Have you ever owned a sleeper?

I

imported_Tom

New member
Thanks to Paul S for inspiring this thread.

The closest we come is a '07 Subaru Forester XT Sports, the WRX engine BUT it does have a hood scoop so a 'true' sleeper it is not, but dang that thing goes like stink and if you keep the boost gauge neutral to negative you can get 30mpg-to me this is astounding, remember its awd.....
 
Back in 1990 I had a bone stock 90 Vette with a 250 HP completely hidden nitrous kit that was computer controlled (DFI) and it easily went 11:80's w/ sticky tires. Not too fast by today's standards, but back in 90 there wern't any Mustangs going that fast w/o nitrous. Big $$ maker car. :thumbup:
 
Yep, 1972 Buick Skylark...Sedan(4dr) 455 w/Turbo 400. I use to spin the hubcaps off this thing literally. I can't tell you how many fools I smoked in that ole car. I had also ripped off the vinyl top, so she was very nasty looking but man would she roll :biggrin:
 
No but I had a couple of friends who had sleepers.

The one that I remember that sticks out the most was a 78 Nova that was rust brown and had faded faded paint. When you popped the hood it looked like pretty much stock small block, complete with factory air cleaner/intake. It did have some rusty looking headers.

But....

The engine was a pretty hot 406 small block that had served as my friend's father's bracket motor. They had gone the extra mile to make it look kinda stock.

The aluminum heads and intake had been 'textured' and painted to look like cast iron. The intake was a single plane, but you really couldn't tell since it was painted and covered with an huge air intake and lots of 'smog' gear. There was a 150 shot of nitrous that was plumbed under the intake with the bottle hidden under the ripped up rear seat (you reached thru a tear in the vinyl to turn the bottle on).

Long story short it never made to the 11s but would trap near 130, spinning the tires past mid track and only hitting the nitrous in drive (which could spin the tires). It also had a lousy suspension and terrible brakes, which made it possibly the most dangerous car that any 17 year old had ever driven. After three tickets in one month for exhibition of speed (namely smoky burnouts at intersections) his dad took away the car.

My other sleeper story happened three or four years ago. I was on my bike (a CBR600RR) with a couple buddies on liter bikes (R1 and 1000RR's) and we where out cruising. A light blue late model Chevy Silverado pulls next to us and revs his engine a couple of times. I notice it is nothing special, factory wheels/tires, just a plain jane, entry level Silverado. And it isn't out of the ordinary to have idiots in trucks try to race sports cars and motorcycles all of the time.

The light turns green and the truck takes off pretty quick to the next light, putting his hand out the window, motioning us to catch up. As we pull along side at the next light he revs his motor up again then flicks us off. We get pissed and start revving our engines. I notice the cross light turns yellow and I stage my bike at about 10,000 RPMs.

I used to drag race my bike semi frequently, so I am comfortable launching the bike, and have far more experience in racing from a stop then my friends. The fastest I had ever gotten my bike was a 10.88, which is moving for a 600 with an amateur bike. I'll show this guy to flick me off.

The light goes green and a roar away from the light, the tiny motor singing in full elder annoying soprano. I get about 15-20 feet of wheel spin out of the whole, then crescendo in a gentle wheelie. Not my best launch, but enough to prove my point...

My bike while hit 60 in about 2.9 seconds and run up to about 75 in first. Only you don't feel much of that because your focus is on the launch. Hitting that delicate balance between throttle and clutch slip to avoid spinning the tire, lofting the front wheel, or worse of all, bogging the motor. Come of the clutch smoothly while twisting the throttle. Do it right and you will hit WOT a split second before you come of the clutch all the way, at about 45 miles per hour. You have about 1.5 seconds to get it right. Now you have about a second to tuck in and prepare to power shift second...

After the shift to I check the mirror how far back the trucks tail lights are. No lights... And just then I hear the noise and notice the truck in my peripheral vision. I hit third gear and he begins to pull on me. My buddies, with their faster bikes are pulling along side of me on the other side. This truck is neck and neck with the liter bikes. As we approach 'stupid' speeds, even outside of town, we all shut down.

