Help with Superstock combination

jpmaher · 08-10-2010, 06:34 AM

My son Justin (Big Block Chevelle) and I are going to tackle a life long dream of building and racing a 1967 Chevelle in superstock (good luck right

). Well, we know that it will be a 4 speed car and a 396 car. Which 396 engine (325, 350, or 375 H.P.) would make the best combination?? Which natural class would each engine put us in?? Thanks in advance for the mentoring. Jim

Mike Carr · 08-10-2010, 09:10 AM

Jim, to my knowledge, the only 396 '67 Chevelle that I've seen around is Gordon Merkley, from the Northwest. It was a 396/375 in SS/F. There have been a few in Stock, but not sure how many of those are left. Most 396 Chevelle's in Stock are 1968 and newer. Here are the classes for the 396 '67 Chevelle in Super Stock.

396/325. Now rated 358 by NHRA. Fits naturally into SS/H (both coupe and convertible, with any trans, all four fall into SS/H), and can also run G and I.

396/350. Now rated 355 by NHRA. Fits naturally into SS/G with the SS hardtop, and can also run SS/F and SS/H. One class lower in each with the convertible (would run SS/G-H-I_

396/375, stick only combination. Now rated 395 with OEM head, 405 with replacement head (401 A1 head accepted as replacement head). 2 door hardtop fits naturally into SS/E, and can also run SS/D and SS/F. Convertible will run SS/E-F-G

For minimum weights for the car, take the "top" weight break in each class (for SS/G, it would be 9 pounds), multiplied by the NHRA-rated horsepower and add 170 pounds, to arrive at class min weight across the scales, with driver.

SS/G 355 x 9 + 170 = 3.365 pounds with the 396/350 now rated at 355.

http://www.nhra.net/tech_specs/class...s/1967CHEV.xls

Hope this helps.

Oh, and to answer your question about which motor would be better, I'm a young, dumb kid who used to race a FWD Stocker. You'd have to ask a RWD V-8 racer that question. LOL But the 395/325 has been pretty fast in '67 and '68 Camaro's in S/S. Hence the rating now at 358.

Alan Roehrich · 08-10-2010, 09:23 AM

I'd lean towards the 396/375. That's the direction we're going with the 69 Camaro SS car we're putting together. There are no easy classes, either. There are seriously fast cars in almost every class. One thing is for sure, there won't be too many cars like yours around.

Mike Carr · 08-10-2010, 09:42 AM

And, the nice thing about having a stick car, there is a lesser chance of having a heads-up Class run. At Indy, there are 180+ Super Stock cars entered. There is one in SS/A, five in SS/B, one SS/C, one D, one E, one F and one G. They don't have to run the exact Class they enter as, but still, automatics outnumber sticks in the higher, traditional S/S classes by probably four or five to one.

Randall Klein · 08-10-2010, 09:56 AM

Jim, try to find a video of Merkley's SS/F 396/375, maybe Horsepower Heaven archives...it may change your mind...think high maintenance and no bar-b-queing at the track! 396/325-350 w/auto will allow some time for parties...pick your poison & join the fun

What Robin Brown's small block is to RPM's, so goes Merkley's for BBC....it'll send chills...believe me

Alan Roehrich · 08-10-2010, 10:03 AM

Yes, they're more work, but watching Jimmy Bridges and Ken Vaughn this weekend in SS/C and SS/D makes you remember what class racing is all about. And those guys aren't working on it because it's broke, they're trying to find that next 0.03 they're convinced is in there somewhere.

