68 Rivi New Charger

The Caprice took it by a few cars and it stayed there, and a good running 455 Riviera would have too. I was there. I was driving the Dodge. It was a 5.7 R/T. I don't know how else to put it. It probably would have caught up and won in the 1/4, but that was not what I was interested in knowing plus the salesman was getting nervous by 70 mph. It was slower off the line and down low, and felt cheap so I didn't buy it. I went back to that dealer three times to give it a fair chance. I couldn't decide so we settled it with some light-to-light competition. I'm very happy that I didn't waste the money, because that cash is now building a twin turbo TA block 455.
The Caprice runs in the mid 14s at 95 MPH. A good running 455 Riviera with headers, exhaust, about a C118 cam, 9.5:1 compression, slight converter, 3.42 gear, and proper tune will run mid 13s at around 102MPH. I've now built many Buick fullsizes and know this. So if a 14.5 second car can squeak by an unmodified 5.7 Charger, then a 455 Riviera will walk by it. That is what this thread started out about, not SRTs and trucks. There is no doubt that anything can be fast. Who said my caprice is stock anyway? I just thought I would reply with an actual personal experience I had related to the original question.
I just need to make all of my daily drivers run high 10s and be done with these street racing arguements.

 

...Back to your problem, with a double roller timing chain you need to clearence the fuel pump so the arm doesnt hit the wider chain - hog out the mounting holes about 1/16th inch

 

They definitely should have made an SRT8 Ram but I couldn't afford it if they did so I'm happy with what I have. They do have an RT hemi ram now but it's just a badge deal, you can get a non RT 5.7 anyway so who cares.

So, your modified Caprice beat a stock RT and you were disappointed in the RT??? What did that prove? I don't see the point in the attitude of "oh if my souped up Caprice can beat the hemi then that hemi is slow and a POS." I don't get it.

I know those fullsize LT1 powered cars are pretty "quick" but they aren't anywhere near 14.5 so you must have some good mods in yours. I'd be surprised if they hit 15s in stock form. They were only rated at 260 horse in a BIG BODY Caprice that weighs over 2 tons. Put those mods in a 5.7 and you'll probably be 2 seconds faster than your Caprice. An LT1 is a good motor but no match to a 5.7 hemi.

And a stock RT (5.7 hemi) will run faster than 14.5. Like I said earlier, my stock TRUCK ran 14.81 and it outweighs a charger/challenger by 600+ lbs, has no aerodynamics and is not geared as well as an LX hemi. Most RT 5.7s are running about what the GT mustangs are running: 13.8-14.2.

So a souped up 455 will run mid 13s but a souped up 5.7 won't? Again, we're comparing a modded car to a stock car, that is meaningless. There are plenty of modded 5.7s running 10s. So what? There are plenty of 455s running 10s, so what?

I still don't think a 5.7 STOCK RT hemi Charger giving a 455 Rivie a good run is hard to believe at all.

Of course a built 455 would walk all over a stock 5.7 any day...but then again, a built 5.7 would walk all over a stock 455 anyday also...

 

Actually, the new Ram R/T has 4.10 gears, and a different torque converter (higher stall). Does 0-60mph is under 6 seconds, and does the 1/4mi in the low 14's. Pretty impressive for a pickup.

Good points :beer .

 

I didn't know that. I don't even see 4.10s listed as an option or the RT as an option but I know they make RT Rams. What's with the 3.21 gears as standard now on the rams? God I can't even imagine how god awful that is. My truck came with 3.55s and it was pretty awful. I have 4.56s now and it's like a whole new truck. I wish I hadn't waited so long. I'm hoping to run at least 14.2s or so now

I still don't see why they don't just make an SRT8 Dakota and just blow the competition out of the water.

 

4.10's are just standard on the R/T, not available on any other models. The R/T is a model available only on the RCSB configuration, like an SLT or Sport model.

I think 3.55's are still standard, with 3.92's being optional. My '04 originally came with an open 3.55 rear, but at some point I think someone stuffed a 3.92 LSD in there, although the clutch packs are totally worn out at this point.

 

I think 3.23s are standard now. I have no clue why. The 3.55s are god awful.

I have over 70K on my stock LSD and have about 5 million launches and burn outs behind me and my LSD is still working great. When I first got my truck I was told the rear end was the first thing that would go. IDK It's held up great

 

Very nice.

 

We owned a 2006 R/T with the R/T package (additional 10hp), and then traded it for a 2007 SRT8 which my wife still has as a DD.

