I have a 68 Riviera with a 72 Buick 455, bored .30. I'm assuming it's pretty much stock and cam. It has a stage 2 Jet Performance q-jet My question is, what is an estimate for the 1/4, The Rivi has no POSI Running 275 rear tires, Weight is an important factor, the AC compressor has been removed because the whole system needs to be redone. I know these boats are heavy but I looked at the curb weight of a 68 Charger and it seems pretty much comparable. IDK about gear ratio So, would a stock 68 charger non R/T or R/T, vs a 68 Rivi would they have similar 1/4 times? Idk it just always bugged me that the Riv is not considered a muscle car per say, but is just a bit longer than the "epitome" of muscle cars, the Charger! Although I'd love to have a 70 GS:3gears: Just wanted to hear some thoughts, I know Yardley has a 69 running around 12.99 and I checked the fastest boats posting too, just wondering if the Rivi just as mean on the street as other "muscle cars"
This post reminds me of the show Pass Time. I'd guess you'd be in the 16-17 sec range. Too bad they did away with the switch pitch converter in 68 because they were even heavier than the 67s and could have benefited from it. No clue about the 68 Charger. What engine would that have been? One of my most fun stories to tell about racing was between my first 67 Riv up against a 71 Charger with a 440. I beat him 3 times in a row from a dead stop. He was very upset and couldn't believe it. Both cars were bone stock. I chalked the win up to the switch pitch converter being able to get the heavy beast out of the hole quicker than the charger. I didn't really have a problem with spinning tires even though it was non-posi.
Let's say it's the basic, cheapest V8 Charger, Now that you're mentioning it, I'm about to pull my engine out, A new stall converter would be nice if it helps the Rivi move quicker! What do you think is good choice, 2500? Great story!, you should post it in the kill section:TU: I was hoping for mid 15 seconds! ha but I know my rivi isn't ready for those #'s but it sure does get me around while being fun.
I have asked myself the same question...and have come to the conclusion that I like it more for the style, uniqueness and power it has. Not that it isnt a muscle car...its just that I appreciate mine for more than just its speed, because I know that there are a lot of lighter smaller speed built muscle cars that could beat it with a lot less work than on our cars. For now, mine still yanks my head back with the BBB torque, and sounds great too, but its just a fun car to have, even though its not the fastest. Ill wait to get a 70 skylark for that :grin: After the OTHER cruiser is done...geez...
I believe the Charger only had three engine options, a 318, 383, or 440. You won't have any problem with the 318. With the 383 if you get him out of the hole you're probably good to go. The 440? I'd have to say no to that one. One thing to consider is the weight difference between the two cars but if it's any consolation that Charger doesn't ride anywhere near as nice as a Riviera. Good luck and let us know the results :TU:
Sorry I don't know squat when it comes to aftermarket performance enhancing add-ons. Maybe try posting the question in the Street/strip 400/430/455 forum or talk to a competant transmission shop. Just an option to think about. Yours could probably be converted to a switch pitch without too much trouble if you found a tranny and converter from a 67. I just had my original SP converter rebuilt through AAmco for $125 which I thought was very reasonable.
You can't make a muscle car out of a land yacht, unless your name is Yardley ! . . . but they do move out pretty quick, when you stomp em ! :laugh: :beer :TU:
The rivi does ride nice has pretty good torque, it is quite a fun car to drive. The only place ill see my 1/4 is at the track which i have yet attempted to try. Maybe ill go to the sacramento raceway this summer. A buick meet would be awsome. I too am waiting to find a 70-72 skylark drop a 455 into! As far as weight reduction i can replace the intake, and remove the ac system. Thats as much as i can afford, although i know i can get alumnum heads later and maybe even remove the inner fenders but im going for a stock fast car. Currently it needs work but it will be my cruiser and daily. Driver
i have a 70 wildcat 2 door 50,000 miles stock motor trans etc....4600 lbs with me in it with a 2.73 open rear....... i did have the dist recurved and the first time out it went 16.2 in the qtr. but it would not spin at all i repeat no matter what i did it would not spin the tires... now i knew something was wrong so i changed the converter to a 2500 stall(or thats where it flashes to on take off) my Qtr time went down to 15.4 but i ran out of gas at the last 50ft ......so i know i could do better I took it to bpg in ohio and my best time there was 15.8 (apparently the heat and altitude make a huge difference) came back home and installed the posi carrier (still 2.73 gears) went back to bowling green and ran 15.1 and i let off early (wasn't watching the finish line)DOH i know i can get into the 14's just haven't went back to try this year now this is an original 70 455 with small valve heads your car should be in the same area (in my opinion anyway) i hope this helps scott
Thanks that does help and it sounds like the range i expected the riv to be in. As for ky transmission, it is the th400 it was rebuilt and for the converter, i am not sure which one is on. It does spin the tires though. Any way as to figuring out whats in? Too bad a riv posi is hard to come by. I have entertained the idea of a custom built one for the riv.
If Ken Lisk gets his 72 boattail sorted out and gets his posi in it and aluminum heads on it, he should be in the low 12's.
In terms of the Riv vs. Charger thing, the Riv has some extra weight. I'm assuming it's probably 4400-4500lbs. A big block Charger is no more than 4000lbs. The 318 was rated at 230hp, the 2bbl 383 was rated at 290hp, the 4bbl 383 was rated at 335hp, the 440 was rated at 375hp, and the 426 Hemi was rated at 425hp. A big block Charger could probably do the 1/4mi in the low to mid 14's. A small block Charger could probably do the 1/4mi in the high 15's. For what it's worth, I'm shooting for low 15's with my setup. Maybe break into the 14's if I can pull a horseshoe out of my butt :laugh: .
My '69 Electra is pretty much stock.430, 2.93 rear gears, turbo 400. The only modification is dual exhaust with 2 1/2" delta flow mufflers(Flowmaster). That car went 15.70's @ 92 mph.
Old, old combo: Edelbrock intake, 750 vacuum secondary, stock 455 heads, poston 118, re-curved HEI, 255/60 radials. 4450 lb. '68 Riviera. 3:42 gears. 15.1 at 90 mph, sea level.
Sounds good, I came across this video, looks stock <object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0Bt3kC002S4&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0Bt3kC002S4&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>
Yup.... A near stocker. 15.38 @ 87.8. Probably a GS car with 3:42's, looking at the left rear wheel spin at the burnout.
