The car finally runs as fast as it looks. I went from a 15.90@90mph to 13.44@106mph. Check out the yellow 1974 Plymouth Satellite in the picture below. He was the first car I ran against and I shut him down. He ran a 13.9 and I ran a 13.6. He came over after the race to see what I was running, thought I had a turbo or something and was surprised to see the V8.
I have some more tuning to do and will need some better tires for more traction. I am pretty sure it will run in the high 12's. My friend has a video of me running against a camero, I'll have to see if I can get him to post it on YouTube or something. I beat the camero, but only because I think he had engine problems at half track. My friends Mustang is the the second picture below. He is running a 13.40@100mph.
Best feeling ever beating a muscle car in my first race (the yellow Plymouth Satellite in the background).
My friends 1988 Mustang with a mild 302, transbrake, drag radials runs about the same time as my car. With a little tuning and better tires I think I will take him. But by the time I get my car hooking and tuned he'll probably have NOS installed...
Not without some small problems I finally got the motor built and in. I still have one small oil leak out the back side of the intake that will require pulling the intake off and reapplying some sealer.
The good - Plenty of power, goes sideways when I hit second gear. The bad - Goes sideways when I hit second gear. The ugly - My garage floor from the oil leak.
Probably going to take it to Union Grove Dragaway this Sunday (6/22).
V8 - You drive it around at all on the street or does it ride the trailer to the track only? Curious how she handles (not sure if we've gone over that, my memory is that of a child).
Yes, I do drive it on the street. It's not a daily driver, but I do cruise around with it. I'll be taking it to the Monroe car show again this year in July which is about 25 miles from my house. She runs pretty hot if your not moving so I avoid getting into any heavy traffic where I might have to stop for any extended length of time. I'm hoping a shroud on the radiator for the electric fans will take care of that when I get around to it.
Still waiting on that block work to be completed. The machinest had to send the crank back to the manufactor for a replacement after it didn't measure up to their standards. Here are some pictures of the transmission after I cut off the old bellhousing and bolted on the replacement.
305 is out. Machine work has not yet been done on the new block so I'm still waiting on that. Doesn't really matter at this point as I have some work of my own to do now. While pulling the motor and transmission out I noticed a massive crack in the bellhousing of the transmission (see picture below). So I've orded a JW Ultra Bellhousing and will be working on modifying the transmission with it. Thought about getting a new transmission but to make it worth while I would have had to spend over $1000 and it would still have a weak bellhousing. This way I'll have an SFI approved strong and safe bellhousing and can always rebuild the transmission later if needed. The bellhousing ran $230 and while I was at it I ordered a new cast aluminum deep transmission pan. I'll take pictures when I receive them. Here is a picture of the 305 after being removed:
305 retired, it served it's purpose.
Hard shifts likely did in the bellhousing. This transmission really slams the gears hard!
I'm 5 miles north of Albany, WI. I think it would be about an hour and a half drive for you. Next week might not be so good, neither motor will likely be in it. Save your trip for coming to see it at the drag strip later this month.
The car has made a total of 9 passes down the dragstrip without any problems. Best time is 15.9 seconds @ 90 mph with a junk yard 305. The 305 was never more than a placeholder to get everything fitting around it. It's time to build the motor that the car now deserves. Phase III is dedicated to the new motor and the results that come with some serious horse power.
I have all the parts to build the new 385 stroker, just waiting for the machine work to be completed on the block (hopefully by this Saturday). Here is the comparison on the 305 and 385:
Current Chevy 305
Paid $100 for rusty greasy junky motor
Degreased at local car wash with oven cleaner
Found to have broken lifter and timing chain stretched to the point it could almost be removed without taking the gears off
Installed new timing chain, cam and lifters
Added chrome accessories for self gratification
Got a good deal on Edelbrock performer intake and 600cfm carberator (likely too much cam and carb robbing all low end torque
Estimated horse power 160-175
New Chevy 385 stroker
350 4 bolt main block, pressure tested, bored .040 over and ground for stroker rotating assembly
Eagle 385 balanced rotating assembly with 12cc dish top pistons
Edelbrock Performer RPM aluminum 64cc heads puts motor at about 9.9:1 compression
Edelbrock Performer RPM Cam kit
Edelbrock Performer RPM air gap intake
Holley 770 Street Avenger carberator (couldn't resist )
Polished aluminum accessories instead of tinny chrome
Time line...hmm, I'm hoping to run it again in late May. Making my parts list now. Edelbrock Performer RPM top end. Can't decide on a 350 or 383 stroker bottom end. When I get it all figured out I'll start the Phase III thread with the complete parts list.
Sorry guys, no video. I didn't have a blank tape for my camera. I wasn't expecting much change from the new rearend and just wanted to enjoy the day without babysitting a video camera.
I didn't shave much time off my last time, only a few hundreths of a second. The motor is obviously maxed out and the new rearend gears only redistributed the energy it produces. See time slip below.
I'm ready to start Phase III - All About Horsepower. I sold my motorcycle today so I have money to buy a car trailer and build the motor the car deserves. I had crowds of people checking out the car as soon as I opened the hood, but until it opened they didn't give it a second look (true sleeper). I hated the fact that it was all show and no go, but that's about to change...stay tuned.
BTW, the car I ran down on that time slip was a Honda Civic. Small victory for the Avenger!
It's official, I'll be at Union Grove Great Lakes Dragaway this Sunday from 9 to 5. Hope to see you there. I'll be taking more video so if you can't make it I'll post some runs for you.
Shift light wired and working. High beam indicator light working (broke down and bought a Haynes manual). 300amp Moroso battery cutoff switch wired. Still need to wire the alternator up to a selenoid to kill the motor, but the switch is all ready to receive the wire from the relay. Here are the pics:
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