1979 chevy camaro - 7.60 - CI: 454

moose · Joined: 25 Dec 2005 Posts: 20 Location: south carolina

Owner Information

Home Town: gaffney
Primary Use: street strip
Estimated Investment: 15000
% of Wrenching by Owner: 80

Basic Car Information

Year: 1979
Make: chevy
Model: camaro
Weight: 3700

Proven Performance Information

Best ET/MPH: 7.60
Best 60´: 1.61
Performance Rating (5 is best): 5
Street Manners Rating (5 is best): 3

Gearhead Information

Engine CI: 454
Bore: 4.28
Stroke: 4
Block:
Heads: 325cc from a 454 ho motor
Ported? (With flow numbers): no
Crank: stock cast 4"
Rods: eagle i beams
Pistons & Rings: srp forged
Cam & Lifters: lunati voodoo hydraulic 60204 233/241 554/572 110
Intake: victor jr
Distributor/Ignition: msd pro billet with 6al box
Headers: flowtech 1 3/4"
Tran & Brake: 350 turbo -- footbrake
Converter: trans specialities 9" 4500 stall
Rear End Gear: 4.30
Tire Size: 26X10 slick--switching to 28X11.50 et street
HP/TQ Number:
Power Adder: none
Compression & Fuel Used: 9.5:1 93 octane
Chassis Tricks: trick springs front, summit adjustable shocks, caltracs
Carb: holley 850 dp

Proof

Special Notes

car used to have a set of ported oval ports, solid roller, and 26X10 slicks--11:1 compression. It ran 6.90's in the 1/8 mile. Changed combo in order to run a heads up street car 8.0 et class. We still have to detune it alot.

Advice Needed

I want to get another camaro for all strip car. Need help in combo. Say 3200lbs, powerglide, 4.30 gear, 26X11.50 et streets, 454 BBC.

Other parts I am considering: possibly 4.25 stroke, solid roller cam 270-280 duration at .050, 715 lift. 12.5:1 compression, holley 950dp carb, victor intake , msd ignition, 4500 stall.

I would like to use the heads from my motor now. They are new from a 454HO 325cc rect. port heads. 2.30/1.90 valves ?, ported!

My goal is to run 5.70's in the 1/ mile. I will add nitrous. Say 300 shot. Is this possible. Can you guys help fine tune this combo.

Parts for this combo that I already own: block, 325cc (stock right now)heads, intake. All others cana be changed.

70camaro · Joined: 18 Nov 2006 Posts: 5

im no genius but, aren't those heads to big for your setup? probably run faster with a 305 head?

Grumpy 427 · Joined: 19 Nov 2005 Posts: 154 Location: Regina Sask Canada

Yeah i would say your heads are a bit on the big side too, but you have room to grow with them. Add some compression and a big solid roller and you will see a difference. Short tire, is the motor out of RPM on the top end, or is it still pulling on the top end.
_________________
A Canadian with an insane street car.

1006 HP 468 BBC on spray
see what the track has to say.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y275/alcohloic/4563.jpg

moose · Joined: 25 Dec 2005 Posts: 20 Location: south carolina

My goals have changed since this post. We fine tuned it and it runs 7.50 in the 1/8 on motor. I added a 180 shot and it run a 1.46 60' time with a 6.70. However I had to let up because it was out of gear way before the finish. The stall flashed to 4500 or so. So I essentially decided to make it a Nitrous combo. Next week I am going to install a new nitrous converter. Then we will see if we can get some 6.40-6.50's out of it. I don't plan to get another car now. I plan to see how fast I can make the 9.5:1 compression, hydraulic cam motor go. Here is a video of the 6.70 runs. I will be making another video soon.
http://videos.streetfire.net/video/18a12cd7-5577-45ad-a071-985c016faff2.htm
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79 camaro
454 BBC
street car

70camaro · Joined: 18 Nov 2006 Posts: 5

Nice video. Looks like a real decent launch you're getting also. Are you still running the 325's ? I assume you are. the bigger heads arent slowing you down any?

