If I ever did another fwd to rwd project again, i'd fabricate a complete frame into the front of the car. I think that would have been much easier then trying to modify the steering. I would suggest a mustang front frame for your project. The bolt patern matches the dodge where as a camero would likely use a 4.75 inch vs. 4.5 inch bolt pattern.
Last post for Phase III. Not sure yet what Phase IV will be, probably just miscellaneous. I'm not quite ready for body work so that phase will have to wait.
Raced the Avenger a couple times late in the season at Byron Dragway. The first time I raced it back in September I red lighted (left too soon) and was out in the first round. I couldn't wait for the next Street car event to give it another try. Now I am addicted to racing!
I had much better luck the next time which was the last race (Race #9) of year. I won the first two rounds, and then once again went out on a red light. Here is a video of the 5 passes I made that day (Oct 12th). http://overlandconcepts.com/byron2008_Race9.wmv (25MB). My last pass was a 12.93 second run! The big change for next year will be a higher stall converter, somewhere around 3500. That should greatly improve my 60 foot time and get me down around 12.75. The fastest I can go in the Street class is 12.5 so a 12.75 will be plenty fast and I can start thinking about improving the looks.
Speaking of looks I bought a hood scoop for a 04 mustang and it is a perfect fit. Follows the angle of the humps on the hood and is just tall enough to cover the air cleaner. It's not real easy to see in the video so I'll try to get some pictures posted.
I'm planning another trip to Union Grove this Saturday (Import Wars) come out if you can. I have the hesitation tuned out of the carburater and I have a set of drag radials (255/50R16 BFGoodrich) tires mounted on a set of 300zx rims I refurbished. I got the rims from a friend for free, paid $80 to have the centers machined out about a 1/32 of an inch larger, sandblasted and painted them. The fronts are 16x7.5 and the back ar 16x8.5.
I'm having a hard time getting the video, it loads forever and I then just sits at the buffer stage and doesn't play for me. Can you post it to Vidxc.com ?? Or even Youtube?
If you are having problems streaming it, right click on the link and select Save Target As and view it off your harddrive. They are about 5MB each so if you don't have broadband it's about the only way to watch it.
I made another trip to Union Grove Great Lakes Dragaway this last weekend and yes I finally have some videos to post for you!!! I did some tuning and was able to improve my time and speed. I still have a ways to go before it is running full strength, but I have proved that it does respond to small adjustments. I also still have to deal with the traction problem off the line.
First video is of me running against my friends 1988 mustang. It was his first run after installing NOS and hit a 100 shot about half track. I got my best time for the day at 13.19 First pass against friends 1988 Mustang
One of my favorite runs, only to be tarnished by smoke from oil that got on the exhaust when my PCV valve came out of the valve cover. Smoke or not, I shut down that 2003 Nissan 350Z! Shutting down 2003 Nissan 350Z
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
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