They were underrated brand new so they would be under the Corvette's power. Where they really shine was in torque. One of our local club guys just put down 355 lb ft at the wheels on the dyno. Rwhp was 245, figure roughly 300hp/ 400trq at the flywheel roughly. ANd I agree, once he has the power get it to the ground and then you can start to find what's weak
I would just get a 200r4 that one of the vendors such as the "real" Art Carr sells or TCI. The GN guys want good money for cores that you would have to rebuild and you would still be into it for more than just getting one that was already built. TCI, etc do all the GN mods and then some so you are ahead of the game. I had one in my Cutl*** that was built by Bruce Toelle who owns PTS Extreme in Wilton, CA. It shifted fast and very hard and handled alot of abuse I had dished out to it.
This is possibly just a tad too much power.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWvDHFETN4g Cheers, Glen.
I would build the 200R4 before mating it to the engine, then again, you could also go 700R4 as well since it is a Chev engine. In either case, you will need to have the trans built. Then on to the brakes and rear suspension to get the power to the ground.
Well they were trapping 95 - 99 dead stock, so I'm thinking the actual Hp was more like 270 - 280. With a few bolt on mods and some boost you are looking at the numbers his motor is putting out. Plenty of FAST Buicks running around with the stock ******, I wouldn't worry about that being a weak link.
Aside from all the ball-breaking going on about your question, I think it's good you are thinking about it. I've seen too much power for a particular car set up, not good. Buckle
It is a valid question - and the answer is that the frame WILL be flexy for that kind of power IF it ever hooks up hard. With the stock rear suspension that won't be a problem. The weak spot will be the narrow rear leaf springs, not the frame. If you beef up the rear suspension then the weak spot might be the frame twisting. Make sure you have one hell of a trans crossmember in there, not just a piece of square tubing bolted on to the frame at each end. That stock K-brace does a lot for the original frame. You should be able to use it - my '53 didn't require any cutting of the trans member at all when I dropped in my 350/350 combo. I have a 1978 Impala station wagon driveshaft in mine (not because I have a lot of horsepower, but because it's what I had laying in my garage) so that's one thought on that issue. But there is no rule that says you have to launch at 4,000rpms with 10-inch slicks on the back, right? With narrow tires you probably can't twist the frame.
Yea but most of them have been rebuilt. Us Buick Guys love to say "It's all stock" You can't see the boost cranked up
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