Monza2

Hi I'm building a 1977 Corvette drag car and need ideas on how to save some weight and motor ideas. It has 4.10 gears
air shocks
heavy duty half shafts
9 leaf mono spring
slicks on back, skinnies on front TH400, transbrake, shiftkit, 3500 stall converter, manual shifter it has a cage but I have to remove it and build a new one. The car needs to be cheap as possible . Thanks

BKbroiler

I see this is your first post. This should be in the Tech & Performance section. Maybe a mod will move it.

How fast do you want to go? Will it still be a street car? What is your budget?

Monza2

Around 12sec strip car only around 6-7 thousand

Gold Dragon

350 blocks are plentiful and therefore inexpensive. Summit can ship a 0.30 over 350 to your door for 700$ ready to build. Use a 400 crank for longer stroke machine the block and have it decked. 11-1 compression forged pistons will allow the use of nitrous. Use a high lift, long duration cam. Top it with aluminum heads and intake. Feed the beast with an 850 Holley. That should keep you in your budget and easily get you in the 12 second range.

BKbroiler

With everything you mentioned in the first post and a 383 like described in the post above you should be in high 11s easily.
My car has a 383 with Vortec heads, 225/232 dur, 535/550 lift hyd roller, 3,000 stall, 3.73 gears and drag radials and I've gone 12.15 at 110.

Monza2

Do you guys now of a good off the shelf roll cage kit?

Gold Dragon

Hey Monza2, Jegs performance has several kits available for different applications. Good luck, post some pictures when you get a chance. Sounds like a fun project.

Monza2

This is what I'm starting with I traded a 3000$atv for it wing needs to go

USAFVeteran

Before you get too deep in making it go fast with a newly built motor, you may want to check with the tech inspectors at your local track. Here at Tucson track, NHRA sanctioned, I think there is a ruling with the monoleaf spring, and the rear half shafts. I'm not remembering everything, I just know there was an issue about the Corvette rear end at a certain ET. I'd hate to see you build this, with a ton of money and have to go home to change something else.


Looks to be a pretty good start, gonna be a lot of fun, I bet. I've been a crew chief on a few cars that were in the 8's. Our drinking team had a serious racing problem...

Monza2

I will be sure to check . This is not my only drag car I'm just using this car for set time

USAFVeteran

I wasn't trying to say anything bad, just I know, because of my 69. Just passing on what I learned from AZ tracks. I guess I won't be racing, well, more than one pass, before I kicked off the track hahaha

530planeman

Eliminate drive lines like I did

Monza2

My dad ran at the track there in Tucson AZ with a 78 Monza I'm using this Vette as a starter car. Till my tube chassis 79 Monza is done just looking for the cheapest and safest route

The13Bats

Monza...i really dig the vettes down to business race interior,
USAFVeteran.
Back with my first vette a 72 bb convertible i was 17 i think, we all went to the tracks street car day, i left hard top at home, the pit inspector wouldnt let me run, he said with no top and 454 4 speed car it would be too fast...bummer all my friends got to run, one of the fastest was phildos street monza hatchback, a turbo charged v6 that was backed by buick and or ruggles or something cool like that, it had those body panels.

d555

You will need Inner and Outer half shaft safety loops, along with a forward driveline loop. Make sure the half shafts are parallel to the ground and run a Very stiff rear spring. Outer shafts will be short lived with the trans-brake!
But damn fun! Diff will be next... Cool car! But...Yea, off the wing. LOL

Dave,

BKbroiler

I race my car at 2 different NHRA sanctioned tracks and, although I have half shaft and drive shaft loops, no tech inspector has ever asked about them or looked for them.

d555

Yea, :agree:, I think it is more safety, than requirement. But the combination of Trans brake and big slicks will get there attention pretty quick.
Especially if run often, Either Heads up or Brackets. The somewhat more
Violent nature of a trans-brake vs foot brake will generally catch someone's eye. The guys in the tower or the starter will take notice.

Dave,

Monza2

What do you guys think a zz502 502 would do in this Vette?

Monza2

​​​​​​also does summit have a roll cage kit for this car

d555

Not sure about Summit, mine came from S&W Either mild steel or chrome moly.

Dave,