratio is calculated from engine HP, not RWHP. There are other factors to consider such as area under the HP/Torque curves – not just the peak power. You can have a higher peak but the curve of the LSA is relatively flat so there is more power through the RPM range. Factors such as gearing can also play a part in acceleration.

That said, if your SS weighs what you say (with a full tank) and has the HP you say, the power to weight is about the same or slightly better ratio than the ZL1 (given room for measurement errors). Assuming you can get as much traction as the ZL1 you should be able to equal or beat it in acceleration. Don’t forget that the ZL1 has PTM and launch control to assist with its launches.

DAMNIT- thats what I forgot!!! Your right. OK good, that makes me feel better. I had a quarter tank of gas and yes it was 3720 but still had things in the back seat (computer, tire inflator system and all that stuff in the trunk) so 3700 would be about right.