Classic American Muscle v. 300ZX (in 1/4 mile)

[7B7]

A few of us are sitting around drinking beer and talking cars. We have a question that we would like to ask all the people here on Automotiveforums.com as to their opinion.

In the 1/4 mile, and only the 1/4 mile. What would win in a race, a classic American Muscle car, (something like a classic 69-72 454, 396, 502, 442 Chevelle, Camaro, Charger, Olds. or something similar), any classic American big block engine against a Nissan 300zx.

Two part Question:

Part 1
Both cars Street Legal.

Part 2
Now with both cars you can spend as much money as possible and put as many mods as possible (Super Charged, Turbo...). Bottom line is which care could be faster in the 1/4, classic American Muscle (Big Block) or the 300ZX.

Thanks for the Help

[NISSANSPDR]

I would say the Big Block...the Z's not a drag strip monster like say the Supra or RX7 can be...but there is a non street legal Z that's in the 7's...

[Benelli5]

For a 1/4 mile race I would think it would be pretty tough for the Z to beat the big block. If you really are going to keep the street legal then you are going to have to use aftermarket parts that keep the car street legal. The muscle car is going to have a huge advantage there. Companies have been making parts to make them faster drag racers for 40+ years.

Im sure someone will tell me I'm an idiot and explain why but I dont think this race would be that close.

[Joseph1082]

To me there is one answer to this, which comes to me as the age old import vs. domestic/turbo vs. v8 debate...
Ok, with unlimited funds, I'd say the answer is a tie. Even though we argue this back and forth, and logic would dictate that the BIGGER motor would win, that argument has limits, one's pockets... remove this, and you open-up a limitless equation.
I mean, by the end of the spending you could pretty much have every single part in the engine replaced with a custom space-shuttle titanium replacement etc etc. I mean, with unlimited funds, I'd have to say the sky is the limit, you can build a 1500HP V8, or a 1500HP V6TT.

[Neutrino]

Strictly for the 1/4 mile big displacement engines will always be better. Especially combined with modern technology. Lets take a 528 Hemi for example: Pair it up with two modern and efficient turbochargers and you can get to 1500HP somewhat easily.


On the other hand take a 300ZX engine and try to make 1500 HP it will be very very difficult and that engine will barelly be reliable for a run or two.

Also if the sky is the limit for mods we don't need to look further that top fuelers. They run 500 Ci hemi style engines and are in the high 3's and low 4's with over 6000HP. There is no car with the 300ZX or any other relativelly low displacement engine coming even close.


In the real world where handling matters, the polar momentum of a big block will cause huge problems and here is where modern, compact, high efficiency engines come in.

But in the 1/4 big engines still rule.

[Joseph1082]

well aren't the fastest times for "regular" cars 6-7 seconds... there are Supras running 7 sec I6 Turbo's and there are huge v8's running the same thing... that is the point I was trying to make... in the context of regular cars and not top fuel or funny cars.

[Neutrino]

Originally Posted by Joseph1082

well aren't the fastest times for "regular" cars 6-7 seconds... there are Supras running 7 sec I6 Turbo's and there are huge v8's running the same thing... that is the point I was trying to make... in the context of regular cars and not top fuel or funny cars.

well i already made my point about "regular" cars. 1500 HP is about the absolute max you can get out of relativelly small displacement engines such as 2jz, RB26. I doubt a VQ30 could even get there. And any of those engines at those powr levels is going to be good only for a few runs. On the other hand a hemi 528 twin turbo would get to 1500 hp quite easily, in comparison, and still be somewhat reliable.

The point of top fuelers was to show the absolute max potential. Only hemi style v8 can reach that level. There is no RB26/2jz/VQ30 at that level period

[kman10587]

Grand Nationals and Supras can break 1000, and they aren't V8s...I've never seen any other V6 get that high, though.

[MR2Driver]

NOTE: Supra is not a V6

[kman10587]

ROFL my bad, what am I thinking. I meant to say 6-cylinders, not V6's. :P

[Joseph1082]

What is the absolute fstest regular car... somewhere in 6 secs right?

[freakonaleash1187]

just a little nit pick, the 300zx has a vg30 not vq30. anyways, i believe muscle will always come out on top at the drags. especially against a 300zx. a 300zx wasn't made for the 1/4 mile, they were made more for the track. strictly for drag strip, muscle would win. oh yeah, the lingenfelter corvette does the 1/4 in 6.? seconds.

[Joseph1082]

Lingenfelter in Street trim does 8.95. so I guess an all-out drag lingenfelter could hit 6... I also saw the world's fastest Camaro, it was old school has 2000HP and was doin 6's. I'm saying, 6 sec is the limit for normal cars.

[91300zxtt]

you wont be able to tell. with endless amounts of money for mods you cant say that one will be faster than the other. with that money you can modify the non legal parts to be street legal, so theres no way to tell

[Rakshas]

the muscle car should win, no emissions takes street legal to a whole new level. However the Z wins in handling and interior.