Ed Carpenter · 08-10-2010, 10:56 AM

If you build a stick car to run G or H your chances of running a heads up race are very slim.
I run H and the other guys I can think of are Terry Anderson (Idaho) Bob Earlywine sp? ( California) Tony Fillipone (New Hampshire) Stan Holt (Texas) Jeff Colvert (Arkansas) Jeff Lee (Arizona). I'm sure there are more but the point is not alot of heads up runs. Good to hear there might be another stick car coming. Yes there is work, but I learned once you get the set up right it's ok. This year I have done alot of BBQ ing at the track. Good Luck. Ed

Rory McNeil · 08-10-2010, 11:42 AM

I don`t know if there are any differances in the engines, but Gord Merkleys 396/375HP SS/F Chevelle was a 66. not a 67. Gord sold the car to racers in Sweden a few years back, and Gord now has a D/S 68 Z/28. Other than the ring & pinions, and trans, it wasn`t that bad on parts. A Jerico DR4-4 or GForce 101 would likely be a better choice than the regular DR4 he had been using then.

jpmaher · 08-12-2010, 06:19 AM

Thanks to all that replied. Based on this data I would think that the 375 Horse engine combo would be best. The 325 Horse motor appears to be rated a tad high and the 350 Horse motor leaves you stuck with a Holley ~585 cfm carb. I think there is a ton of potential in the L78 motor. Jim

Phillip marvetz · 08-12-2010, 09:48 AM

Recent photo of gordons car in sweden

http://race.ulkhyvlers.net/dragrace/Pite/100710/53.html

08-10-2010, 06:34 AM	#1
jpmaher Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 14 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Help with Superstock combination My son Justin (Big Block Chevelle) and I are going to tackle a life long dream of building and racing a 1967 Chevelle in superstock (good luck right). Well, we know that it will be a 4 speed car and a 396 car. Which 396 engine (325, 350, or 375 H.P.) would make the best combination?? Which natural class would each engine put us in?? Thanks in advance for the mentoring. Jim __________________ Jim P. Maher Freeland Mi.

08-10-2010, 09:10 AM	#2
Mike Carr VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Enon Valley PA Posts: 1,650 Likes: 234 Liked 83 Times in 37 Posts	Re: Help with Superstock combination Jim, to my knowledge, the only 396 '67 Chevelle that I've seen around is Gordon Merkley, from the Northwest. It was a 396/375 in SS/F. There have been a few in Stock, but not sure how many of those are left. Most 396 Chevelle's in Stock are 1968 and newer. Here are the classes for the 396 '67 Chevelle in Super Stock. 396/325. Now rated 358 by NHRA. Fits naturally into SS/H (both coupe and convertible, with any trans, all four fall into SS/H), and can also run G and I. 396/350. Now rated 355 by NHRA. Fits naturally into SS/G with the SS hardtop, and can also run SS/F and SS/H. One class lower in each with the convertible (would run SS/G-H-I_ 396/375, stick only combination. Now rated 395 with OEM head, 405 with replacement head (401 A1 head accepted as replacement head). 2 door hardtop fits naturally into SS/E, and can also run SS/D and SS/F. Convertible will run SS/E-F-G For minimum weights for the car, take the "top" weight break in each class (for SS/G, it would be 9 pounds), multiplied by the NHRA-rated horsepower and add 170 pounds, to arrive at class min weight across the scales, with driver. SS/G 355 x 9 + 170 = 3.365 pounds with the 396/350 now rated at 355. http://www.nhra.net/tech_specs/class...s/1967CHEV.xls Hope this helps. Oh, and to answer your question about which motor would be better, I'm a young, dumb kid who used to race a FWD Stocker. You'd have to ask a RWD V-8 racer that question. LOL But the 395/325 has been pretty fast in '67 and '68 Camaro's in S/S. Hence the rating now at 358. __________________ Mike Carr, Tri-State S/SS Association President Looking for 2015 S/SS Race Sponsors Contact me if interested buffdaddy_1302@hotmail.com (724) 510-5912 Last edited by Mike Carr; 08-10-2010 at 09:13 AM. Reason: Added info

08-10-2010, 09:23 AM	#3
Alan Roehrich Veteran Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Murfreesboro TN Posts: 5,066 Likes: 1,487 Liked 1,630 Times in 378 Posts	Re: Help with Superstock combination I'd lean towards the 396/375. That's the direction we're going with the 69 Camaro SS car we're putting together. There are no easy classes, either. There are seriously fast cars in almost every class. One thing is for sure, there won't be too many cars like yours around. __________________ Alan Roehrich 212A G/S

