I am getting ready to take my 71 convertible to the track, first time with the 455. 800 CFM Qjet 74 jets 44 primary rods. DR secondary rods. Small body HEI. Stock WF 455 with mild Crower cam (see below). Stock intake and exhaust manifolds. 2.5 Exhaust with X-pipe. 3.23 posi with 235/60/15 tires. TH350, stock stall with shift kit. I am crazy thinking I can get mid 14s? http://www.crower.com/misc/cam_spec/cam_finder.php?part_num=52239&x=45&y=9 John
If she's running decent 14's the first time, (`71 Skylark conv. right?). Once dialed in high 13's obtainable. Add a ~2600 stall converter and pick-up .5 sec in the 1/8 mile (TCI Breakaway, $175), I did.
John, Mid 14's should be no problem at all. The problem you'll have is getting it out of the gate without spinning the tires. If you can get a 2.0 60' time, you might even see high 13's. Try getting as far as you can up on the converter at the line.
what commpression do you have and what are your heads like. if you have 10 to 1 commmpression and some port work and a good valve job you could see mid 13s, after the getting out of the hole the 455 can make up some time. my first GS had a stock 70 455 with a stage 1 cam, stock exhaust, points,2.70 gears, 3900 lbs, and it ran low 14s, never use 3rd gear at the track with that rearend.
The compression is stock for a 1972 WF motor. No head work at all. This is a budget build in a Skylark convertible, so 14.00 is my goal. Under that I will need a roll cage. How would a higher stall effect tire spin? Right now, On the street if I want to, I can spin the tires through first and half way into second. On the freeway when I hit passing gear the tires will chirp when it goes back to third. TIA John
Did anyone notice that Crower had the rocker ratio wrong on the cam card? 1.6 instead of 1.55 . That will make the actual lift a little less.
A higher stall converter will make more tire spin, it will let the motor freewheel up higher on the RPM's as the car leaves the line. At higher RPM, you will have more torque. If you can hook up with a higher stall converter, the 60' times will be lower, and so will your ET
I think tire spin will be an issue. I will run it and see what happens. I did not even degree the cam so who knows what I am running at. This is the first big block I have ever had. I was very disappointed at first. After the distributor up grade and fatting up the carb it is a blast! John
John, are you talking about going to the Pontiac event in April? If so are you sure they are going to require a rollcage under 14's?
Yes, I am talking about the Pontiac deal in April. It is my understanding that any track that follows NHRA guidelines will not let a rag top go under 14.0 with out a cage. According to NHRA rules you can't even run a rag top without a helmet.
Your right, I wasn't thinking ragtop...my mistake. I was thinking I'd only get one run if that. Thanks for clearing that up
You are correct.....however it is up to each individual track as to how they "interpret" the rules. I've run at NHRA tracks where, basically, anything goes (BG during the GS Nats, national trails during the GS Nats)) I've run at tracks where it was fine to break the rules UNTIL eliminations started and I had to have a Dial-in on the car. Then, its was either 14.00 or dont run I've run at tracks where I was never asked at tech-in how fast I run....and later asked to slow it down. I've run at tracks where at tech-in I was told I COULD NOT run faster than 14.00 and they would be watching Bottom line - if you're just looking to see how fast the car is - dont worry about it. If asked at tech-in either tell them you dont know (kinda the truth) or tell them last time you ran it it went 14.7's o No: Try a soft launch by loading the converter off Idle a bit and then on the green instead of slamming the gas pedal to the floor, try a nice gradual squeeze that gets it there in about a second. this should help limit tire spin
still trying 14.55 at 94MPH is about it. 2.10 60'. Pretty consistent, four out of six runs. Made it to the finals in street trophy. Lost sleeping at the light. I need to get used to racing slower cars. 4040 pounds with me in it. Adding a sway bar and air bag have helped with tire spin. Tranny shifts early, about 4750 RPM. I ordered a govener mod kit and will try to dial it in about 5100rpm, I don't want to hurt it. Also ordered some CE rods for the Qjet. Any other ideas without spending a lot of $$. John
John, The 'Bug' has hit you!!! Do yourself a favor and buy some slicks right now! Your destend for it,you won't be sorry. :Smarty:
John, go with slightly lighter weights in the governor. I doesn't take much of a change to get a later shift. If the 1-2 and 2-3 shift points happen at the same rpm, stay with the stock springs for the first try or two.
