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496 Drag Test Again

10K views 60 replies 28 participants last post by  Looks stock  
#1 ·
Some may remember our YouTube 496/650 dyno/drag test we did years back, the drag test was done at 5000 DA in the worst humidity I can remember, needless to say it was a horrible performance that's has bothered me ever since. So I had a customer that bought one of these 650 HP 496s and it developed a leak, didn't leak on the dyno but leaked in his car, before I moved from Colorado to Texas he brought the engine to me so we could replace the rear main seal, I was skeptical this would fix the problem but we tried, so I replaced the seal and the customer had no time for a dyno test as he wanted to get back over the border before a shut down. So he installed the engine and it leaked again, well he wanted to send the engine to me to be fixed, and he also wanted me to run the engine in my car to see if the leak was fixed. Sounds like a lot of work, but we had to do it, and I figured I wanted to retest the 650 HP 496 anyway so we went ahead. We tore the engine down and checked everything, and found nothing, so I replaced the block and put all his internals in the new block. So here are the specs on the 650 HP 496:

4.310 X 4.250
18 cc dome piston 9.8-10.0 compression
RPM 4340 center counter weighted crank (heavy)
6.385 Scat I beam rods
Isky 238/248/.578/.608/110 hyd roller
Morel short travel lifters, Straub will like that!
Scorpion rocker arms 1.7
Milodon pan with modifications
M77 oil pump
781 GM oval port heads with 1.880/2.190 valves
Performer RPM air gap intake

So we installed the engine in my car, I immediately noticed the engine felt way different in the car than they did in Colorado, a good way to put it is more harsh. We get to the local track and make a mild ck out pass, 6.85, 1/8 mile drag strip. On the second pass my is to launch the car, and I was nervous because I know what can happen, sure enough its going for the rear bumper and I try and peddle it out of the wheelie for the 60 foot clocks, the time slip reads:

1.32 60 foot
6.42 660
105xx MPH

So I'am thinking we need to adjust the front shocks, and after the shock adjustment the car will not hook, so we decide to drive the car out roll into it and tune for MPH, which turns out was a good idea, so we made several passes like that and the best was 6.40 @ 107xx MPH with 1.48-1.49 60 foots, DA was the best of 1500.
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#7 ·
We now have the front end tightened up and limited

First Pass. 6.36 @ 107
1.42 60 foot ??? why

Well it turns out I short shifted 1-2 gear, I was used to immediately going into high gear at the other track.

Second Pass. 6.22 @ 108
1.30 60 foot?

Short shifted 2-3 driver malfunction, used to my slow cars.


Third Pass. 6.17 @ 108.8
1.31 60 foot

I was very happy with the 6.17 faster than expected in 2050 DA, but why won't it 60 foot the 330 and 660 are good? It turns out the low RPM 496 wanted shifted before the 60 foot clocks, which was slowing the 60 foot, my gear stack is wrong with that combo.
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#11 ·
We now have the front end tightened up and limited

First Pass. 6.36 @ 107
1.42 60 foot ??? why

Well it turns out I short shifted 1-2 gear, I was used to immediately going into high gear at the other track.

Second Pass. 6.22 @ 108
1.30 60 foot?

Short shifted 2-3 driver malfunction, used to my slow cars.


Third Pass. 6.17 @ 108.8
1.31 60 foot

I was very happy with the 6.17 faster than expected in 2050 DA, but why won't it 60 foot the 330 and 660 are good? It turns out the low RPM 496 wanted shifted before the 60 foot clocks, which was slowing the 60 foot, my gear stack is wrong with that combo. View attachment 796860
As always Mark, you make it look easy. Nice work and great times.(y)
 
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#21 ·
All steel chevelle with Iron heads, factory seats and 3 speed
Weighs the same as plastic 3rd gen camaro with aluminum heads ,kirky race seats and 2 speed ? Nice Car, customer should be thrilled with that time slip.
 
#40 ·
It does show a nice transition. Mark, am i thinking correctly, its much akin fluid dymanically to the Holley carb "hats" that funnel airflow into the carb?

PS Amatuer observation : when I put a Weiand plenum divider plate back onto the GM intake we hogged out all " L88-like", I don;t know if it was the plenum being back on, or the 1/2" gap that Weinad plate left at the top, but HOLY SMOKES did that dial in the combo right quick. Like night and day. So to this day I am a beleiver in 1/2" spacers sort of religiously. ( that was a 439 with a gentle Crane Commander solid 238/238 on a 114 lsa. )

Yet now I see what the pro Eric is seeing. Sir, for us amatuers, what are sings of reversion>? that black coloration in the venturi of my old Holley?
 
#53 ·
Very impressive performance Mark. Can you share how much timing and also did you run a 1'' open carb spacer ?
 
#58 ·
Mark are you planning to run the 467 combo this year? Really looking forward to see it run.
 
#60 ·
Hello Mark, How do I get a hold of you to talk about/order an engine from you? I have tried several times to reach you by telephone but it could be my timing as I am in California and "My Track" is Irwindale Ca. I am looking for a pump gas BBC that will turn a mid 6s in the 1/8th. Car is a 68 Camaro that weighs 3530 with fuel and driver, T400 with 4000 stall and brake. 14x32 slicks. 4.88s. Thank you. Chris Ruen email is Racer27@outlook.com.