[Road Roamer]

So I bought this car 9 years ago and it ran pretty bad. I took it to a reputable shop and they tuned it up and it's been a good fun car since then.

It's a 68 Chevelle 396 that the seller advertised as a 360 horse earlier engine. I never confirmed.

I've been using it for cruise night an occasionally drive to work.

Yesterday I ran it down the 1/4 mile and came away really disappointed. 14.67 at 95 mph. It wouldn't pull past 5200. I pulled the plugs today and they look pretty bad so I'll be changing those.

Here's what I'm working with.
Unknown 396
Turbo 400 stock convertor
3.73 gears with fresh Eaton posi
850 double pumper and Hei set up by engine dynamics 9 years ago.
Air gap performer
Small tube Headman headers
2 inch exhaust with flowmasters
BFG TA Radials 275 60 15's in back.

I'm happy with the car aside from lack of rpm. Shouldn't it rev at least 6000? Are my valve springs toast?

Thanks for any help!

 

[putput]

If you enjoy the way the car runs other than the trip to the track, then not such a big deal. Even if you are able to spin it higher, you likely wont see a huge decrease in et without many other factors coming into play. That being said, could be the springs are weak for sure. Was it laying over in every gear at that rpm, or just high gear??
Lots of things you can do 1st also if you are looking for a little better performance, start with tune up. Check timing curve, if your initial is really low, a simple re-curve of the dist can help. Running too high of an octane can actually slow you down too.
I am pretty sure the 360hp was flat by 54-5500 stock, and the 325hp were pretty much done around 4800. May be a 325 version...
Of course, you can always throw together a little 496 and make a huge jump down in et along with really decent manners as well

 

[427L88]

It could very well be valvesprings. BTW, your car would likely go faster with a much smaller carb.

 

[modchevelle]

I know some Factory HEI's had a built in rev limiter. Same thing happened to me many moons ago it would not rev over 5500 rpm's. Is that 850 big on a 396?

 

[72BBMonte]

14's is what they run back in the day when produced.

 

[71454Chevelle]

What's the cam specs? Depending on your cam, it may be done making power at 5k and no need to spin it any higher.

 

[Steve R]

I've been going to the track every Wednesday night since 2002. I cannot count how many people who claim to have 500+ horsepower actually turn high-14 or 15 second ET's. Your car ran pretty well for a street car on its first trip to the track. Spend some time dialing in the ignition and carb, that is where you will see the quickest gains at a minimal cost.

Good luck on your tuning, it will do better next time out.

Steve R

PS, don't get down on your cars performance, or make excuses. It is compares more favorably to others than you think. It's just that many of the others haven't been to the track to find out what their car actually runs.

 

[bradley67]

They let you race without a helmet!

 

[sschevellefan]

They let you race without a helmet!

dont need a helmet untill you hit mid 13`s.

 

[Rich-L79]

A smaller carb and bigger exhaust would help. 2.5 inch pipes on the exhaust system would be a meaningful upgrade. Ditching the Dronemasters probably wouldn't hurt either. Comments about checking the HEI for limiters and that it is bringing in the advance as it should are solid as well.

Are you shifting yourself or letting the transmission do the chores? (Sorry, didn't have time to watch your video.)

 

[JKK]

Looked like it ran well...................Got a good second!!!!

 

[Dan Orgill]

14.67 doesn't seem all bad. Lots of factors in play. The more you know about the motor ( cam, head work ) and you'll be able to say with more certainty if the car has more in it. I wouldn't sweat it.

 

[modchevelle]

I think there is more in the car considering my son's all steel 68 chevelle with a top bolt 1980's stock Q jet 305 cid with a $75 Summit cam and lifters went 15.1. It had a turbo 400 with a stock converter and 3.73 gears. As for the helmet you should always wear one regardless. There is always another guy in the next lane that can get crossed up and take you out or something unforeseen can happen. What tires to you have and pressure?

 

[-SS454-]

I don't think the time is that bad, more so I don't think the MPH is that bad for the given combo.

2" exhaust... that would be a huge problem. New exhaust and buy/borrow a helmet.

 

[kettbo]

2" exhaust is a problem. If you were closer we could work a deal on my 2.5" set-up
stock converter is a problem (race days). You would be amazed by a 3000 stall converter swap. A hard launch makes for those good ETs. Stock converter will not help one bit. Drag radials and suspension tuning too. One thing leads to another so think how fast will float your boat. My pal is really happy with the streetability of his 66 Chevelle with zz350 SBC. With a few changes he could be 12.9x but he likes what he likes and runs bottom 13s like clockwork.


Around 13.95 sec would be a match for that 95mph pass

 

[von]

How much money do you want to spend and how quick do you want to go?

 

[YankeeRodder]

That does seem a bit slow, you also had a little hesitation at the light, am I wrong? The engine sounded strong like it wasn't hitting a wall and going flat, I agree with some of the earlier posts, carb and tuning. Every one of us that think we have a fast street car are always disappointed at the track. They never run what you think they will. Takes time to learn to launch at the track, and you better have a way home cuz your gonna break something!

 

[hmardown]

Jerry
come on man, where's your enthusiasm ? it's a good thing you didn't have an extra 3 or 4 hundred hp. it seemed like you were on your way to wal-mart. I thought the car sounded great and moved along pretty good. there's plenty of ways of picking up some power. poke around this site and throw a few bucks at it. enjoy:hurray:.
hmardown

 

[kettbo]

MJ 468 next week, 4000 stall too, I can smell it!

 

[nashville beth]

2" exhaust is a problem. If you were closer we could work a deal on my 2.5" set-up
stock converter is a problem (race days). You would be amazed by a 3000 stall converter swap. A hard launch makes for those good ETs. Stock converter will not help one bit. Drag radials and suspension tuning too. One thing leads to another so think how fast will float your boat.

Around 13.95 sec would be a match for that 95mph pass

In addition to following this advice, I would trade that 850 for a 750 double-pumper. A 750 is good for even a 454 if you choose to go that route.

Maybe you can find someone wanting to go bigger ? Try to find one on a good running engine so you know it's ok.

I would use dynomax super turbos for mufflers. They won't slow you down and you can hear your radio.