Yep, for my bday yesterday, we got to take the Chevelle down to the track and finally see what it can do. We came across a few unexpected problems; possibly vapor lock and/or the stock fuel pump acting up. As you'll see in the video, it was losing power right after the launch. Dad described it as feeling like it ran outta gas. The final run was done after 30-45 minutes of cool down, and low and behold, no power loss and she shot down the track; even with a 2.0 60ft on street tires, she still put up as good, and better times as lots of guys on slicks and DRs.
Also, we haven't tuned it to fix the breaking out at 5200rpm, so dad was shifting it there; it's built to spin 6,000rpm+ . She'll be running 12s no doubt. At least now we know what we need to work on. Next time she sees the track, we'll have a Holley 750 carb and a new fuel pump. Also, I got to drive it to and from the track (which is a 45-60min drive) and it was soooo much fun. I went WOT with it for the first time also :D .
Here's a video of all 5 runs, times are posted in the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZ0M5XEnPDg
Tuned correctly and with traction, I'd expect to see high 11s and mid 7s in the 1/8...
For that car, 8.60s are pitiful, I run that on a bad day...
The heads on it are really holding the engine back; there's a lotta horsepower left on the table just in the heads. And besides, it was the first time to the track (first time dad ever drove a manual at the track), and as you can see, there are a few things that need work. She won't be seeing sticky tires for a long time, though, but we'll definitely get the engine tuned properly. I think it was pretty solid for the first outing, and on street tires no less...and dad didn't want to run it more since we still had a 45 min drive home. I'm sure with more cool down time and practice, the time woulda dropped further.
Yep only kept gettin' better!!!! :D
what heads are on it? 202's? or 195's? Assuming your running a chevy iron head which i forget what it is you guys put on there.
He has brodix aluminum heads on it...not sure of the specs though.
Im curious to what my dads Chevelle will do with the 402. Even though its an automatic, it does fairly well on launch. Only problem I have is I need to rebuild the carb. A float sticks randomly and might need a better fuel pump. It loses power a 70mph WOT. Its not getting any fuel. but 0-70 is awful quick.
I didn't know Brodix was known for selling heads that limit HP...
Unless it's using a single 1 7/8" exhaust system, with stock ler, it should be running far quicker as is...
He originally bought the heads when he slightly warmed up the 350 (a couple of years before going 385) so they're not top tier. The exhaust is 2 1/4in with Flowmaster lers. And like i said...it was dad's first time running a manual down the track, the first time the Chevelle has ever seen a track, and there's still stuff that needs to be done. He has to shift a whole 1,000 rpm lower than what the engine will be able to do when it's fully tuned. You don't have to be a smart @$$ with me.
Man whats with you guys and little exhausts? You 'upgraded' to a stock mustang exhaust basically and your pa has a y 2 1/4 on his as well.
You aim to open your intake tract up, do the same on the other end.
And look at the times my Tbird runs...just like when 32V kept telling me my 5.0 wouldn't make full horsepower and that it'd run high 15s at best, and everyone that told me the 3.27s wouldn't make a big difference....oh look, my AOD Tbird runs faster than plenty of stock 5spd Mustangs. Hmmmm...
Lots more horsepower is lost with exhaust that's too big than exhaust that is too small. Too many people think bigger is always better. 2.5in exhaust isn't needed at the hp range my Tbird is/will be at. It would probably help the Chevelle, but there's this thing called money. Unless you wanna donate, get off our backs please.
Oh, and TurboCoupe50, dad bought the brodix heads 8 years ago and they're a basic street head.
Why the f**k do I have to defend everything I do, and when it's all said and done, I end up being right and nobody cares?
Dude put your manpon back in, its not like im attacking you or anything, just saying, a big built v8 (even a chev) might see a benefit in 2.5, maybe even 3, over 2.25
I'm pretty sure the 8 year old basic street heads are a much bigger issue than the exhaust diameter at the moment. And I'm sorry that I don't appreciate people being smart @$$es and getting all over anyone who doesn't buy into the "bigger is better" philosophy. Constructive criticism is one thing - undermining someone's intelligence is another.
