89 corvette
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
89 corvette
Yes I have a question me and my buddy are going to race on the drag strip and just have a question. I have a 89 corvette coupe and hes running a 1980 el camino with a 352 small block. Whats your input on the race outcome? I don't even think the el caminos were made out of fiber glass were they?
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 14,130
Likes: 7
Cruise-In II Veteran
No idea...because we dont know the mods and etc.Engine power,drive train,gear ratio,weight of vehicle,driver skills,all come into play here.You didnt specify for either.
El caminos are metal cars/pick ups.
Btw your 89 vette isnt made of fiberglass either...its a SMC formula.Basically its a type of resin pressed into a mold with high heat to make the body panels.You couldnt use old style fiberglass to fix your car.Different stuff,even though the basic idea is all Vettes are fiberglass somewhat.SMC is a different type of body than an old fiberglass design.
El caminos are metal cars/pick ups.
Btw your 89 vette isnt made of fiberglass either...its a SMC formula.Basically its a type of resin pressed into a mold with high heat to make the body panels.You couldnt use old style fiberglass to fix your car.Different stuff,even though the basic idea is all Vettes are fiberglass somewhat.SMC is a different type of body than an old fiberglass design.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,729
Likes: 190
From: Custer, WI
Corvette Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,791
Likes: 2,697
From: So. Cal.
2025 C7 of the Year Finalist- Unmodified
2024 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Race Director
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 14,924
Likes: 9
From: Merritt Ils Fl
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,220
Likes: 446
From: Overland Park Kansas
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (appearance mods) 2019
Just a guess....probably not.
My vette is between the weight of a 91 Jeep Cherokee and '97 Grand Cherokee. It's 3400 lbs IIRC. An El Camino is probably in the same ball-park.
SMC (sheet molded compound) used to make the "fiberglass" in a vette isn't all that lightweight. IOW, your vette isn't even made with true fiberglass. It's a compound that's heavier/sturdier than fiberglass for longevity. The main benefit is rust-fighting, not weight reduction. In fact, the car might not weight much different if made of sheet metal.
Then there's the issue of a TPI being a motor designed to generate low-speed torque (power) vs high-end power. For 1/4 mile racing, they are restrictive.
So, I'm with coupleguy....it's a dumb idea for a race. Still, you might learn something. You know, the fact that your vette won't get anywhere near close to 9's, 10's, 11's, or 12's.
My vette is between the weight of a 91 Jeep Cherokee and '97 Grand Cherokee. It's 3400 lbs IIRC. An El Camino is probably in the same ball-park.
SMC (sheet molded compound) used to make the "fiberglass" in a vette isn't all that lightweight. IOW, your vette isn't even made with true fiberglass. It's a compound that's heavier/sturdier than fiberglass for longevity. The main benefit is rust-fighting, not weight reduction. In fact, the car might not weight much different if made of sheet metal.
Then there's the issue of a TPI being a motor designed to generate low-speed torque (power) vs high-end power. For 1/4 mile racing, they are restrictive.
So, I'm with coupleguy....it's a dumb idea for a race. Still, you might learn something. You know, the fact that your vette won't get anywhere near close to 9's, 10's, 11's, or 12's.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
As mentioned, there is no way to know until the light turns green.
Of course drag racers always tell the truth, the mods on the car are always exactly what is described, and the driver can consistently cut a .0001 light.
The easiest way to gain HP is to open your wallet, grab all of your credit cards and get whatever is necessary to get the power you want. There has always been a saying at speed shops:
"Speed costs money. How fast do you want to go?"
Your 89 in stock trim will weigh around 3400lbs. Look at the stickers on the driver's door; it should show front and rear weights. An 80 Elky will probably weigh about the same in stock form.
"352" cubic inches is most likely incorrect. IIRC, a 350 with a .030 overbore is 355 cubic inches. Getting only 2 cubic inches would be nearly impossible to do. Even if he used a 327, getting to that number would very difficult given the standard overbores, piston sizes, and even custom cranks.
Of course drag racers always tell the truth, the mods on the car are always exactly what is described, and the driver can consistently cut a .0001 light.
The easiest way to gain HP is to open your wallet, grab all of your credit cards and get whatever is necessary to get the power you want. There has always been a saying at speed shops:
"Speed costs money. How fast do you want to go?"
Your 89 in stock trim will weigh around 3400lbs. Look at the stickers on the driver's door; it should show front and rear weights. An 80 Elky will probably weigh about the same in stock form.
"352" cubic inches is most likely incorrect. IIRC, a 350 with a .030 overbore is 355 cubic inches. Getting only 2 cubic inches would be nearly impossible to do. Even if he used a 327, getting to that number would very difficult given the standard overbores, piston sizes, and even custom cranks.