74 LeMans stocker "Buford"

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by Wayne Skelly

Started a build on a 40k mile 350 2bbl LeMans which has been parked since 99. Car was headed for scrap but it is now Billy Nees approved and endorsed! Car is the same color as the Buford T. Justice sheriff car from Smokey and the Bandit with a white top and lovely green and white interior(yup....that's right) of which the upholstery closely resembles my grandmas couch when I was growing up. I am told it will make a great Q, R or T car.

Trying to thrash it out for the Dutch classic coming up and stay close to the grand budget. Had some almost new 26x8.5s and 26" front runners laying around, Billy threw in a set of 4.56 gears and a posi to use for now. Just got a set of cheap headers and a Jegs XHD converter. Ordered a cam from Bullet which should be here Tues. The rear is out and opened, should have the gears in by the end of the weekend. Driveline is getting ready to come out as I am typing this(wife and kid are thrashing away while I slack!) Gonna check chamber volumes and upgrade springs then drop it back in figuring on an overhaul over the winter. Neighbor Bob and my son are gonna freshen up the trans the beginning of the week.

If all goes well we should be playing at Maple in a coupla weeks. I will work on the picture thing but am rather computer retarded unfortunately.

Wayne...Let us know how that converter works...
Good luck
Don't drive Billy completely crazy..It's been said he doesn't have far to go...

[Don Himes]

Hey Wayne, have you found head gaskets yet? If not, I've got a number to call. You can PM me if you want.

[Dave Ribeiro]

Wayne..........You have a PM....

[brent flynn]

Some may disagree, but, this is what the spirit of Stock, and the sport, is all about... I have a '72 Lemans Wagon, that would fit this bill... i drive it everyday, but, it has a little rust on it... dont know how NHRA tech would feel about that Its a neat old car... I could run 250 hp 455, or 200hp 400... i just need a set of 7k3's, i think, for the 455... I happen to have a good TRW version, of both engines, sitting around Car already has 3.90 gears, Eaton posi, and Moser axles in it( rear would probably grenade itself, unless i go with 400 cubes, and 4.56-4.88s).. 10'' continental 3200ish converter...i have headers...Oh crap, this is gettin interesting! I even have a cam, its a Bullet, .405 with probably a bit too much duration, but it would work Should i , or shouldnt I? hehehe

[Don Himes]

Yo Brent, you must be a yougster if you don't remember my old K/SA, 1972 LeMans wagon with the Sport (GTO) nose on it. Even had junior stock stripes on the roof! 250/455 combo. Would have loved to have tried the H.O. set up for I/SA.

[brent flynn]

Originally Posted by Don Himes

Yo Brent, you must be a yougster if you don't remember my old K/SA, 1972 LeMans wagon with the Sport (GTO) nose on it. Even had junior stock stripes on the roof! 250/455 combo. Would have loved to have tried the H.O. set up for I/SA.

You have a pic? Im 44... i guess, in NHRA Stock, that makes me young
Im building my 68 Bird into an E or F car... but, would love to do a 'dime rocket".... I have most everything i'd need...except for some 7k3's... I have correct intake, a fairly decent shortblock(went 11.50s with stock heads, in my bird), 3.90 gears(to start), and decent converters...but the 10bolt is the weak link... Why cant we run a 400(with 4bbl)? I think it was rated at 250hp, as well...correct? I know the 455 is a no brainer...i just need a 12 bolt...or a good 8.5 10bolt... I wonder how good a 400/200 2bbl would run? I have everything but a correct intake...shouldnt be hard to find...

Very cool project Wayne, Billy speaks very highly of you and your work. Hope to meet you one of these days. If you need anything feel free to ask.

Brent, the reason no one runs the 400 in the 72 lemans is because it is rated 5 hp higher than the 455. The 55 is the much better combo. You could run the index with a bone stock shortblock.

Originally Posted by brent flynn

You have a pic? Im 44... i guess, in NHRA Stock, that makes me young
Im building my 68 Bird into an E or F car... but, would love to do a 'dime rocket".... I have most everything i'd need...except for some 7k3's... I have correct intake, a fairly decent shortblock(went 11.50s with stock heads, in my bird), 3.90 gears(to start), and decent converters...but the 10bolt is the weak link... Why cant we run a 400(with 4bbl)? I think it was rated at 250hp, as well...correct? I know the 455 is a no brainer...i just need a 12 bolt...or a good 8.5 10bolt... I wonder how good a 400/200 2bbl would run? I have everything but a correct intake...shouldnt be hard to find...

[Wayne Skelly]

Sorry for disappearing on everyone. Been working a lot of overtime at my regular job and the garage has been crazy at night. With only the Lee Sherman left this season and since the engine is already out I am going to blueprint the shortblock over the winter and come out swinging in the spring. Good news is the rear is done and back in the car, the trans is fresh and ready to go and the carb is redone.....so I have a great headstart. I will keep everyone posted as I make progress .

[Mark Yacavone]

Danny Ashley,,,7-10-11
Can you spare a dime..thread

Originally Posted by Danny Ashley

Back in the late 80's when I had my 1974 GTO I considered the 2-bbl. because that body was a one engine combination for a 4-bbl. I obtained a manifold and carburetor and knowing that the late W.A.Lee worked on 2-bbl's, I sent it to him. He called me up and said they had tried it already and that the carb was too small and it would slow the car one and a half seconds. I had looked at Allen Peters at the time and made my decision off him but W.A. informed me that the '69 Chevy had a much larger venturi. He didn't want to do it because he felt I was wasting my time and sent it back. I really didn't think it would kill it that much so I decided to try it anyway.
It was in the fall and we had decent air but nothing like I had just ran at the Keystones where I was no.1 qualifier and ran 11.97 in L/SA which was really quick for that time. The car at that time with the 2 bbl. was P/SA and the index was an odd number for some reason of 13.54. My first pass was 13.53 followed by a 13.52. The car had no power. I had to almost floor it to do a burnout. I came back and installed the 4-bbl. set-up which is quick to do on a Pontiac and went right back up and went 12.22. I'll admit that the car could go quicker with maybe more gear, smaller headers, cam change, etc. but it didn't look worth the time and money to flogg it out especially when the 4bbl. was so good.
One last thought. Please don't base the 2bbl. combination off of Bill Rink's car. Bill is a good friend and carburetor customer and I can tell you that his engine is a "Top Shelf" Parson & Meyers piece as is everything else on the car. Definitely not a "Dime Rocket". Just a "Rocket" in it's day.