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Topic: Finally took dad's Chevelle to the track (Read 2811 times) previous topic - next topic

Finally took dad's Chevelle to the track

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

Finally took dad's Chevelle to the track

Reply #1 –
Quote from: kingcars;231377
She'll be running 12s no doubt.

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...

Finally took dad's Chevelle to the track

Reply #2 –
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.

Finally took dad's Chevelle to the track

Reply #3 –
Yep only kept gettin' better!!!! :D
1987 20th Anniversary Cougar, 302 "5.0" GT-40 heads (F3ZE '93 Cobra) and TMoss Ported H.O. intake, H.O. camshaft
2.5" Duals, no cats, Flowmaster 40s, Richmond 3.73s w/ Trac-Lok, maxed out Baumann shift kit, 3000 RPM Dirty Dog non-lock TC
Aside from the Mustang crinkle headers, still looks like it's only 150 HP...
1988 Black XR7 Trick Flow top end, Tremec 3550
1988 Black XR7 Procharger P600B intercooled, Edelbrock Performer non-RPM heads, GT40 intake AOD, 13 PSI @5000 RPM. 93 octane

Finally took dad's Chevelle to the track

Reply #4 –
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.
RIP 1988 and 1990 Lincoln Mark VII LSC
I welcomed the dark side and currently am driving a 2000 Dodge Durango SLT plus, with a 5.9, Code named project "Night Runner"
Shes black on black, fully loaded, with headers, 180 tstat, e fan, straight exhaust into a cherry bomb vortex ler, full tune up, ported intake and T/B, MSD coil, and round aircleaner.
Mods to come: Fully rebuilt and heavily modded 46RE, and a richmond rachet locker.
my $300 beater ;)
R.I.P Kayleigh Raposa 12/18/90 - 2/24/07

Finally took dad's Chevelle to the track

Reply #5 –
He has brodix aluminum heads on it...not sure of the specs though.

Finally took dad's Chevelle to the track

Reply #6 –
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.
"Real cars dont power the front wheels, they lift them"
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
1984 Mercury Cougar GS 5.0:cougarsmily: BBK Equal Length Shorties, BBK O/R X-Pipe, Magnaflow Magnapacks, Mustang GT Stainless Tailpipes, 18" Magnaflow Rolled Edge Tips. Turbo Coupe Hood, Mach 1 Chin Spoiler. 17"x9" Cobra R's, Falken Ziex 255/50s, and 245/45s.
1984 Ford Thunderbird 3.8L "Drag Queen"
2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Lone Star Edition 5.7L Hemi 400hp, lex DOD14M Magnaflow retro-fit ler kit

Finally took dad's Chevelle to the track

Reply #7 –
Quote from: kingcars;231466
He has brodix aluminum heads on it...not sure of the specs though.


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...

Finally took dad's Chevelle to the track

Reply #8 –
Quote from: TurboCoupe50;231475
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.

Finally took dad's Chevelle to the track

Reply #9 –
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.
93 Festiva L, 193k miles, BP+T/G25MR swap, T3 50trim .48/.42, SRT FMIC, Capri electronics/Rocketchip, 2.5" exhaust
bests: ET 12.86, MPH 110.25, 1.92 short
02 Subaru Impreza WRX, 129k miles
97 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport, 236k miles

Finally took dad's Chevelle to the track

Reply #10 –
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?

Finally took dad's Chevelle to the track

Reply #11 –
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
93 Festiva L, 193k miles, BP+T/G25MR swap, T3 50trim .48/.42, SRT FMIC, Capri electronics/Rocketchip, 2.5" exhaust
bests: ET 12.86, MPH 110.25, 1.92 short
02 Subaru Impreza WRX, 129k miles
97 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport, 236k miles

Finally took dad's Chevelle to the track

Reply #12 –
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.

Finally took dad's Chevelle to the track

Reply #13 –
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.
Matt
1984 Thunderbird - 89 302 HO, GT40 heads w/ Trick Flow springs, E303 cam, Edelbrock Performer 289 intake and 600 cfm 4bbl, Mustang headers, Jegs o/r H pipe, Dynomax lers, Mustang AOD and shifter, Mustang 8.8 w/ 3.73s, 3G alternator, Mustang front and rear sway bars, KYB SN-95 front struts and shocks, and 11" front brakes.

1988 Mustang GT - GT40 heads, Explorer intake, 70mm throttle body, 70mm MAF, Crane 1.7 rrs, E303 cam, Kirban Kwik shifter w/ Pro 5.0 deluxe handle, aluminum clutch quadrant and firewall adjuster, o/r h pipe, Dynomax lers, 3G alternator, aluminum radiator, and 3.27 gears.
 
1986 Cougar 5.0, 1989 Mark VII LSC 5 speed, 1980 Mercury Zephyr 4 door (sold)

Finally took dad's Chevelle to the track

Reply #14 –
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.