10 second 1/4 for 10 grand?

Saw this idea in another thread, name was squirrel. Either way, gave me the idea to ask for help with a bit slower but still plenty fast car. I already have the car, was told not to mention it cause it's newer-ish, Hint, it's my profile.
It's a 454, bored 40 over, turbo 400 with some random shift kit, some nice sounding headers and a cam. As of when I get my license this will be my daily, until hell freezes over. So that brings me back to the topic. Is running a 10 on the quarter AND having a semblance of reliability absurd for 10k, or somewhat doable? It doesn't have to run like a 10.1 but I don't really wanna run a 10.99 either. Any help to a newbie kid is appreciated.

 

Out of 470 you will need decent heads
10-5-1 compression plus
Light vehicle 3,000 pds
Or
Other options
Power adder
Nitrous
Blower
Turbo

BBc to turn more then 6,500 & live will need average decent parts

 

Well, you have made it hard by already choosing a car, an engine and wanting to street drive reliably.

Look across this great internet thing for late 70s vettes that run the number. See what they typically have for a drivetrain.
Also check what the car weighs and plug in the weight you have and ET you want to get a Horsepower target.

I'll tell you right now that the cheapest way to go 10s is to buy a sorted but non sought after race car, unless you have experience, budgeting skills and a shop like Jim, AKA Squirrel. He has graciously taken us all on the journey and shown what he did and what he used. Do you have a welder to do exhaust and axle stuff? Do you have the tools to do a freshen on an engine? Do you have the 10K ready to buy the parts needed when they pop up?

 

I do have a welder though I can only run 110v, was thinking of getting a little generator so I could use a 220. I've got a decent number of tools though I'd still like to get more. Overall, No I don't have everything set up and ready at a moment's notice. But I'm also in no rush whatsoever, It's still a year till I can drive. and as of right now It's just me practicing in parking lots.

 

Mid 10s ,
Do you have any experience ?
10s can be Fast for most !
Its achievable,, shop parts wise ,
New , used .
Look @ short & long Block kits ,
What your asking & try to do
Will be 92,93 plus octane fuel

Really Not a BBc
The LS is the Cheapest & reliable way to go , if starting with Nothing
Ls 5.3 pick part / junk yard $600
All so easy to add parts for future,

 

I not saying it can't happen, just want you to have an idea of the path to success. We all dream and that's great motivation. Many of us fail, too. That's part of living. But if you want to reach a goal, research what it takes, understand the steps needed, and limit the stuff that will cause this to not work out.

Here's one of the first results from asking about a C3 ten second car.
https://www.smokinvette.com/threads/any-9-or-10-second-corvettes.14908/
another from 10 years ago
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forum...-c3-racers-with-10-second-or-faster-c3-s.html
another from almost 20 years ago
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/c3-tech-performance/2002214-10-11-second-quater.html

 

Thanks I'll look into them

 

I settled for 14s when I was young...good to see our goals have improved!

You may have noticed that power adders give good bang for the buck. Instead of building a high performance (expensive) engine, you just need to build a strong engine, and let the power adder make the HP for you. But as mentioned, the rest of the car has to be able to deal with the power, so you might see what it takes to get a strong rear end and transmission. Start with the difficult things that are not obvious that they're part of the path to going fast.

 

Will do, I still got a lot of work to do regardless. Just trying to set out a long term plan too

 

https://accelerationtimes.com/models/chevrolet-corvette-l82
Stock was 15s. Getting a 47 year old car to do it's original ET is going to be a bit of effort. Hopefully the BB will help, but I'd guess the rear diff is going to be the first limiting factor, provided the driveshaft doesn't grenade.
That 47 year old thing will help, because there will be lots of people who have documented the pitfalls, failures and successes. There should be a fairly clear path to the results you want.

 

Oh, good to know. Thanks

 

I built my 32 ford 5w a little over 10 years ago. It is all steel, with a 475 horse blown small block and a muncie 4 speed. My best time in the quarter is 10.89 at 130 mph. My total cost in the build was $10,425.00. I know that this could bot be done today, but maybe with a model a body or a fiberglass t you could do it and still have a cool car when you are done.

 

I was thinking about going supercharged, I just wanted to keep it under the hood. and I don't know of any positive displacement ones that would. Think some people make some centrifugal ones for 454s though?

