Match Race ~ 1966 Valiant 273/235 HP vs. 1965 Corvette 327/250 HP

-
6

69 Cuda 440

Legandary Member
Legendary Member
Joined
Dec 12, 2012
Messages
4,244
Reaction score
434
Location
Wilton, Connecticut
'Match Race'

1966 Valiant ~ 273/235 HP ~ 'Commando 273'
* 904 Automatic
* 3.91 Gears 'Sure-Grip'

1965 Corvette ~ 327/250 HP ~ 'Standard Engine'
* 2-Speed Powerglide
* 3.70 Gears 'Posi-Traction'

Lets put it to the Test.
 
The Corvette by a second or two. If you wanted to put them side by side the hardest thing would be to find a 'Vette like that. That thing would be rare.
 
My first though was the Vette should be quicker but the Valiant is a lite car and has the 3 speed trans. I'll take the Valiant by 2/10's.
 
Vette would catch it before the 1/4 was up-- 327 cubic inch will eat a 273 up

unless the 273 makes gobs more torque than a 283
chevy-- (past experience 283 vs 327 in the same car )
same exhaust everything-- no comparison of the 2.

similar to a 170 slant vs a 225 slant -- stock form no comparison for off line acceleration.

Question is who is driving?

professional or bench racer?
Lawrence
 
Weight Specs.

1966 Valiant V-100 '2-Door Sedan' ........... #2814 lbs. {Curb Weight; #2943 lbs.}
NHRA > #2814 lbs. ~ 235 HP = 11.91 Wt/HP

1965 Corvette 'Sport Coupe' ................... #2985 lbs. {Curb Weight; #3125 lbs.}
NHRA > #2985 lbs. ~ 250 HP = 11.94 Wt/HP

Both of these cars would have been classed in the same NHRA Class {F/SA} in 1966
{11.89 to 12.49 Wt/HP}.

Note; > The Valiant would have a +171 lb. weight advantage.
 
1965 Corvette Curb weight: Approx 3140 (coupe) lbs
1966 Plymouth Valiant weight: Approx 2,725 (dry) lbs

Power glide gear ratio: 1.76:1 * 1:1. (1.82:1 for exports) with 3.71 rear.
TF A904 gear ratios: 2.54:1 * 1.45:1 * 1:1. With 3.91 rear

Valiant power to weight: 11.59 to 12.1+
vs.
Corvette power to weight: 12.5+

Valiant torque(Commando-273): 280 lb/ft @ 4000
'Vette Torque(L79-327): 360 lb/ft @ 3600

Basically it will be very very close but I will bet on the Valiant due to it having more gears and slightly less weight.
If that corvette had a 3 spd or even a 4 spd manual. Then I think the Vette would easily take it.
 
I raced one In 1970 with my 65 Formula S 4spd and beat it.It was a powerglide 327 motor but not shure about the year. that powerglide would be a killer for that cars performance.I had 3,91s, top end if you had enough room He would ketch me.
 
Information

The 1965 Corvette was available with the;

* 327/250 HP ~ Base Engine
* 327/300 HP ~ L-75
* 327/350 HP ~ L-79
* 327/365 HP ~ L-76
* 327/375 HP ~ L-84

The 327/250 HP Engine had a Suffix Code {#HO} with the Powerglide.

The Standard Rear-End Gear Ratio was 3.36.
 
1965 Corvette 'Sport Coupe'

* 327/250 HP 'Turbo-Fire' {Engine Suffix #HO}
* Powerglide
* 3.36 Gears
* NHRA Shipping Weight > #2980 lbs.
* NHRA Factor > 11.94 Wt/HP

General Street Performance .......... 16.00's @ 87 MPH

w/3.70 Gears .............................. 15.80's @ 88 MPH
 
1965 Corvette ~ 327/250 HP ~ Powerglide

Was always labeled as, the 'Girlie Version Vette'

FL0113-143162_1.jpg


The 327/250 HP Engine was the same Block, Cylinder Heads, Camshaft and Valve Train as the
327/300 HP Engine.

Pistons ........................ 10.5-1 Compression Ratio {Flat Top Pistons w/Notches}
Deck Height ................. {-.014"} Below Deck

Cylinder Heads .............. #3782461 "461" 'Double-Hump Casting' {ie; 'Fuelie Heads'}
Combustion Chamber ..... 64.0 CC {Factory} ~ 57.3 CC {Minimum}
Valves .......................... 1.94" Intake ~ 1.50 Exhaust
Port Size ....................... 160 CC Intake ~ 62 CC Exhaust

Camshaft ...................... 'Hydraulic' #3733431 {ie; early '300 HP Cam'}
Lift ............................... .399"/.399"
Duration ........................ 250*/250*
Overlap ......................... 32.5*

Valve Springs ............... #86 lbs. @ 1.66" {Valve Closed} ~ #180 lbs. @ 1.26" {Valve Open}

Intake Manifold ............. #3844457 Cast Iron Dual-Plane Square Bore {Low-Riser} {1.50" x 1.50" Throttle Bores}

Carburetor .................. Carter WCFB #3696S
CFM ........................... 425 CFM {Advertised}
Throttle Bores ............. 1.437" x 1.437"

Exhaust Manifold ......... 2.00" Header Outlets

Fuel Inlet Line ............. 5/16"
 
Got to go with the 'Lil Valiant' here.

The 1966 V-100 had a Shipping Weight of #2814 lbs., and was 171 lbs. lighter than
the 1965 Corvette 'Sport Coupe'.

Add in, that the Valiant was chugging with a set of 3.91 Gears 'Sure-Grip', as compared
to the 3.70 'Posi-Traction' in the Corvette.

As for Automatic Transmissions, the A-904 Torqueflite in the 273 Commando wasequipped
with a 'special high-speed governor' for higher RPM shift points.

The Poweglide in the 327/250 HP was a 'basic shifting unit', and did not offer anyperformance points.

1/4 Mile Race Results

1966 Valiant V-100 ~ 273/235 HP ~ Torqueflite ~ 3.91 Gears .............. 15.63 @ 86.5 MPH

1965 Corvette 'Sport Coupe' 327/250 HP ~ Powerglide ~ 3.70 Gears .... 15.75 @ 88.0 MPH.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
-

Back
Top