When you say Brodix the first thing that comes to mind is badass aluminum drag racing heads with huge ports not "basic street heads". You weren't clear about what kind of Brodix heads were on it so I can see why TC50 would say that. From the video it seems to me that it's having carburetion issues more than anything else. I would work on that for a little while before dropping $$ on another set of heads.
Yeah we think that vapor lock was an issue considering how well she ran after cooling off.
It would have been nice if TC50 asked me more about the heads before being smart to me about it. All I ask is for common courtesy.
:popcorn: I cant believe its not a Mustang Board! :popcorn:
Like you said its your $ and you end up being right so who cares really.
So yeah that pretty much leaves it up in the air. Like saying "oh yeah he said its got a supercharger on it." Well so what, a bottom-rung Paxton lil baby one....or an 8-71? :hick:
And yeah...the money...the money.....always ruins EVERYthing. lol
I said they were restricting the engine and there was a lotta hp to gain by getting better heads...doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that they're not top tier. :hick:
And I bought my street Trick Flows in '99...
Sorry if I seemed a bit harsh, but I doubt the heads are as bad as you seem to think... Can't imagine any Brodix street head not supporting at least 450-500Hp out of the box... It'll run lots quicker with the fuel issues and tuning sorted out...
I'll talk to my dad about what exactly the specs are on them. And yes, the fuel issues and tuning have a lot to do with the slow-ish times. Money and time just haven't been available yet.
what headers? and that 2.25 is KILLING it. my stang has 1 5/8 long tubes into 2.5inch with flowmasters out the back, it did have 2.25 on it
what a HUGE difference. And it has stock iron heads(with a shiznit load of porting) eddy proformer intake, and a 750cfm holley 4bbl
I have a little to much carb on my 351, but with the radical cam it has it SUCKS the gas right in as you feed it
Im sure that the heads might not be the best, but I doubt thats the biggest factor.
Another thing Kingcars, one reason guys may be busting your chops a little is the site itself. I'm sure the Chevelle is a nice car and your dad should be proud of it, but this is a Ford site. A lot of guys could care less about Brand X stuff. Personally, I would not have a clue on what to do to make a bowtie run better. I spend too much time trying to keep them behind me. lol. Bottom line, enjoy the car, more importantly, ENJOY THE TIME WITH YOUR DAD, and don't get too butt hurt over anything we say here.
Nice car Kingcars..
My mother used to have a sweet rare Chevelle 67 black 454 and my father rebuild the engine for the track lol... She won a lot of trophies with that car at the track... My father won a lot with his GTO aswell.. I think the those cars were much better then the late 70's and 80's. But they costed a lot of Money.. big time...
And if u r redoing one of those cars complete the parts r so high.. its not like a 86 cougar where parts r cheap lol... On the 68 cougar they paid 5k just for a rare grill for the front of the car lol... Its amazing lol.
If u wanna find out more info on your car look up a site which is dedicated to those cars.. The Cougar club which Im in for 68 -72 cougars has been very helpful in information. Around here u will only get good help in the 81-89 cougars or t-birds im guessing.
Nothing wrong with Chevys tho in my book.. U build the engine right it will run good for you lol.
I guess I'm too used to being around people who aren't manufacturer biased. Hell, in our driveway we've got a Chevy, Pontiac, Ford, Honda, and Toyota. They all serve their purposes just fine. Dad got the Chevelle when I was 10; been workin on it ever since. That's half my life! *gasp*
Ultra rare, the 454 didn't see production till the '70 models...
Yeah I was thinking the same thing. Maybe it's a 396?
eh, yes Im wrong not a 454, it was a 396 her 72 SS was the 454... Woops lol good catch
even know this car the 1970 http://www.chevelles.com/classifieds/photoads/stancy0508/index.html
IS A pretty, no 86 cougar could beat that lol :-p