Upcoming grudge race! Need advice/opinions

Hey guys,

I am going to be drag racing a friend of mine that has a 496 bbc in a 71 chevelle, 4.10 gears, 3000 stall, oval port heads, healthy solid cam, air gap dual plane, 10.5-1 compression, drag radial tires, stock suspension. Very healthy and very heavy! The car has not been to the strip as of yet.

I have a 32 ford 5 window that is very near completion.
The combo: 4.56 gears with 10 inch wide hurst cheater slicks, 3000 stall converter, 385 chevy, 11-1 compression, hydraulic roller cam .480 lift/230 duration on a 108 LSA, 190cc professionally ported heads, air gap intake, 750 double pumper holley, lake headers. rear suspension is a buggy spring/ladder bar combo, front suspension is i beam/hair pins.

My question is: does my 32's combo have a chance or do I need more motor, etc?

A big thanks in advance!

 

He's going to make a lot more hp and a ton more torque, and IF he can plant it, you might be in trouble. It's probably going to come down to who can hook up. So make sure you do, if you catch my drift. If you both hook, you may be chasing him down up top.

 

My only comment or suggestion is to do the racing at a legal strip. Maybe do it on test and tune day when things are a bit more relaxed than on a race day.

 

Tip, the Hursts are slick slicks.....I mean slick, you know what I mean? They need LOTS of heat to get them to bite.

 

you have a big weight advantage

 

More cam and converter, and You will stomp Him. Get your cam up in the high 500s with 290 duration and move up the converter to 4 to 4500. It will still be streetable but MUCH faster. FED

 

Could be a good race if you are equal at driving. Your advantage is weight. His is more experience with his ride. He is probably more dialed in. You will need to leave with him to have a chance. It takes on average 100 more horse power to make up a one car length disadvantage.

 

As Tman mentioned, your weak link is your slicks. The Hurst and Firestone slicks look cool and oldtimey, but don't hook worth a damn. I found that out the hard way at the BP drags with my 27, I had Firestone 8 inchers on the back and my 60 foot times sucked big time. First gear was useless and I was still spinning them half way through 2nd gear. Just couldn't get the hp to the ground.

From the comparison of the two cars you have a real shot at hanging with him, but you have to get some real tires under the back, especially since your car is a little light in the ass end anyway.

Don

 

Practice your reaction times!

Also, bring your car to the Hunnert Car Heads Up Drags on June 16 at Great Lakes Dragaway (right down the road from you) and get some practice against other pre-66 cars. Your friend can't run, but you'll have fun and will get some practice against real cars.

 

i use to run a 327in a 55 that ran 10.92 on its best run.i have shut down more bbc than i can remember.327 60 over block,forged crank, al. rods. 12 1/2 comp.heavy worked heads, tunnelram and 2 600 holleys.520 lift cam. balanced and blueprinted.all machine work done by rhs in memphis back in the late 70s.all the weight i could get came off the car. fiberglass frontend. plex aglass sidewindows. i dont remember what size slicks i ran. 411 rear with both them babies turnin. change that cam into the mid 500s and get a better pair of slicks just for the race and you can beat hime if you can drive. he is really heavy. your lighter and ssmaller. if he hooks you might have some trouble.but if you can hook up id bet you can do it.your converter needs to go up to atleast 3800. i wish you luck, i know you can do it.and as badge said, you will need to know that car. it has to become almost part of you. you need to know how it will react in any situation.drive that thing alot and practice, practice practice,leavin the line. dont just get it built and go at it.

 

You're toast man.

 

Not with those tires.
Race once and swap slicks with each other then do it again.

 

Assume we're talking Heads Up? Weight advantage is right, make sure you "tree him"!

 

How do you really feel about it !

Don

 

That's what i'm thinking!
I might install a hidden nitrous system...

 

No, you have enough hp already to get the job done, nitrous is only going to make traction a bigger problem. Get some drag radials or real slicks. That is what I am going to do for next year's BP drags, that, and a blowproof bellhousing..........I want in the 6's next time.

Don

 

I watched a guy race recently, he had a 454 with a 6-71 blower, big cam, etc. Probably making 700+ HP in a lightweight car.

He went up against his friend who had a naturally aspirated sbc with a mild cam, etc.

Big engine boy was running cheater slicks

small engine was running some cheap junkyard slicks.

Small engine guy was halfway down the track before big engine finally got hooked up.

Get some decent tires, they make a huge difference.

It was fun to watch all that power smoke the tires through 3 gears almost to the eight mile mark though.

 

Unless he spins his tires you're screwed. Maybe a little oil in his lane might...

 

Chevelle weights alot and only has oval port heads . Youre way lighter.
My money is on you !

 

Launch skill, traction, and reaction time are VERY important in drag racing... practice makes up for a lot of weaknesses.

I know a guy with a rustrod that cant put down 200 hp using those tires.

 

I WILL SEE IF I CAN DISCONNECT HIS SECONDARY'S...

 

Thats a huge pig. If you can drive you can take him. Don't rely on the tire to hook. learn to pedal it and you'll be fine. You migt have to run him down but I think it's yours.

 

My money's on the Chevelle. - But were only guessing with the limited info given.

 

Just spot him a couple of lengths and then if you win you'll be the new Milner and if you loose there'll be no shame because you spotted him a couple of lengths.

 

i love both of those cars- win or loose, POST THE VIDEO!!!!!!!

 

Don't underestimate how potent the 383 stroker combo is, IMO that is one of the best sbc combinations out there. Your entire package is pretty good, even the suspension won't be a big hinderance, it is just those tires that won't let you launch as hard as you need to be able to get decent 60 foot times. Most races are won in that first 60 feet. I know there are top end machines that can run down a car that has a head start, but usually the first guy out of the gate is tough to beat. Some of that may be psychogical too because it is pretty disheartening to see the guy in the next lane get a good jump on you.

Don

 

Don't bet pinks.

 

The first mistake alot of guys make is coming off the line wide open. If you can spin the tires when you stand on it you will need to ease into the throttle. Pump him up about standing on the gas at the green and all that other bull shit, and while he is smoking the tires you will be out front. And if all else fails swerve over at him, he will lift. JC

 

Did it happen yet?

 

Think et streets or et street radials. If he called you out....your probably getting ready to be hustled...lol

Switch to a 3.50 gear