Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

1982 Mustang 302..Q/SA

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

If thats the GT 5.0 HO combination, it should be stick only.

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

Dime Rocket = something you can "afford to race". Keyword being race. If one wants to win consistantly, the dimes will start to add up, quickly.

Truth is, there's no such thing as an "affordable" race car. There may be/are cars that cost less or may be/are inexpensive. It doesn't matter if you're running a lowly 4 cyl ;-) in the slow brackets or a T/F dragster, they all cost and the cost is relative to what we as individuals can afford!

I enjoy these threads. Opens up my eyes to some of the different combos out there. Funny you brought up that 82 302ci Mustang, Mark. I had an offer to trade a motorcycle I had for that very car about 4-5 years back. Would've been a great stocker, car only had about 60K. 2nd owner car, body was solid, paint fair, interior near perfect. At the time I just didn't need another car. Also, it was the wife's bike, she wanted cash, otherwise, I was tempted.

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

NHRA accepts it with an auto.

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

Mark, I would have bought that Monza already except for a couple of reasons. 1. It's in Arizona, I'm in Michigan 2. I already have a 67 El Camino, several 230s to build, headers, etc. 3. My goal is to see how fast I can get a 230 to run.
But you're right - it would make more sense to spend $5K on a car that already runs under the index than to spend time and money on a car that may(or may not) run under the index.

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

Okay, what about a 1982 Camaro with a 4 cylinder for W/S and W/SA?

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

What about a 3.0 V6 Monza with 5 less hp on it?

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

I've never seen a 3rd generation Camaro with a 4 cyl. I know that the option existed for California only(with aluminum Hood) but no production number are available? do you own such a Camaro? Claude

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

82 5 liter can run an auto? that's interesting, it also can run the 1.21 carb? and the dual snorkel air cleaner? did 82 use the truck heads?

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

i've seen one.....it was full of hail dents but there it was

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

I had an 82 with a 4 speed. I think it could be done on a "dime" if you could find a dana 44 service package rear for it.

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

Marine heads, .429 cam and 1.21 carb. Duh, when you write it all down it starts to look pretty good at 162 HP doesn't it.

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

I almost bought an 84 with a 4 cyl when I was working in Colorado. I've seen an 82 in Michigan with the 4 cyl, but couldn't make a deal.

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

Where do you dig up these gems of information Uncle Billy? :eek:

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

They exist, Firebirds too. Don't hate me for this, but during my demo derby "career", I have used one in a compact class. Very tough car.

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

Coleman Roddy's National Championship '82 FIrebird MP car started out as a 4-cyl 4-speed.

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

Rory, We need one of those Mavericks to bolt a 1.21 , 2150 on it and report back ..
That's your assignment, should you choose to accept it...

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

Years and years of working on lots and lots of cars.

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

.419/.443 cam, my bad.

Mark, the 82 has a different intake to go with the big carb but it should fit on a small carb manifold. I'm guessing.

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

How about a 71 comet.?.Local craigs list add has a a clean one for $2000

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

Hi James, 72 Comet is OK, not great. Same as the Div.6 Mavericks.

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

About 6 years ago I bought (at a garage sale) an 82 , 4 cylinder automatic Camaro. Paid $300 for it. Put some new plugs and a fender on it. Ran around the county in it for about 6 months until a local offered me $750 for a driver for his wife.
Often thought it would make a cheap class car. TBI and as worn out as it was......it pulled pretty good for a 4 banger.
Another friend built a 4 banger Firebird for his son to drive to school. Threw the engine in a swamp somewhere and stuck a 305 in it.

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

OK ,I am a bracket racer,don't send a hit man I know what site I'm on. I also have been racing since 1962 so I'm not new. The Dime Rocket thing sounds very interesting as I could in fact bracket race it also. I am a better fabricator than tuner and thats the problem. How realistic is it for someone who is not a tuning genius to attempt one of these? Assembling the car should not be a problem but figuring that last few hundreds may be beyond my capabilities.
I also was under the impression that if you was lucky enough to jump out there with a car running a second or so under NHRA would slap you real hard and rerate your combo. Am I correct or just missinformed?
Because they are plentiful are the G body wagons a decent choice, Olds,Pontiac and Buick included?
Thanks fellas ,this is fun and interesting reading

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

Alright, I have to ask your alls opinion on this. '97 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP 3.8 supercharged. It is a natural AF car with an index of 13.85 I believe. I've been thinking about this because I have one sitting in the drive way that was my wife's car for the last 13 years. Its been a great car really and it still runs very good for having 250k miles on it. I'm pretty confident with a little work it would run in the 12's but is it worth it?

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

[QUOTE=69Cobra;338034]Alright, I have to ask your alls opinion on this. '97 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP 3.8 supercharged. It is a natural AF car with an index of 13.85 I believe. I've been thinking about this because I have one sitting in the drive way that was my wife's car for the last 13 years. Its been a great car really and it still runs very good for having 250k miles on it. I'm pretty confident with a little work it would run in the 12's but is it worth it?[/QUOTE

This is a good combo. Front drive and supercharger add to inconsistency but it will run very well. 12's will be real easy.

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

What about 66 Shelby Cobra? There are several engine options for the 427. I think it can fit AAA stick with some ballast.

SHELBY 1966
427 427 427
425hp 480hp 505hp
COBRA Roadster
5.36 4.75 4.51

Might not get much change back from that dime but it'd be cool.

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

It was tried at the Seattle divisional last year or the year before and the guy got caught.
From what I understand, it's worth about 3 tenths. I was thinking about a 304 AMC until I figured out I would have to run a 1.08.

Jim Mantle U/V/SA 68

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/cto/3108858445.html

Turbo Grand Prix

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

Turbo McLaren GP isn't in class guide. Won't work.

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

Pat Hennebery told me a number of years ago that he was building one of these-but then he went nostalgia racing with his Camaro.

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

Not much change from a Million dollar bill!

JimR

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

There is a SS/GTJ 83 Mustang laying in a garage in Yakima WA--Pieces originally from a National Record holding SS/O 64 Custom --Back in the day this car and Kip Martin"s 64 Galaxie 500XL were very competitive--

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

Is that Jerry Pruitts SS/GT Mustang?If so, I haven`t seen the car (or Jerry) in a number of years, I think he only ran it a couple of years. He used to run the 352 and 4 speed in a big 64 Ford Custom 2 door sedan.I`ll never forget watching that big tank grabbing 2nd gear about 20 feet from the starting line.

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

Last I heard of Jerry he was the sales manager for Steven Hahns VW audi dealership. He got married for the 3 or 4 time wife put the stop to car. He was having rocker problems with the old 352. If had spent half as much time working on the car as trying to get dual quad setup legalized the car might have worked

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

Rory, I talked to the owner a few months ago. It was for sale then, likely it still is. If I looked hard enough I could probably find a phone #.

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

Rory, You are correct. JP might want to sell the car. As you can imagine it needs new belts and the other time sensitive NHRA mandated stuff.

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

From driving the worn out crapper of a 4 banger 82 Camaro I had....I'd wager you could run index on junkyard GM parts.

.........and legal seatbelts.......and a NHRA sticker.

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

I re-read the thread, didn't see this one listed...

How about a 95 Mustang V6?

145 HP... 2970 pounds

Can these be made to run under?

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

No engine specs...therefore no factored hp...and it wouldn't be 145

Re: Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!
 

So you can't run it in stock?