JimmyDuncan
Well-Known Member
This is purely a theoretical question at this stage, because as you all know, all funds will be funneled into the 383 build for Frank the Tank for now... But, I've been to a few drag meets lately and I'm getting an itch...
As I've been reminded, even with the new engine and trans, and eventual diff upgrade, Frank will remain a chunky kid that while enthusiastic, is better suited to strolling along the beach front, than sprinting down the track..
I know for sure there'll be some experienced opinions about how to go about getting into the fun of drag racing, without blowing the bank and leaving room to grow into it.. and I figure if I know what I'm after, I can hang around the track, the car club and car shows and sniff out bargains over the next few years...
My plan for how to start is to buy a light weight car that is in decent shape in the chassis and body.. Something like this is fairly common..
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1979-HOLDEN-TORANA-UC-/271958056781?hash=item3f51f69f4d
They weigh about 2600lbs in stock form, so stripped down a fair bit less. The car will be a drag car only, as the regulations for putting a big engine in a small car over here are very strict and it'll be a lot more expensive to build a fast fun street car...
The second half of my plan is to shoehorn a fairly stock old big block into the engine bay.... I'm imagining with little work a near stock bbc will get the small car moving fairly quickly..? Then, as I learn the ropes, I can work the engine and use power adders?
What are thoughts on that plan?
What sort of 1/4 mile times might a stock-mild bbc do in a little car?
I could probably go with a sbc, but that would end up being a limiting factor sooner than with a bbc yeah?
Is there value in spending more to buy a car that has had a lot of the work done to it already? for example
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Torana-H...-door-buyer-/321830389455?hash=item4aee9606cf
Is little car with big cubes the easiest/cheapest entry point?
As I've been reminded, even with the new engine and trans, and eventual diff upgrade, Frank will remain a chunky kid that while enthusiastic, is better suited to strolling along the beach front, than sprinting down the track..
I know for sure there'll be some experienced opinions about how to go about getting into the fun of drag racing, without blowing the bank and leaving room to grow into it.. and I figure if I know what I'm after, I can hang around the track, the car club and car shows and sniff out bargains over the next few years...
My plan for how to start is to buy a light weight car that is in decent shape in the chassis and body.. Something like this is fairly common..
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1979-HOLDEN-TORANA-UC-/271958056781?hash=item3f51f69f4d
They weigh about 2600lbs in stock form, so stripped down a fair bit less. The car will be a drag car only, as the regulations for putting a big engine in a small car over here are very strict and it'll be a lot more expensive to build a fast fun street car...
The second half of my plan is to shoehorn a fairly stock old big block into the engine bay.... I'm imagining with little work a near stock bbc will get the small car moving fairly quickly..? Then, as I learn the ropes, I can work the engine and use power adders?
What are thoughts on that plan?
What sort of 1/4 mile times might a stock-mild bbc do in a little car?
I could probably go with a sbc, but that would end up being a limiting factor sooner than with a bbc yeah?
Is there value in spending more to buy a car that has had a lot of the work done to it already? for example
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Torana-H...-door-buyer-/321830389455?hash=item4aee9606cf
Is little car with big cubes the easiest/cheapest entry point?