by spencerforhire » Tue Mar 18, 2014 6:27 pm
I figured I had better start a new thread for this season as there's lots of changes underway. A second Powerglide is under construction with a large pile of TCI internal parts; basically an exact copy of what's in the Vega now. Nothing really wrong with the old trans, but after 180 passes it would need to be freshened anyway, so when that happens it will become a spare. There's a bunch of back-to-back weekends with points races, so a spare trans is pretty well a necessity.
Another motor is in the works as well; a well seasoned but never touched 3970010 GM 4-bolt block is at the machine shop being bored and a rotating assembly is on order. Again, nothing really wrong with the old motor, just time to step up. The old 385 was not much more than a street motor; 11:1 flat top hyperutectic pistons, stock rods and a flat tappet cam. Again, the old mill will be freshened and wait it's turn to go back in if there's a catastrophic failure. The new 383 will have 12.5:1 Mahle light weight forged pistons, 6" H-beam Scat rods and internally balanced forged crank. Also going with a pretty serious Crane roller cam and a second pair of AFR 227 heads. All topped off with a new Holley 950 HP carb. And to join the new powertrain is a Hughes 8" converter; 5000rpm stall up from 4300. Desktop Dyno predicts an increase of 125+ HP, from 520 to almost 650. That might be a bit optimistic, but even if it only makes 100 more HP, that will put the car into the low 9-sec range at 150+mph.
To deal with the newfound power is a couple of other improvements; wheelie bars and a parachute. Looks like I'll need a throttle stop as well to run the 9.90 index Super Rod heads-up class I like so much; still weighing my options there.
I have gathered the pieces to replace the fugly fiberglass front end; not sure if there will be time for fancy paint after all the mechanicals are done.
The "fleet"-
72 Vega HB Drag Car -383/'Glide/9"(9.35@146.19)(5.94@117.28 1/8th)
77 Vega Estate wagon- project(someday)will have TPI305/T-5, S-10 spindles/axles
76 Vega GT- 400/4spd/9" retired from active duty(rusty)
06 Silverado 2WD ex.cab daily
03 Silverado 2WD ex.cab (retired)
06 Haulin' 20ft enclosed car transporter
06 GMC Canyon Shop truck
07 Colorado project( 5.3 4L60e swap)
99 Saturn SL1- wife's car
01 Saturn SC2- son's project
07 Saturn Ion Redline project
and 4 more Saturn "parts cars"
Note- the very act of listing all of these has made me realize I have some kind of problem.....
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