Hi guys, I need some advice from the pros here. Goal: Being able to lay down two nice 10 foot long tire streak marks without using the brakes. Current set-up makes a small “chirp” in first and second. 1968 skylark originally 350-2, now has stock 4bbl intake and QJ cab 8.5 diff with locker and 3.42 gears Headers 255/60 R15 Tires TH375 (TH400 internals) with mild shift kit stock converter Stock cam (I think) TA performance HEI distributor No idea history of this engine, last rebuild etc. I’m looking at getting the TA212. Will that do the trick? Do I need to up my compression for this cam? If so is milling the heads and deck enough? Do I need to change springs , lifters and pushrods? Thanks
4.11 gears. But seriously,remove that big car torque converter, get a 2500-2600 or a little more. Make sure it’s a small block rated torque converter. General rating is for a higher power big block. Easy loose 4-500 rpm out of converter. A 275 ati first gear set would help . Get a recurve kit for hei, make sure it’s getting 12 volt(remove resistance wire) Set timing so you have about 30-32 mechanical advance at 2600 rpm. you will need valve springs with any cam upgrade. I suggest a front cam bearing also. Any new cam requires new lifters. New cam old lifter surface equals junk cam . personally my cam choice would be for the crower level 3 (50258). Cam. Advanced 4 degrees . milling heads some will help. .060 would actually net about 9.2 compression.
The TA Performance HEI should already have the optimal advance curve. I would change the torque converter to one of these, http://v8buick.com/index.php?threads/tsp-9-5-street-strip-converters-lifetime-warrantee.147066/ Call Jim.
Direct from ta website “ all in at 3400” . Hei distributor So get that timing up. Set at 10 initial you should have 32. According to ta.
I mashed to wood to test the nos and started to bake and go sideways with MT drag radials had to back off. One nite I was at a Corvette shop in Cleveland and when I left they asked me if I could do a burn out and I said sure. I had no nitrous then just TA radials 275-60-15 so they asked me if I wanted some water and I just laughed and did a small brake TQ and as soon as the tire started to spin I mashed it to the wood banged 2nd gear and then hit 3rd and smoked the daylights out of that place while driving off into the night. There was 3 of us in car I guess the cops came by later and asked the owner not to let anyone do that anymore. I must have left the biggest marks in town since they told me they do this every week, that was why I did it in the first place. yeah 350's can smoke em. no problem
save a lil money- spend a lil money, Gears, converter and speed parts. TA will take care your well saved $$, As well as a couple members here that can help you with go fast parts!. If something breaks just save some more and spend some more, thats what i learned lol
I'm old enough to remember the cars that could. Seen a 340. Demon cross an intersection tires smoking. Seen a grabber maverick light em up leaving neighbors house. Then my friends older brother bought a 68 Malibu with hot 327.My neighbor didn't care for that late night burnout. Can a 68 sky do it?.350?.
I would go with torq converter first with the 2.75 first gear for starters. I found my 72 350 likes 36* total timing and it’s all in at 2600. I did have to limit the amount of vacuum advance. Then again my motor is probably as far as I know totally stock. You should have a bit more compression than I due especially beings I have over 100K on the clock. I would do a leak down test to be sure rings are good before even opening up the motor. I have a set of the TA aluminum heads and my machinist and I are pleased, but that would depend on your budget. It gets $$$ fast. Just my .02 Good luck
