SuperSnake video

[rubbinisracing]

Carroll got it up to 170mph on the Goodyear test track and the car has 4:11 gears....how many rpm was that thing turnin'? Got any idea Charley?

[Charley Lillard]

He averaged 142 mph for 500 miles. The Lemans engine is built to run at 7K rpm for 24 hours but I have no idea on what rpm it takes to hit 170. Maybe different gears for the test ? I really like how the narrator calls it a specially prepared 650 hp GT500.

[flyingn]

hard to believe. Thats a lot of air to push to get to 7000 rpm at speed.. Besides it would take a lot more then 7k rpm with a 4.11 geared car to reach 170..


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Carroll got it up to 170mph on the Goodyear test track and the car has 4:11 gears....how many rpm was that thing turnin'? Got any idea Charley?

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[rubbinisracing]

I only know Carroll Shelby by reputation but I would say its fair to think that a racer with the press all to himself would "push the envelope", "tweak the rules" or whatever you like to call it. A gear change would be likely!

Does the car have a standard "Rug-S" toplaoder or something special? Besides the headers is the engine different than the 2 other factory 427 cars?

Don't forget to post the clip Peter did on the car as well. It helps explain the significance of the car

[Born30YrsLate]

Charley...let me know what the rpms are at 60 mph in 4th gear and I'll figure out the rpm for 170 mph speed...

[Charley Lillard]

No need to tweak the rules or push the envelope if you are just doing a tire test. I think the test was planned to go 125 mph for 500 miles so common sense would call for a set of highway gears. Next time out I will check rpm at 60. Feels like 410 gears now though.

[VintageMusclecar]

[ QUOTE ]
Carroll got it up to 170mph on the Goodyear test track and the car has 4:11 gears....how many rpm was that thing turnin'? Got any idea Charley?

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Well, I'm not Charley, but I can answer that question...

Not knowing the actual height of the tires in question, I took a WAG and plugged 26" into the equation.

In order to run 170 MPH with a 26" tire and 4.11 gears, the engine would have to turn a little over 9,000 rpm, assuming a 1-1 final drive ratio and not taking into account any tire growth at speed.

*edit* using a 28" tire, it would take a little over 8300 rpm, FWIW.

That's wingin' it pretty hard to say the least.


Eric

(p.s. The formula is MPH X Gear Ratio X 336 [constant] / tire height.)

[TN2Lane]

Very cool video

I noticed Shelby climbs out through the drivers window at the end of the test. Necessary, or just force of habit?

[Charley Lillard]

That is AJ Foyt climbing out. At the beginning of the video it starts showing AJ doing a earlier Thunderbolt tire test. They have mixed the two.

[47Hammer]

Cool car, Great video.