’68 STREET/STRIP MALIBU

454 .030 Over
Stock crank; reconditioned stock rods
KB203 Silvolite pistons .133 dome
Comp Cams 270H (.510 .510 224o, 224o @ .050)
346236 peanut port heads :(
Edelbrock performer R.P.M. intake
Edelbrock performer 750 C.F.M. carb
Mallory HEI performance coil ignition
1 ¾” full length headers with 3”Dumps
TH400 with Transgo stage 2 shift kit
2800 stall converter
MOSER Ford 9” with traction lock and 3.50 gears with stock springs,shocks,airbag in Right
P275/50R15 BFG drag radials (26”) on 7” wheels
Front stabilizer removed
Read boxed stock upper control arms/tubular lower/poly bushings


Should I be able to run low 12s with this setup? I think it's time for better heads and more cam but I want to make enough vacuum for the power brakes.I'm getting good traction but my 60'times are at 1.8. Please reccommend a "best bang for the buck" upgrade.

We were running 12.70's with a 2800 stall and 049 heads. Made the change to 1969 corvette closed chambered heads that are really hogged out and slipped in a 3200 stall. New best time was 12.20 @114 MPH. Just put in a Team G single plane and fuel cell with 1/2 line all the way from tank to pump. We shall see! I want 11.99 so we can put the cage in it.

Phil where are you located?

St. Louis

I run low 12's with more head,more cam,more gear. Nitrous!!

Phil, I'm curious about your current combo, can you post your 12.9 timeslip? What's your Chevelle weigh?

1.857 60'
8.27 1/8 83.86 MPH
12.981 1/4 103.86 MPH

Well depending on how deep the pistons are in the hole, I'd have to say a set of oval heads with big valves, mild bowl blend and VERY small chambers would do it. 115cc may yield you 9.25:1. 110cc would be closer to 9.6:1, assuming a whole bunch of things. IF you went 105cc, then you could put a better cam in. (That should get you into the 10:1 compression range, but I'm just guessing.)

OR you could put 3.08s or 2.80s in the rear and not slow down!

The 103.86 mph says you could gain a little ET with better tires but is probably not enough for low 12s (most low 12 second cars are turning about 110mph). To get a 3900lb(my guess) car to pick up from 104mph to 110mph takes on extra about 60-65hp. I don't think a cam change alone is going to get you there. IMHO a better set of cylinder heads are required (oval ports with work and bigger valves) and maybe a cam change too. Beaware an extra 60-65hp will make traction even more of an issue. But your car seems to work pretty well at your present hp level.

A good set of heads will get you there. Go ahead and bump up that cam. That is a small one and you are no where near loosing vacuum for your brakes.

Bigger heads, whatever oval size has the right chambers to get to around 9:1.
Swap the cam for a 280H.
Performer RPM.

I had the same setup in my 70 SS and it went 11.9 @ 113. I actually used flat top Silvolites, and 106cc ovals...never can remember the casting number. 1970 396 heads.

BTW....I spun that thing to 6500 all the time. For years, came apart looking like new.

Ron

I notice that most people here are running at least 28" slicks. I am considering 28" slicks right now. I think that I will lose ET (lowering my gear ratio). Any thoughts ?

Are you having a hard time getting the low sidewall BFG DR's to hook?

Oh yeah, I should have noted that swapping to a well setup Holley will likely nick some off the ET. Carter AFBs were never dragstrip terrors. Sure sounds like a 'top end' swap will net you what you seek.

I had trouble getting them to hook at first.But the more worn they become the better they hook. I am not having to feather the throttle to keep them from spinning anymore.