We follow the truck for a couple of miles then all pull into a gas station behind him. We have to see what is in that truck. It is a 4 wheel drive 427 twin turbo. The guy that owns it turns out to a real cool guy and has a copy of the magazine his car was featured in. It was titled something like 'The Ultimate Sleeper' and was a Hot Rod or Car Craft.
 
I would say my R is kind of a sleeper, mainly because nobody knows what it is and when they see Volvo on the back, they just assume I'm hauling groceries. It's not the fastest thing on the street by any stretch, but 300hp AWD is pretty quick and a blast to drive. But, very few people have any idea what it is.
 
th0001 said:

My other sleeper story happened three or four years ago. I was on my bike (a CBR600RR) with a couple buddies on liter bikes (R1 and 1000RR's) and we where out cruising. A light blue late model Chevy Silverado pulls next to us and revs his engine a couple of times. I notice it is nothing special, factory wheels/tires, just a plain jane, entry level Silverado. And it isn't out of the ordinary to have idiots in trucks try to race sports cars and motorcycles all of the time.

The light turns green and the truck takes off pretty quick to the next light, putting his hand out the window, motioning us to catch up. As we pull along side at the next light he revs his motor up again then flicks us off. We get pissed and start revving our engines. I notice the cross light turns yellow and I stage my bike at about 10,000 RPMs.

I used to drag race my bike semi frequently, so I am comfortable launching the bike, and have far more experience in racing from a stop then my friends. The fastest I had ever gotten my bike was a 10.88, which is moving for a 600 with an amateur bike. I'll show this guy to flick me off.

The light goes green and a roar away from the light, the tiny motor singing in full elder annoying soprano. I get about 15-20 feet of wheel spin out of the whole, then crescendo in a gentle wheelie. Not my best launch, but enough to prove my point...

My bike while hit 60 in about 2.9 seconds and run up to about 75 in first. Only you don't feel much of that because your focus is on the launch. Hitting that delicate balance between throttle and clutch slip to avoid spinning the tire, lofting the front wheel, or worse of all, bogging the motor. Come of the clutch smoothly while twisting the throttle. Do it right and you will hit WOT a split second before you come of the clutch all the way, at about 45 miles per hour. You have about 1.5 seconds to get it right. Now you have about a second to tuck in and prepare to power shift second...

After the shift to I check the mirror how far back the trucks tail lights are. No lights... And just then I hear the noise and notice the truck in my peripheral vision. I hit third gear and he begins to pull on me. My buddies, with their faster bikes are pulling along side of me on the other side. This truck is neck and neck with the liter bikes. As we approach 'stupid' speeds, even outside of town, we all shut down.

We follow the truck for a couple of miles then all pull into a gas station behind him. We have to see what is in that truck. It is a 4 wheel drive 427 twin turbo. The guy that owns it turns out to a real cool guy and has a copy of the magazine his car was featured in. It was titled something like 'The Ultimate Sleeper' and was a Hot Rod or Car Craft.
Click to expand...

Parish's turbo truck....that thing is a runner! Good guy that owns it too, always a help when folks ask questions on the truck forums.

http://www.neufamily.org/truck.html

http://www.diyautotune.com/cars/customer/parish_turbo_truck.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RHnCt2HyOU

Pardon the language in this one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfLG8CSEQfE&feature=related
 
Well my old '86 Monte Carlo SS was a sleeper until I painted the car GM Raspberry (pink)!

I dropped in a GM crate motor, ZZ3 350, TPI, and custom chip which made close to 400hp....a big step up from the 180hp stock! :D

WoW2.jpg
 
I had a 1973 Oldsmobile Cutlass with a Rocket 350 and T-350, I was going with some friends in their IrocZ with 350(89-90 I think) and I kept up with him going over one of our Mt. passes and on the flats he moved along better but he had overdrive and of course I did not, he was a little ticked that a car that was trashed as mine (paint was shot) keep up with him as he paid a good chunk of change for it. Same with his Ford Probe GT, turbo, kept up with that as well....LOL!

