Drag Car Advise?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,909
Likes: 26
From: Clymer PA
Drag Car Advise?
Right now I'm getting to the point where I will need a roll cage for the 'Vette. I'm also concerned with the rear end of my car and the slicks. I've been debating about getting a solid axle car and making it into my drag car. So far I have found one drag car in my area that is affordable and something I would want.
It's a 1977 Camaro but it's made to look like a 1970 Camaro. It does need a paint job. It has no motor or transmission. It already has a full roll cage, fuel cell, gutted interior, tubbed out, narrowed Ford 9" rear end, 4.56 rear gears, full spool, strange axles, rims and slicks. The guy is asking $3,000.
What do you guys think?
I think it would be a great car that could take a lot of abuse. My plan was to throw my motor and tranny in it for now. Then once I get enough money make the motor like Norval's (8-71 blown 454). I already have the full forged rotating assembly for the blower motor.
The disadvantage is that it's not the 'Vette :( . I've already started making a name for myself around town and at the track about having a "wicked 'Vette".
Any opinions?
It's a 1977 Camaro but it's made to look like a 1970 Camaro. It does need a paint job. It has no motor or transmission. It already has a full roll cage, fuel cell, gutted interior, tubbed out, narrowed Ford 9" rear end, 4.56 rear gears, full spool, strange axles, rims and slicks. The guy is asking $3,000.
What do you guys think?
I think it would be a great car that could take a lot of abuse. My plan was to throw my motor and tranny in it for now. Then once I get enough money make the motor like Norval's (8-71 blown 454). I already have the full forged rotating assembly for the blower motor.
The disadvantage is that it's not the 'Vette :( . I've already started making a name for myself around town and at the track about having a "wicked 'Vette".
Any opinions?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 8,145
Likes: 1
From: Bradenton FLORIDA
Re: Drag Car Advise? (bence13_33)
Sounds like a good start! I would recomend making it a good bracket car.....small block/power-glide-5500 plus stall converter. a 625HP 406 small block would run in the 10's....possible high 9's set-up properly and would make an excellent consistant bracket racer. :cheers:
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 32,782
Likes: 11
From: Former NCM Drag Racing coordinator, National director Corvette Challenge Spring Hill, Tennessee: Whiting, New Jersey
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Re: Drag Car Advise? (TLewis4095)
block/power-glide, I like that combo.
Advanced
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 54
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From: ewa beach HI
Re: Drag Car Advise? (JRODDVETTE)
I agree with JROD...there are a lot of things that make the Vette a better race car. 1st and most important, look where the vette's engine sets compared to the Camaro. The Vette's front sparkplugs are well behind the centerline of the frontwheels. Not so for the Camaro, in fact the plugs are in front of the centerline. This helps a Vette hook compared to the Camaro. Vettes have full frames. The Vette doesn't need subframe connectors... What was once the weak point in a drag racing vette, the IRS/DIFF...now has many parts available that will support this rear end well into the 9 sec range...changing to a 4 link and 9 inch will cost more than a Tom's 12 bolt IRS. And last but not least if you buy the Camaro, it'll be one of too many at any dragstrip in the country. If your present car is too nice to modify to go that fast...save a vette that is not restorable to original, I got mine for $2500. Keep racing a Vette :yesnod:
[Modified by stalker, 6:39 PM 5/20/2003]
[Modified by stalker, 6:39 PM 5/20/2003]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 8,145
Likes: 1
From: Bradenton FLORIDA
Re: Drag Car Advise? (bence13_33)
I would most likely stick with the big block (I love big blocks) and go the 8-71 blower route. Probably either a TH400 or a Powerglide.
If only to be quick & no bracket racing the blower will make it quick...need to know your intent...are you just going to build a car to run at the track Test & Tune now & then? Or try to build a bracket winner.