The two are completely different cars. For some reason, I was never impressed with the R/T, and felt it was a dog. That is not to say it was slow, I just didn't feel it lived up to the hype. I think there must be a large variance in the 5.7 hemi cars, as the car we test drove ran very hard, but the one we ordered did not. Even with Borla exhaust, 180 thermostat, and programmer it just never came alive like I expected.

The SRT8 is a beast. Anybody that underestimates one of them needs to have a very low 13sec or better car. Contrary to what somebody said, neither of them are 'peaky', and in fact have a lot of torque.

The SRT8 jeeps are just silly. Drive one of those and you will find yourself smiling for hours. They have an incredible off the line launch. At the SRT experience, which everyone gets to do that has one, the Jeeps would be glued to the Vipers bumper until the straitaways. They are extremely impressive.

Just speaking from experience from both cars. Could a Riv or LT1 car beat a 5.7? Yes, if it's a sick 5.7 like ours was, and the other cars are at the top of their game.

 

The factory LSD's are notorious for having the retaining clips fall out, which can lead to some very bad circustances. Most of the time they just fall to the bottom on the diff and no one knows the difference. But if they get stuck in the gears - that can be a very bad thing! If I were you, I'd pop open the diff cover, change the fluid, and have a look around just to make sure everything is as it should be. Cheap insurance to avoid a potientially expensive repair.

I think for '09 3.21's were standard, but for '10 they realized their mistake and made 3.55's the norm.

 

I just put 4.56 gears in my truck and after 70K miles on my truck it was clean as hell in there and no broken clips surprisingly.

Yeah, 3.55s are bad enough. I can't imagine 3.21s...

 

Very cool, I bet 4.56's really woke it up.

 

Yeah, they did. It's insane

 

To bad your all the way across the country from me. Id buy that old riv in fast minute for a doner for the 68 Im working on.U could keep the 455 if ya wanted to. Like the others said.. She'll be there for you long after the newer cars are nothing but a fading memorie. I sold my first 68 Riv when I was your age. I had been sorry ever sence. Now 20+ yrs later I have another. happy'r than a fat baby in church!

 

That's my truck. The R/T is definitely more than a badge...as was mentioned...converter, gears, more aggressive trans tuning. Gets 20mpg on the freeway and rides like a car. I get what people say about the new vehicles "feeling" slower though. This truck is quicker than my first camaro(an LT1 powered 94 Z28), but doesn't feel like it. I believe a lot of it has to do with the electronic nannies. Tons of torque management and traction control take a lot of the "emotion" and all of the drama out of it. It's really insane how smooth and effortless this truck is when it goes.

FYIW, the 5.7s in the trucks have quite a bit more power(over 20hp and 10ftlbs) than in the newer LX V8 cars.

SRT8 Jeeps have run 12s stock, but low to mid 13s is more routine from what I've seen. They 60' like a mofo. My truck is a freaking dog out of the hole with all the TM.

 

Proof right there

When I first got my hemi ram I had read some crap on here about new hemis. One guy claimed hes never seen one run in the 14s. Mine ran 14.81 stock and it's a long bed 3.55. haha so much for that theory of his

I think people severely underestimate the potential of these motors.

 

I dont know about the tundras running with you but I dont hate dodges either but your missing the real trucks Diesels are the ones you got to look for my F-250 tops the scales at a wopping 8800 lbs and I know I can smoke the doors off of the 5.7l in the crew cab dodges. (Of course I take them off the line and just hold the lead) Now me hooking but tailgate to tailgate with the cummins i dont think so but the 1/4 mile or 1/8th mile i would but you wont see me race a durramax on the track but I'll hook tailgate to tailgate with em. Oh yeah sorry this is a Buick site sorryou: my other expensive hobby diesels.


Alot of people under-estimate the rivs the 425 is a stout motor also, not alot of HP but good torqe ratings, I cant help but spin the rear tire now and then (note tire not tires) I get alot of respect in my riv because people understand that its big and is over two tons but it still can get up and go. GREAT KILL (OR CHASE) I LOVE SEEING THE RIVS GETTING SOME RESPECT ON THE ROAD!

 

Diesels can be souped up easier than my hemi or a buick. So yes, A souped up diesel can beat my hemi but stock vs stock would not even be a close race

By the way...I just got rid of the hemi and bought an 06 Cummins 4x4 6 speed. It's slow as balls compared to that hemi but damn I almost forgot all about that hemi...