My '64 Chevy C-10 has a 350 with headers and 2 1/2" exhaust and I mosey along with the diesel pickups in our area (diesels are others areas Cadillacs) and a guy with a brand new Dodge Diesel came up beside me and gave me a thumbs up. The old truck has the white spoke wheels and one of those tall ugly pullman camper shells. It was loud though, had purple hornies glass packs exiting out just pass the cab on both sides. I burned a valve and just not enough money or time to fix 'er. Hopefully soon though, I miss driving her! Got the granny four speed and a nice Grant wooden 3 spoke wheel, and a tach I got from the wifey! Paid $100.00 bucks for it. Got a motor lined up for it I think from my Father In Law.

I love sleepers.

My boy has a '67 Dodge D100, 318, 3 on the tree with limited slip and short bed, my wife's grandfather bought it new and now her son has it. It can move, future plans are an aluminum intake, headers and a MILD carburetor for the lad....

Fun stuff!
 
I have a 1995 Impala SS that I converted to a 6 speed manual and installed 4.10 gears, Tri-y headers, tuned for 92 octane, etc. It also has monster sway bars (1.5" solid rear bar!), Bilstein shocks, stiffer springs, and Wilwood front brakes. I added an oil cooler, PS cooler, and underdrive pulleys for the heat and higher RPM's of running at the track.

It looks pretty plain but has embarassed a lot of 'sports cars' on the road courses. :D They really get shocked to find out it has 188k miles on it and has the original stock engine with just the bolt on stuff.

The car isn't much for drag racing, but the look from people when they hear me shift and bark second (and sometimes third) is priceless. :driving:

Someday, I want to drop in a mill like Jokeman's, but with a few more ponies. ;)

Randy
 
ZimRandy said:
I have a 1995 Impala SS that I converted to a 6 speed manual and installed 4.10 gears, Tri-y headers, tuned for 92 octane, etc. It also has monster sway bars (1.5" solid rear bar!), Bilstein shocks, stiffer springs, and Wilwood front brakes. I added an oil cooler, PS cooler, and underdrive pulleys for the heat and higher RPM's of running at the track.

It looks pretty plain but has embarassed a lot of 'sports cars' on the road courses. :D They really get shocked to find out it has 188k miles on it and has the original stock engine with just the bolt on stuff.

The car isn't much for drag racing, but the look from people when they hear me shift and bark second (and sometimes third) is priceless. :driving:

Someday, I want to drop in a mill like Jokeman's, but with a few more ponies. ;)

Randy
Click to expand...

I love those cars!!!!!

Remember the full page add in magazines? Side view of the car and it said:

"LORD VADER, YOUR CAR IS READY" :thumbup:
 
Husker Z said:
I would say my R is kind of a sleeper, mainly because nobody knows what it is and when they see Volvo on the back, they just assume I'm hauling groceries. It's not the fastest thing on the street by any stretch, but 300hp AWD is pretty quick and a blast to drive. But, very few people have any idea what it is.
Click to expand...

I'm with you. I guess it kind of goes to what your definition of a sleeper really means.

To me, anything which goes faster than you think it goes, is real sleeper. I know with my IS350, it's not a race car by any stretch, but I usually catch people off guard, thinking it's more of a luxury car than a sporty car. It's about 306hp + a bit more with some minor mods. Enough to catch some sleeping.
 
I own an 85 toyota supra. It's black, in nice shape. But it is still old, and a lot of people don't expect it to be fast as it is. It makes 420rwhp. It has a motor swap out of a mkiv supra so it moves pretty well, especially considering it weighs 2700 pounds.
2jz.jpg

IMG_0586.jpg
 
gottakeepon said:
Fastest run so far at the drag strip was 11.97 @ 122 with a 1.93 60ft. I still have to work on my launch control. I either bog down, or smoke the tires to the 1/8th.
Link to dyno sheet for those interested.
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l217/goforzer0/dyno.jpg
Click to expand...

Very impressive^^^420hp for a rice burner that can be driven on the street certainally qualifies as a sleeper. I know those Mustang/Camaro/Challenger Boys are doing some jaw dropping when you launch :driving:

BTW, That body style is my favorite, it still to this day has a classier body style then most of whats out there now :drool5:

What kinda reaction times are you getting off the tree? Best? Worst? Average? What are your RPM'S at LAUNCH? :driving:
 
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