[jburns]

My brother and I put the 540 in our 70 Monte about 10 years ago and have just been driving it- but never could make a track date. Before the 540 went in, it had a 454 bottom end with a Straub Hydraulic Roller, World Product oval ports (1990 vintage), Performer RPM, 850, 2400 stall, stock fuel tank with factory 3/8 line, a basic mechanical fuel pump, pump gas, stock rear suspension with a factory sway bar, factory style boxed lowers, and 3.31. It nipped the 11s with this combo- not bad for a 4000+lb cruiser.

The 540 has all of the same pieces the 454 had, except for a little bigger exhaust. I knew it felt fast (I guessed 11.3) and it went 11.22 @ 117.6. I expected it to make the number on a top end charge. I wasn't expecting that 60'! It actually rolled over a bit in 3rd. It might need more jet, or that fuel system needs attention. (I should probably pull the valve covers too, but that Straub HR just purrs away!) There are so many ways to build off of the 540 to make it truly fast, but I'll leave it alone for now! Maybe I'll finally get the Camaro to the track...

 

[bracketchev1221]

Glad to see you’re at there having fun. My car started out in the 11.20’s too at 118. I made the mistake of trying for just a little more and a little more.

 

[Steve69SS396]

Congrats! I've always liked those first gen Monte Carlo's!

 

[COPO_68]

That is one cool Monte - especially like the SS540 emblems.

 

[TAG55]

Very cool sleeper, did you get to run it with the hub caps ? If so that gets extra cool points.

 

[JIM]

What rear tires? That’s an incredible 60’ time with any sort of street radial. Your 1/8th mile time shows it has 11.0 potential. Maybe it just ran out of cam? Specs?

 

[GRN69CHV]

I had to slow my car down. First sub 11.50 time was 11.20 @ 119. They told me, 11.50 or get a roll bar. Stated this before, I ended up starting out in 2nd gear to kill the 60' then ran it home. Car was running 11.50's at 126 mph (dead serious, wish I had kept the timeslips, VinceG witnessed it). Kept getting questioned where was the N2O the way it ran out the top end. At 118, you have a lot more in it.

 

[JBoggs]

Really like the appearance and well done.

 

[WHT/73]

Nice job!

 

[jburns]

Very cool sleeper, did you get to run it with the hub caps ? If so that gets extra cool points.

Sadly no. I can't adjust the tire pressure with those things on. I tried valve stem extensions, but they don't work very well. Plus, I think the track may have said something to take them off. Or not- there isn't much to tech these days I noticed! No one seemed to mind I was under 11.5 with no roll bar!

 

[jburns]

I had to slow my car down. First sub 11.50 time was 11.20 @ 119. They told me, 11.50 or get a roll bar. Stated this before, I ended up starting out in 2nd gear to kill the 60' then ran it home. Car was running 11.50's at 126 mph (dead serious, wish I had kept the timeslips, VinceG witnessed it). Kept getting questioned where was the N2O the way it ran out the top end. At 118, you have a lot more in it.

No one said anything to me about not having a roll bar- I made 2 passes and left. But maybe they don't bother as much with that anymore. There are plenty of newer cars running 10s and faster with no bar!

 

[jburns]

What rear tires? That’s an incredible 60’ time with any sort of street radial. Your 1/8th mile time shows it has 11.0 potential. Maybe it just ran out of cam? Specs?

Nitto drag radials- street tires with a little tread! The standard 275/60-15 on 7" rims. They tuck up nice! I should mention the track was very well prepared. I made my pass immediately following a Red Line Oil Funny Car!

 

[GRN69CHV]

No one said anything to me about not having a roll bar- I made 2 passes and left. But maybe they don't bother as much with that anymore. There are plenty of newer cars running 10s and faster with no bar!

What track did you run at, you're local to me IIRC. Cecil County?

 

[bracketchev1221]

Just looking at your time slip again, I think you're right. Considering if it still has the 3/8 line it, it is nosing over at the finish line. The 7.04 to half track shows it was moving once it got rolling. the 1.58 60 is good for what the car is, but the 7.04 showed it started moving after the 60, and then fell off past 3/4 track I'll say. 7.04 X 1.57 which is 1/8 to 1/4 conversion, shows it may have 10.99 power, just not the fuel to feed it.

 

[mrpaticular]

Some tracks are different if you are t&t or in a class for eliminations.
3-4 mph more in the 1/8.
I also slowed down at the end of the 1/4. changed to -8 with larger pump, high flow regulator and freer flowing filters and cured that.
Rick

 

[VORTECPRO]

Nice looking car and runs good too!

 

[obseSSed]

S L E E P E R !! Very nice.

 

[Lew540]

Great run. Low 11s with a really streetable set up and a heavy car is amazing. The 540 with the oval ports gives you that tq to get down the road.

 

[70SSOBSESSION]

That’s what I call a sleeper.

I love the SS540 emblem, is your car an original SS?

70 Monte SS454 is a bucket list car for me.

 

[cstraub]

My brother and I put the 540 in our 70 Monte about 10 years ago and have just been driving it- but never could make a track date. Before the 540 went in, it had a 454 bottom end with a Straub Hydraulic Roller, World Product oval ports (1990 vintage), Performer RPM, 850, 2400 stall, stock fuel tank with factory 3/8 line, a basic mechanical fuel pump, pump gas, stock rear suspension with a factory sway bar, factory style boxed lowers, and 3.31. It nipped the 11s with this combo- not bad for a 4000+lb cruiser.

The 540 has all of the same pieces the 454 had, except for a little bigger exhaust. I knew it felt fast (I guessed 11.3) and it went 11.22 @ 117.6. I expected it to make the number on a top end charge. I wasn't expecting that 60'! It actually rolled over a bit in 3rd. It might need more jet, or that fuel system needs attention. (I should probably pull the valve covers too, but that Straub HR just purrs away!) There are so many ways to build off of the 540 to make it truly fast, but I'll leave it alone for now! Maybe I'll finally get the Camaro to the track...



View attachment 794044 View attachment 794045

Congrats guys!!! That is the picture of a "Sleeper"!!!!