Aerodynamic question

[BrazilianZ28Camaro]

Supose two stock bodied drag cars running 1/4 mile, say, 71 Camaro and a 67 dodge dart .

Tha cars have the same power curve engines,both have 420 tq and 400 hp,same drive line,same weight , same tires (enough traction for both cars), same weight transfer, and the only diference is aerodynamic DRAG...

My doubt is :

Will be the Camaro faster because the better aerodynamic? How much the ET could be smaller?

Or the dodge dart can be faster?

Just asking because is hard to find info about drag cars aerodynamics mods...


thanks everyone in advance

[RCJ]

I would give the camaro a slight advantage because of the over all car is lower.I don't think the camaro has very low drag at all.The large grill opening, The front valance funnels the air under the car,tall rear spoiler could hurt also.Those are the areas I was going to workon on my car but, I've got off on a different project and havn't been able to work on it.

[BrazilianZ28Camaro]

I would give the camaro a slight advantage because of the over all car is lower.

Maybe the Camaro would be about a tenth faster?

[Bubstr]

My gut feeling says that the Camaro would only have a slim advantage because of windshield angle, provided both was low center of gravity cars. (sitting low). I doubt that you would get much more than a couple MPH at best. That may be wiped out by drag due to extra down force that the Camero would have. Guess the only real answer is in a wind tunnel somewhere. You can get a little incite from total frontal area. Every thing seen from the front view and the area under the bumper counts. Add it up in square feet.

[andpt77]

I know this post is old but I'll give my insight. We found that running the softest front springs as possible is VERY beneficial on the top end of the track. Need to get the front to lift on starting line and have very soft springs so it lays back down. Front end low-less air under car no matter what the rest of the body looks like. And remember the air rides an inch off the body at all times.

[Eric David Bru]

...And remember the air rides an inch off the body at all times.

[BrazilianZ28Camaro]

I know this post is old but I'll give my insight. We found that running the softest front springs as possible is VERY beneficial on the top end of the track. Need to get the front to lift on starting line and have very soft springs so it lays back down. Front end low-less air under car no matter what the rest of the body looks like. And remember the air rides an inch off the body at all times.

Good info, thanks for reply...

To add

I watch on a tv program about Lingenfelter modified Corvettes that said : "are necessary 280 HP to increase the final velocity of 96' bodied corvette from 218mph to 248mph"

So... aerodynamic drag is something to consider...

[Stan Weiss]

Here is a graph that shows aero dynamic drag the curved different colored line, tire rolling resistance the straight different colored line and the soild dark blue which is the total HP needed. The amount of HP needed will change as the CD / Coefficient of drag and the Frontal area Change. Notice that you only need 90 HP at about 110 MPH.

[BrazilianZ28Camaro]

Here is a graph that shows aero dynamic drag the curved different colored line, tire rolling resistance the straight different colored line and the soild dark blue which is the total HP needed. The amount of HP needed will change as the CD / Coefficient of drag and the Frontal area Change. Notice that you only need 90 HP at about 110 MPH.

Thanks for the graph Stan,

Have you some info about the 71 Camaro and 67 Dodge Dart C.D.?

Maybe I can estimate the HP diference to both cars get the same ET if there are considerable diferences in CD....

[Stan Weiss]

The question is fast / mph are the cars running? If we are talking 125 MPH or less there will be very little difference in et and maybe 1 or 2 MPH at the most.

[BrazilianZ28Camaro]

The question is fast / mph are the cars running? If we are talking 125 MPH or less there will be very little difference in et and maybe 1 or 2 MPH at the most.

OK I GET THE POINT

THANKS

[traxiii]

And remember the air rides an inch off the body at all times.

Yes, they call the stationary air on the body skin the boundary layer, but it is MUCH LESS than an inch thick. The air velocity increases gradually as you get further from the skin until it is totally unaffected from surface drag.