HP Rating....F Body vs FWD Conversion Cars

[joe176]

Originally Posted by stefan callender

Was JennaRae with him Sean??

Dude...that's Jenna-Ray !!!!

[Adger Smith]

Joe,
A few years ago Vic Custer and I had a very lengthy conversation about building a Cavalier or Cobalt to replace my F-body Camaro. He flat told me it would be faster, esp with the lower HP engine I run. His numbers were very similar to what you have shown. Maybe a little more. He also told me the F-body has some on track advantages (I'm not going there). The Biggest advantage he pointed out was one you touched on. Being able to work on it. It is so much more friendly to make changes and work on. That is esp. important as us older guys get older. Another thing he pointed out that was esp important to my ailing body was the larger doors. He thinks the type cages they put in them are also safer. All in all it is probably better to step up to the new cars. I didn't because of the economy and my finances as well as health and family issues. Yes, I'm in love with my F-body, esp because and it is all paid for. Now with the new and enhanced AHFS upon us I'm glad I didn't spend any retirement money. I still like the new cars!!!

[joe176]

Originally Posted by Adger Smith

Joe,
A few years ago Vic Custer and I had a very lengthy conversation about building a Cavalier or Cobalt to replace my F-body Camaro. He flat told me it would be faster, esp with the lower HP engine I run. His numbers were very similar to what you have shown. Maybe a little more. He also told me the F-body has some on track advantages (I'm not going there). The Biggest advantage he pointed out was one you touched on. Being able to work on it. It is so much more friendly to make changes and work on. That is esp. important as us older guys get older. Another thing he pointed out that was esp important to my ailing body was the larger doors. He thinks the type cages they put in them are also safer. All in all it is probably better to step up to the new cars. I didn't because of the economy and my finances as well as health and family issues. Yes, I'm in love with my F-body, esp because and it is all paid for. Now with the new and enhanced AHFS upon us I'm glad I didn't spend any retirement money. I still like the new cars!!!

Thanks for the input Ed and Adger......yes the wheelbase is 3 inches longer than the camaro..longer driveshaft.....they are much more nose heavy....after doing all the chassis setup, plumbing and wiring myself it has paid dividends as far as working on it.

[Jeff Teuton]

A little footnote to the discussion. As yall know, the GT classes were originally for the new and conversions. Somewhere a few years ago, NHRA asked me to write a letter to change that to allow the old cars to participate, no other changes. So I did, and they did. At the time I was aware that with identical engine combos, there is generally an .05 penalty to the new cars over the same engine in say SS/FA or something like that. I have a 68 Hemi Dart clone I run in GT and the same motor in a Dart in SS has a little edge. I knew that when I built the car. I think the idea behind this is there are lots of cars out there that are good cars, but for some reason (like my clone), they didn't just fit right. So now the older stuff can also run in GT. So that is how the older stuff got in. Like I said, a footnote.

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by Jeff Teuton

A little footnote to the discussion. As yall know, the GT classes were originally for the new and conversions. Somewhere a few years ago, NHRA asked me to write a letter to change that to allow the old cars to participate, no other changes. So I did, and they did. At the time I was aware that with identical engine combos, there is generally an .05 penalty to the new cars over the same engine in say SS/FA or something like that. I have a 68 Hemi Dart clone I run in GT and the same motor in a Dart in SS has a little edge. I knew that when I built the car. I think the idea behind this is there are lots of cars out there that are good cars, but for some reason (like my clone), they didn't just fit right. So now the older stuff can also run in GT. So that is how the older stuff got in. Like I said, a footnote.

How about one of your new 5.7's in your Duster or the 69 six pack? That would be a rocket ship and look cool also! Have a nice Turkey Bird Day.

[Stewart Way]

Terry
I'm putting the 5.7 is a 68 Cuda AH clone. Won't be fast fast cause the first motor won't be 100% SS. Likely short in the cam/rocker area. It goes to the media blaster next week to get touched up where my sweaty body was all over it building it, and then primed. I decided to take the FAST EFI 101 school in Orlando the day before PRI so maybe an old dog won't be soooo lost of the EFI. Also running a stick before I get to old to work on it. SSGT/D. Kevin Helms has been helping/driving the Barnett Performance SSAH stick car and he made it look so easy I decided to join in the 4 speed wars. Maybe some time next year.

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by Stewart Way

Terry
I'm putting the 5.7 is a 68 Cuda AH clone. Won't be fast fast cause the first motor won't be 100% SS. Likely short in the cam/rocker area. It goes to the media blaster next week to get touched up where my sweaty body was all over it building it, and then primed. I decided to take the FAST EFI 101 school in Orlando the day before PRI so maybe an old dog won't be soooo lost of the EFI. Also running a stick before I get to old to work on it. SSGT/D. Kevin Helms has been helping/driving the Barnett Performance SSAH stick car and he made it look so easy I decided to join in the 4 speed wars. Maybe some time next year.

Sounds like a cool ride. Good luck.