Small Block & Big Block Chevy Specific - planning out a drag car

aight guys. a buddy of mine and i were discussing plans for a nice lil drag car for me. right now we're kinda set on a 2nd gen fbody. seems to be one of the cheapest things to find. and imma find with a 350 or better in it. my goal really is simple to me..just wanna hit 10's. any suggestions?

yep....do this...put some subframe conectors...build you about 6-700 hp sbc...get a T400 & run 3.73 posi...use a transbrake with a set of 10" slicks..do a set of ladder bars on a 9" with a single shot off the line of 3-400...you'll be deep in the 10's...oh & lose lots of weight...mine started runnin EZ @ 3700lbs and ran 9.10's alongside Rowe when he was bustin 8.70's...best place to lose weight in a 2nd gen is the doors & windows...lots of extra front end brackets and stuff along with a fiberglass hood...dont forget to chunk the inner fenderwells...put it on a diet with abit of fiberglass and build a stout little sbc without goin crazy and 10's are easy....9's should be more in the ball park

I'm just starting to do the same cept I found a 3rd gen camaro off ebay (less motor/trans) for $112.50! so I'm going to put in a new k-member fiberglass fenders/hood and run my 498bbc out of my chevelle. I also have a th-350 sitting here ready to go less shift kit, then my uncle has a th-400 he'd give me if i drove to kansas to pick it up (needs rebuilt). so I'm hoping for ten's especially with a 200 shot. The only thing though is I'm still debating on which rear set up to run? Over at thirdgen.org some guys are having trouble with the 9" being a "direct bolt in" deal. not that the 12 bolts are any easier, but more complaints with the 9". also comp engineering makes the subframs connectors with ladder bar provisions so maybe that's an idea?? kinda at a loss for the rear end, everything else pretty muched worked out.

you can run 10s with about 600 hp at full weight, or lose a few pounds and do it with a little less horsepower depending on what combo you'd like to use. You also don't have to go ladder bar or backhalf necessarily, you can stick with the leaf springs but I'd definately use Cal-tracs. you can also run an 8.5" 10-bolt (common in 2nd gen F-bodies) or even a 12 bolt and chew less hp than a 9 inch. Keep in mind the 9 inch will obviously allow for gear swaps. If you can get the race weight down to 3400-3500 w/driver, you'll need about 550 fwhp along with a good drivetrain and you'll hit high 10s without too much exotic stuff.

Good luck!

Derek

tens are easy...9's not too bad either...have a 9" fabbed nice if you plan on running the car & keeping it...for a little more than the price of cal-tracs which do work well you can do ladderbar coilover on a 9", save some weight & have a platform to build more to....speed is addictive...20 yrs goin down the track i bet i've spent a couple million and still have a pile of parts...most "guaranteed" to save a tenth or so :jest: ...yea, ok...have fun...get an airconditioner for your trailer...take friends and include your family

true, but going ladder bar and 9 inch might be more $$$ than he'd like to spend to get started, plus an enclosed trailer? I'll agree I've also spent a good amount of money getting to where I'm at, but I recently added a trailer to my package, and an open trailer is much cheaper than enclosed, plus a wider range of trucks can be used to pull an open trailer as opposed to an enclosed.

Apex, I guess you might want to elaborate on what you'd like to spend and what your goals are with the car. Bracket racing? possible class racing?

Derek

i say get a 3rd gen.add s-10 manual steering box,406 ci 550 hp aluminum headed sb,3500-4000 stall & south side lift bars with a 12 bolt or 9 inch.with heater and ac system sledge hammered,i mean removed weight should be around 3000- 3100 lbs,atleast thats what my 85 bird and a friends 83 maro weighs.actually the maro weighs 2940 with all the interior besides carpet from back seat back.ladder bars in a 3rd will require 2 big gashes where the back seat "used" to be.

i have a 383 stroker for sale that was built for a 78 firebird, also a th350 trans on motor should go low 11's on a 200shot deep 10's let me know if ur interested 516-690-3284