Alright so. Just started driving. Picked up a really old beat up 1978 Vette' about a year ago and restored it to factory condition. Im just starting to get into tuning cars. I really want to beef this thing up to race it in quarter miles. What kinda parts do you first reccommend for me? I want to try to get my Vette' moving a bit faster and quicker off the line. Budget isnt a concern.

 

If budget isn't a concern just find a shop that builds drag cars and tell them to build a dragster for you.



Rick B.

 

Haha cant go that crazy. Should have been a tad more specific. Budget isnt a big concern but I cant go out and get a dragster built haha

 

Start with tuning what you've got. Go to the "test and tune" nights at the track. If you don't own them, get a nice timing light with an "advance" feature... run baseline with whatever your timing is now, then advance timing 2 degrees at a time until your times fall off... you'll learn what timing can do for tuning. Same deal with the air cleaner lid on correct, then upside down, then off...and timing tweaks from baseline as well... can you see yet that all mods are built as a "pyramid" to the top? Now start tuning your fuel... see what happens as you richen the low/mid/top jetting. I'll bet there's 1.5 seconds or so hiding in your current combo, there to be coaxed out. Maximize what you have before you build up... keep a log of what works... do ONE mod at a time and you'll not only go faster, but begin to understand WHY.

 

first off you need to decide on a 1/4 time goal. then you need to decide on what engine your gonna stick with. Are you going to stick with the small block your car came from the factory with or are you gonna swap out the motor for a bigblock or LSX. you can go fast either of the three engines. each has its own advantages and cons. if you plan on putting slicks on the car and go into the 10's, a total driveline upgrade will be needed. you will need stronger axles, halfshafts and do a 12 bolt conversion. since your sixteen, I would first try to get the car into the 13's or 12's first on the stock suspension and driveline. build a nice small block first and have fun with it and get your experiance. then as you get older make it faster.

 

You really need to provide more information about the car before anyone can give any meaningful advice or ideas. Is it a L48 or L82? Auto or 4 speed manual?
First thing would be just a good old fashioned tuneup with plugs, wires, timing adjust, carb rebuild (if necessary) and adjustment.
Better flowing dual exhaust, possibly headers, better fuel delivery are just a few basic mods to increase performance. Cam and lifters should be considered as well. If you have $ left over, maybe better rearend gears but you need to know what you have to start with.
Do a search here for info on these topics as they have all been covered many times. Then if you have questions, start another thread for advice and help on a specific question.
Terry

 

Bullhooey. You can throw money at this thing until the day you retire.... maybe go faster, maybe not. The key to achieving any goal in life lies in recognizing the challenge, educating yourself in how best to address that challenge, and formulating; then implementing a plan to achieve your goal. Unless you really understand what each variable in your "experiment" (going faster) gives for result, you cannot understand how spending your dollars for any mod might help. Start small, and learn. Then as your knowledge increases, spend your dollars as best you know to get better, faster, stronger.

 

i wish i had that kind of money at 16.

 

Stock Factory 78 Small Block Vette.

 

Tweetster... one more post and I'm sidelined.... do what makes you happy. A smart guy (my father if you want to know) said to me when I was younger... he asked how I intended to make a mod to my car if I did not understand the science/engineering behind the fix... this from a guy who calls me to this day about every odd noise his car/truck/lawnmower/whatever makes. He made perfect sense. Unless you know how whatever you want to "improve" works on it's most basic level, you rely on us "Internet gurus" for all your decisions. Let's say for a minute I tell you a GM performance 502/502 big block is a direct bolt in, and the NUTS for 1/4 mile times. You drop $7 large, and never upgrade your trans/clutch/convertor/rear/rear suspension to match the mountain motor, and frag your entire drivetrain on your third pass. What have you learned beside us "know it alls" don't share fully? So; start small, learn and improve as you go. Ask directed, intelligent questions here and filter the responses based on your observations... there's lifetime's of knowledge here... pick the best.

 

I'm confused.....you bought a beater at age 15 & now at age 16 you've already restored it to factory condition & you're asking us how to modify it? You already know every nut & bolt on the car. Heck, I need to ask you some questions as I restore my '77.

 

Gotta learn to handle the car first.

 

haha thats what im getting out of this. id like to see this car that a 15 year old restored in one year, but doesent know how to make it go faster

 

If you want to have a nice project, learn something new, and make your car more reliable and faster/more consistent then how about a Tuned-Port fuel injection conversion? The goal of drag racing is to be consistent. TPI gives you great bottom end and nice reliable power. Over 350-400 HP it runs out of air, but on a basically stock bottom end it will really wake it up. If interested, I will post my TPI "primer". I will probably get flamed for this, but my .02 anyway.

 

I am 68 years old and have a bone stock 81 Vette and it will go faster than my driving skills will allow me to keep it under control. I have been driving since I was about 14.
Food for thought
Ken

 

You need to establish a goal and budget line!

Heck stuff a 502 into it!

 

Even if this is so,I dont think paying someont to restore that car to "factory" would happen in a years time....

 

Hi Tweet,
How about a picture of you and your restored to factory condition car? I love to see what people can do with a really old beat-up Vette.
Regards,
Alan

 

I knew nothing about Corvettes when I bought my '77 earlier this year though I've probably restored 15+ cars in my lifetime - to factory condition or better & won many awards for them - & I'll guarantee you none was done in a year!

I started disassembly of my Corvette immediately after I bought it; some 5+ months later, my frame is completely new, my 200-4R transmission is rebuilt as is my '86 TPI engine & my wiring harness/computer are redone to work properly with my '77 car....I'm painting my engine & getting everything ready to bolt onto the frame which probably won't happen for a few weeks!

Oh, I've worked on the car steadily, every day, without concern about costs..........I said all that to point out how much a retired guy with deep pockets can get completed spending at a minimum 4 hours per day (usually 7 hours except on Sunday) working on a car he knew nothing about ....

...and I've not touched the body yet (other than removing it from the frame)!

Now, I could believe a 15 year old got an old Corvette & cleaned it up & did some maintenance to get it running better, but "restored it to factory condition" in a year knowing nothing about Corvettes? I'm sorry, can't buy it. I'm willing to help anybody if I have the knowledge & am not afraid to ask questions when I don't understand; but,.....

& I agree with Alan 71...I've gotta see before, during & after photos so, with my limited knowledge, I can better understand the car & its' owner.....and you're abilities to modify it, Tweeter4.....& so I can kick myself in the @ss for not getting as much done on my Corvette, in the same timeframe !

 

Hey guys, don't mean to step on any toes here but maybe we should lighten up on the kid a little. He is only 16 years old and is obviously proud of whatever work he has done on the car. We all know he could not have completely restored a beat up Corvette in a year.
Maybe when he is a few years older or even 10 or 20 years older, he will look back and realize his bravado was overblown. Maybe by then, he will also be very knowledgable about auto restoration, go fast mods, and many other worldly things.
He has enthusiasm only impeded by youth and has a lot to learn. Many of us have been there a few years ago.
Terry