08-10-2010, 09:42 AM	#4
Mike Carr VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Enon Valley PA Posts: 1,650 Likes: 234 Liked 83 Times in 37 Posts	Re: Help with Superstock combination And, the nice thing about having a stick car, there is a lesser chance of having a heads-up Class run. At Indy, there are 180+ Super Stock cars entered. There is one in SS/A, five in SS/B, one SS/C, one D, one E, one F and one G. They don't have to run the exact Class they enter as, but still, automatics outnumber sticks in the higher, traditional S/S classes by probably four or five to one. __________________ Mike Carr, Tri-State S/SS Association President Looking for 2015 S/SS Race Sponsors Contact me if interested buffdaddy_1302@hotmail.com (724) 510-5912

08-10-2010, 09:56 AM	#5
Randall Klein Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Lincoln, Nebraska Posts: 785 Likes: 45 Liked 316 Times in 67 Posts	Re: Help with Superstock combination Jim, try to find a video of Merkley's SS/F 396/375, maybe Horsepower Heaven archives...it may change your mind...think high maintenance and no bar-b-queing at the track! 396/325-350 w/auto will allow some time for parties...pick your poison & join the fun What Robin Brown's small block is to RPM's, so goes Merkley's for BBC....it'll send chills...believe me

08-10-2010, 10:03 AM	#6
Alan Roehrich Veteran Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Murfreesboro TN Posts: 5,066 Likes: 1,487 Liked 1,630 Times in 378 Posts	Re: Help with Superstock combination Yes, they're more work, but watching Jimmy Bridges and Ken Vaughn this weekend in SS/C and SS/D makes you remember what class racing is all about. And those guys aren't working on it because it's broke, they're trying to find that next 0.03 they're convinced is in there somewhere. __________________ Alan Roehrich 212A G/S

08-10-2010, 10:56 AM	#7
Ed Carpenter Live Reporter Join Date: May 2006 Location: Dripping Springs, Tx Posts: 2,709 Likes: 186 Liked 520 Times in 132 Posts	Re: Help with Superstock combination If you build a stick car to run G or H your chances of running a heads up race are very slim. I run H and the other guys I can think of are Terry Anderson (Idaho) Bob Earlywine sp? ( California) Tony Fillipone (New Hampshire) Stan Holt (Texas) Jeff Colvert (Arkansas) Jeff Lee (Arizona). I'm sure there are more but the point is not alot of heads up runs. Good to hear there might be another stick car coming. Yes there is work, but I learned once you get the set up right it's ok. This year I have done alot of BBQ ing at the track. Good Luck. Ed __________________ Ed Carpenter 2005 Chevy Cobalt A/SM Race Engine Development

08-10-2010, 11:42 AM	#8
Rory McNeil VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: from Vancouver BC Canada, now in Nova Scotia Posts: 1,291 Likes: 292 Liked 1,052 Times in 287 Posts	Re: Help with Superstock combination I don`t know if there are any differances in the engines, but Gord Merkleys 396/375HP SS/F Chevelle was a 66. not a 67. Gord sold the car to racers in Sweden a few years back, and Gord now has a D/S 68 Z/28. Other than the ring & pinions, and trans, it wasn`t that bad on parts. A Jerico DR4-4 or GForce 101 would likely be a better choice than the regular DR4 he had been using then. __________________ NHRA 6390 STK M/S 85 Mustang

08-12-2010, 06:19 AM	#9
jpmaher Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 14 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Help with Superstock combination Thanks to all that replied. Based on this data I would think that the 375 Horse engine combo would be best. The 325 Horse motor appears to be rated a tad high and the 350 Horse motor leaves you stuck with a Holley ~585 cfm carb. I think there is a ton of potential in the L78 motor. Jim __________________ Jim P. Maher Freeland Mi.

08-12-2010, 09:48 AM	#10
Phillip marvetz Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Lynden ,WA Posts: 820 Likes: 0 Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Help with Superstock combination Recent photo of gordons car in sweden http://race.ulkhyvlers.net/dragrace/Pite/100710/53.html __________________ 2009 V/SA Record Holder