Grumpy 427 · Joined: 19 Nov 2005 Posts: 154 Location: Regina Sask Canada

Right on glad to see you have it working better.
_________________
A Canadian with an insane street car.

1006 HP 468 BBC on spray
see what the track has to say.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y275/alcohloic/4563.jpg

rattss · Joined: 17 Nov 2005 Posts: 40

just wathched your videos, car looks great! your combo and times are very similar to mine. you listed that you use trick spings an adjustable shocks up front, i was wondering how much street time you put on your car, and how those springs act on the street? i have the stock small block springs right now that work great for transfer but the car sits to low. also did you have to trim the trick springs for ride hieght?
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damn its gonna be a long winter

moose · Joined: 25 Dec 2005 Posts: 20 Location: south carolina

It is a weekend ride. Cruise at 35-45mph--down to town etc. I dont have it set up to take turns at fast speeds. It drives fine at 60mph on the country roads. It is not my full time car. I did trim the springs 1 ring. I have the lightest weight BBC springs. Lakewood 90/10 shocks on the front, summit 50/50 on rear, trick springs, lakewood slapper bars. Just like Troy Lacrones car. In the video I am testing the prototype bars from Lakewood. They work good. I am going to make some more passes on Sunday. I will post the video. Hope to be faster.
_________________
79 camaro
454 BBC
street car

Troy · Joined: 05 Jul 2005 Posts: 513 Location: St Clair, MO

moose · Joined: 25 Dec 2005 Posts: 20 Location: south carolina

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/ed7857cb-30cb-4766-8ed0-9885013d0562.htm

Here is the new video. Didn't get to really go all out today. Think something broke in the valve train. Maybe it is time for a 496 kit over the winter and a new solid roller cam! Cool

Anyone want to help me make a decision? I do not own any small block parts. I currnely have a 454 setup. I want to change the setup--make faster. Question: 496 BBC OR 434 SBC

The only downfall I have with the BBC is that my block is O-ringed. It is a street vehicle. So I have to deal with the seapage associated with the o-ring/copper head gaskets. Downfall 2--weight.

SBC--downfall-I don't have pulleys, headers, brackets, nothing--more expensive.

What do you guys think.

My goal is the 1/8 mile equivalent to a 9.90 1/4 mile pass. 9.90/1.55= 6.38et in the 1/8?

On pump gas -- street car.
Using no more than a 180 shot of nitrous.

BBC combo I figure--496 with a solid roller--250-260 duration 680 lift
325cc rect port heads
9.5:1 compression

MAybe can the GM heads and get some aluminum pro topline 320 cc.

If i went to the sbc combo--like Troy's

80'427 · Joined: 25 Oct 2005 Posts: 104

Why or why would you want to ever go back to a sbc? I say 496 and send me a email if you sell the GM heads. The roller cam is working great but no times yet.

racinjason · Joined: 22 Nov 2006 Posts: 8

i would go with the 496 also i love mine but it's not a street motor....with that compression and cam i would go with a 310cc head....i have canfield 310cc fully ported and they work great...and have 13.9 to1 compression and a 760lift roller cam..you would get to your goal alot cheaper with a 496 than a small block...

ps...mine makes 850hp without nos so you should be able to make 700 i would think
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496 bb vega
5.77 at 120 in 8th all motor

Grumpy 427 · Joined: 19 Nov 2005 Posts: 154 Location: Regina Sask Canada

well since you are already set up for a BBC i would stay there. It is far easier to make power and torque with a BBC than a SBC the cost is damn near the same for REAL GOOD parts. But in my opinion, if your going to go SBC then build a Big inch SBC. I am happy running a BBC, cylinder head and cam technology has really come around ,and you can buy BBC heads cheap. Just go look at my new 468 combo, with the AFR 305 CNC heads i have and the roller cam, i am looking to achieve 700 Hp on the motor alone, then i will hit it with the nitrous to get it into the mid to low 9's
_________________
A Canadian with an insane street car.

1006 HP 468 BBC on spray
see what the track has to say.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y275/alcohloic/4563.jpg