 

4.8 or a 5.3 with a turbo setup will make as much hp as you want to go fast within reason, but eventually more boost is going to break something. 600hp is pretty much a safe bet while being as reliable as it can be

big block is cool. You can do turbochargers pretty easily. Cost a couple grand to set them up

 

A 177 roots under hood ,
Pro charger new 5k ish
Used , Pro charger Vortex , Pacston
Again it can be done , Just depends if parts are Free or Not

 

10s for 10 grand? Back in the 90s I ran 10s for 5 grand bartering everything I could. Now days a decent long block will cost you 10 grand.

 

Yeah I get the whole ls, lt, lq, lsx thing. It's just since I already got the motor, I feel like I'd be losing more selling it and buying another engine yknow. We're getting a new Bandimere here in colorado, I'll take it down there like I have it and see if I can get a baseline. give me an idea if it's worth pouring more money in

 

The weakest links in your Corvette is the rear axle and differential. It is doubtful it came with 3.73 gears or a locking rear end. You will need something around that figure or higher to get the acceleration you'll need for 10s in the quarter. The body flexes a great deal (so much that you are supposed to open the doors if you jack the car up by the frame) and the car won't be structurally sound enough if you put a lot of torque and HP to it. Yes, they can go fast and can be ran in the quarter mile with the right modifications. And there are a lot of safety considerations to factor in especially with a corvette. I also doubt very strongly that if your parents will even let you drive the Corvette if they figure out how quickly a Corvette with serious power could get you in trouble. And for the record, the trouble comes without you doing anything to create it. They handle well if you know how to drive them and you stay on top of driving them. They can and have gotten away from very experienced drivers with devastating results in many cases with just a moments inattention. I'm not saying it can't be done, but I have an 81 now, and I had an 80 in Germany that had plenty of top end. I am saying you probably shouldn't do it yet. If driving the Corvette wasn't new to you, running 10s wasn't new to you, and you didn't have to face worldly temptations of being a teen with a car begging to go fast, then go for it. But as things stand, build yourself a car that is safer to run 10s in and save the Vette for prom.

 

Fast on a budget for me has always been nitrous with a programmable ignition system. Secondary fuel system to feed fuel to the nitrous. Traction is going to be the first problem. Once you get the car to start hooking, then the 'vette half shafts are going to be the next problem. Take a look at F A S T (factory appearing stock tire) drag racing record holders. Top 8 are all BBC vettes.
https://www.fastdrags.com/fast-records

 

My parents actually help me with my car sometimes, their whole idea is that if I put a load of money into it and bust a couple knuckles on it I'll learn to respect it more. Like I also said in the start, I plan to practice more, quite alot more. I know you're just giving me a heads up, and I appreciate that.

 

With this line, you have just increased the difficulty a bunch! Look up the correction factor for running tens there.

 

Lol, I already know. Our altitude sure as hell isn't helping me out

 

Years ago I had a friend who’s brother had a 67 427 four speed Corvette roadster, he ran it with a.0100 over 454 that easily made enough power for ten second quarters but no matter how easily the 4 speed was shifted the rear axles and differential just couldn’t handle the power. Good parts replaced the stock parts and the good parts would break. Would an automatic help the ten bolt differential survive? Maybe but the later Corvette will have more weight and probably not let the car get close to the tens.

 

fast corvettes usually have a solid axle swapped in. So go buy a ford 8.8 from a 95-2000 explorer while they're still available cheap.

I got one for $300 last month in Tucson. They had a few more.

 

Your IRS rearend is not going to cut it for 10s. Your best budget engine power adder is nitrous, and also the quickest way to a broken engine. Doing it all for $10k is going to be a lot of used parts and shrewd choices.

 

Just a heads up to everyone, obviously I don't wanna go tumbling into a barrier at 120, And i love my car. So if it is sketchy, simply put it won't be. If somethings off, I'd rather go a bit over budget and stay in the game, then be out permanently.

(Edit: didn't want this to come out as cocky, not saying I know anything. more so saying that if there's something I REALLY shouldn't cheap out on, tell me and I wont.)

 

You are still here and seem to be listening. That's better than many who want some advice.
We may toss some reality and mud at you, but we are trying to help. Some of us old geezers still remember our first car and being 16. Some still have that first car!

 

yup....

https://selectric.org/59truck/1970index.html

still have it.

 

Logan79vette
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