Glensgages

Anybody ever seen one? A guy @ Pittsburgh Raceway Park on 4/19/03 had a '74, with a bone-stock ZZ502 (502 HP), THM400 with a 'used' 3000 stall converter, 3.90:1 gears, and 29.5" x 11" slicks. Running straight pump-gas, launching easily, and shifting @ 5300 RPM, he ran 12.03 @ 112+ MPH on his first run, shelling the rear-end on his second run! Seems like a very mild 11-second package. Just curious; anybody seen one like that? :chevy


[Modified by Glensgages, 3:35 PM 4/20/2003]

QuickVet

not me. Sounds like a mean ride. Sucks that stuff starts to break after spending all that money :smash:

bence13_33

Glen:
I talked with the guy for about an hour or so. Real nice/helpful guy to talk to. Definitely a nice/fast ride. Judging by his MPH I'd say I'm putting out the same amount of power, if not more. Shifting at 5300 is right where it makes peak horspower. He was NOT launching easy either he was pulling 1.6-1.7 60' times with hopes of pulling 1.5 60' times yesterday (when he broke the rear). If you looked at his tires whenever he broke the rear end they were super sticky, he slayed those things in the burnout box.

I'm just not really a big fan of crate motors.

Glensgages

bence, I didn't 'see' the Red '74 launch on his first run; I was helping a friend refuel & pack his chute. When I spoke w/ Mr Red'74 in his pit before the second (aborted) run, he said he'd 'babbied-it' out on the 1st run, in hopes of NOT breaking his rear-end. We ALL know what happened next; KA-F'n-BOOM!!! I'd think you're DEFINITELY putting out more HP than the ZZ502; the two C3s weigh (approx) the same, yet you run 4 MPH faster! MPH is indicative of 'horse-power'; ET is indicative of ability to APPLY the available HP. 20+ years ago, racers worked-on lowering their 'hook-factor'; your ET times your MPH. Basically, you lowered this 'factor' by running a lower ET at the same MPH ( applying the available HP). I think my best was 1390-something. Your 116 MPH is impressive; cars that 'work' (optimized gearing, traction, et al.) running 116 are 'capable' of going 11.50s or better. A friend had a '67 Wildcat with 490+ inches of BUICK-power; it went 12.002 @ 117+ weighing 4100 lbs! It, like your Corvette, was traction-plauged! When you get the 'bugs' worked-out, and the 60' times come around, I think you'll run in the 11s. I think the reason the Red '74 ZZ502 interested me is my back-ground is more 'bracket-racer' than 'go-fast', although I did have a rear-engine dragster once. Winning bracket-racers gotta go round-after-round, without breakage, and 'run-the-number'. I'd guess the ZZ502 turns 1000 RPM less than a healthy 454 like yours, but makes comparable HP; I think that'd mean less wear & tear on the motor. The Red '74 has a THM400 transmission; less breakage than a stick, and more consistent, too. (Something Mr. Red'74 could change for even better ETs would be an 8"/4500 stall converter in place of his 10"/3000 unit. When I went from 10" to 8" converter, my Z28 went from 13.20s to 12.80s {no MPH change}, INSTANTLY!). I know that Tom Hemphill in Saltsburg has a dyno in his shop, if you need/want dyno-time. See you @ PRP!!! :chevy

bence13_33

Glen:
That ZZ502 is in dire need of a cam change. My solid flat tappet has a good bit more lift than his roller cam! I really just want my rear end to make it through this season. I will be saving this winter to get a Tom's 12 bolt Corvette rear end. I was actually considering talking to Tom Hemphill about porting my heads and running on the dyno. From my understanding he is a busy man...and is not cheap.

How about that '66 Charger? What happened with his driveshaft? I was told he was launching at 4900RPMs!

Glensgages

bence, if I had that ZZ502 car, I'm not sure I'd go changing the cam; that motor is built for 'torque', and I doubt we'd be able to 'use' much more power without SERIOUS rear-end/back half mods. Rather than a cam change, imagine if he'd change the crankshaft to one with a 1/4" 'arm'? 533 inches of Rat, running 11s (mid-11s?), on pump-gas, shifting below 5500 RPMs? That 533" would have a torque-curve that ANY converter would love!!! I don't know if Hemphill is busy, nor if he is 'cheap', or 'pricey'. He machines several drag & circle-burner motors for a buddy of mine; Hemphill's stuff goes fast, and doesn't break too often. P.S.; there's NO 'T & T' at PRP this Saturday; regular racing begins this Sunday, and Thursday night 'T & T' starts May 1...See you there :chevy