nailhead 401 1/4 mile time

hi,
as I say in my presentation thread, I will begin a 32 5w with a 401 nailhead engine/trans/axle from a 66 riviera. I want to run the 32 on 1/4 mile races here in france. Does someone knows the 1/4 mile time for this?

thanks

 

12.615

 

Hard to say, but any good-running stock 401 should be able to power your light weight deuce down the track in the mid to low-12s at over 110 MPH with decent traction.

With poor traction it might be stuck somewhere in the 14s, so there are a lot of variables to consider.

Bottom line is, run it and find out.

 

15.375

 

what a good answer!
I just try to know more about the parts I collect for my car and the result.

maybe I didn't understand this:

Guidelines:
1. If in doubt, don’t post it
2. Stay on-topic and relevant with your posts… OT posts aren’t generally appreciated by our membership.
3. Gotta easy question? Try using the search function first.
4. Your life here would probably be easier if you complete your profile and introduce yourself before jumping into the deep end...

I thought, reading this, this was a constructive forum. ok my question was maybe not well turned but I say again I am french and I try to use your langage as well as I can.

so for the others good guys, I precise my question:

In france, some of my friends drive beetles or us cars to run in french 1/4 mile runs. I just would like to know who i will battle with if someone as already knew the 1/4 mile time ford a 32 with my engine/trans/axle from your experiences.

thanks again to the ones who "expect a certain level of respect and an effort to keep things true and on topic".

 

thanks draggin'GTO

here is something constructive

 

...and for the others, excuse me if it was your answers to your own experiences

 

sorry homeboy, but there are about 100 different situations you might want to consider....trans ? rear gears? tire size/width, stock nailhead or something built, rear suspension setup, weight transfer.......and on and on....

my 31 chevy pickup with a 401 and 4 speed ran a 14.8 and the clutch was slipping the whole 1/4 mile, infact i burnt it up in that pass....with a good working clutch low 13's...maybe better, depends on track condition and temperatures....

 

Before we can help you we need to understand a few more things:

1- Are you racing herbie style bugs, or the 1960's era "love bugs"?

2- Is the french 1/4 mile different than the American 1/4 mile? If I'm not mistaken, the French 1/4 mile is when you run 1/8 mile then hurry and turn around and run back. If that's accurate, make sure you have good brakes, and don't forget to hang a white flag on your antenna.

3- If you get beat by a love bug, please save your car any future embarrassment by putting it in a crate marked "Return to U.S.A." Well take care of it here.

Just kidding man. Honestly, you're going to take some heat for your question because it's way too vague. It's like asking somebody how much a fat dog weighs. Too many variables. Good luck at the races....

 

hahaha, this is great...

 

ok guys and thank you.

I know my question is very vague but I think I have a part of the answer thanks to you.

the thing is I have to "run it and find out" ,you are right.

for the moment, other nailhead powered 1/4 mile time could be interesting to list here... no?

 

Sorry, but us lazy americans would rather take our hot rods to the drag strip to find out what thay run, rather than ask for ETs from someone else with a simular setup. Dude , just take it to the strip and find out the fun way!

 

WOW you are like that YOU americans??!!

and why are you registered on a forum if you just want to act and don't talk about your "american" experience?

I don't just buy some bread with my bicycle, I have already run on 1/4 mile but not with my future 32...because it's my "future" 32.

so... I think it could be interesting for some like me to know a little more about the nailhead on strip.

that's all, just a thread I was looking for without finding answers, so I asked.

 

Dirty31's old roadster ran a best of 13.69@ 99.59 mph. That's with a pretty stock 401, a 4 speed, and skinny bias ply street tires. You can sorta see it in this video. Blake was shooting my car, so you don't see Rusty's roadster for long.

Like the others said, there are a ton of variable. That's what make racing these old cars fun. I know that the laws in France are really hard on old cars, so you must be pretty dedicated to decide to build/own one. Good luck with it and let us know what your times are the first time out.

 

Well, I don't have a good answer for you, but...I would imagine a stock '66 Riv would run in the 16 second area. Weighs maybe 4000-4500 lbs?? I have a '34Ford p/u, no fenders, with a 401 & TH400, it weighs 2500, so there is a 2 second cut, more or less. Better traction and weight transfer, maybe another second. Add some power ( not full-race; just headers, mild cam,mild porting, better carb ) and you are probably looking at another 1/2 sec. or so. SO, as mentioned above, maybe mid 12's. Dodn't forget, the '66 Riv. should have a switch-pitch converter, which will help you get off the line. You can run a looser switch-pich off a 300 buick. If you are planning to us the '66 Riv rear, you might consider something else, Ford 9". Don't go too steep with the gears, nailheads make torque, not high RPM. Lots of folks say the best intake is the '66 quadrajet that was optional, if that's what you have, use it. Lots of links here on Nailheads. Good luck. PS. Thanks to your countrymen for helping us out in our War of Independance!!
Marko

 

If you were in Southern Ohio, he would have started with em. WTF is up with people? As for the answer to his question, there's way too many variables. A 2500lb vehicle should easily be in the 12s with a 300hp motor, new camaro's do it all day. Now, when you add in some of those changes we all make for style - skinny bias plys, etc, that subtracts. So, the real question is, how fast do you wanna go and what are you willing to give up to do it?

 

Damn Buzz you had to remind me about that

Rusty

 

Hotrod66,
The 401 is a very good motor. Totally stock but running good, it should make a light weight '32 run in the 12's without too much trouble.
This same motor was installed in Skylark GS body, same body as a Chevelle, and would run 14's if it was tuned properly. The skylark/chevelle body weighed almost 4000 lbs [1900 kg ???] with a driver in the car, so do the math.... How much will your '32 weigh?

If you want to rebuild the motor with good speed parts, you can make it go as fast as you want.

 

Somewhere between the 10's and the 16's depending on which cam, intake, rods, pistons, carburetors, roller rockers, ignition, transmission, rear end, suspension set-up, tires, and fuel you're using.

 

Didn't mean to bum you out about the last .41 seconds. I posted it because I was impressed with those numbers. You had that nailhead singing for a stocker and were launching pretty dang hard for those tires.

 

I appologise for the sarchasm but thats a pretty vague question. I could fill a page with the questions that would need to be answered first. Id really guess mid to low 13s on street tires

 

thank you, very interrested in your different answers.
as i said, I know my question is very vague but it lights me on the engine potential.
I bought it because I like the look it gives to a 32.
I think I will try to find out some good parts to power my engine but not too much, just for the fun.
In france, there are very few hot rods' drivers who run their cars on strips.
I want to drive it on the road but I want to run too, so it's fun to know where I go.
don't hesitate to give more infos if you have.

 

Hi I ran a 401 in my ford Y type with a TH 400 box 275 diff and 255x70x15 rear tyres and ran a best ET at 14.00

 

thanks daly, I received your e-mail