While my first intent for my car was to restore it to original condition as much as possible, I'm also very interested in the performance of my car. After some of the more serious shows were over this past summer, I took the car to the track to "see whut shull do". I had ran it down the track back in the mid-1980's three times so I used that as my baseline to see if I could improve on my times. My intent was to see what this basically bone stock muscle car could do with a little tuning and improving on my technique. I hope to get into the 14's next summer (see update below). A gear change could certainly do it, but I'd like to see what it could do in it's original condition. I think there is much more potential I haven't yet exploited.
Here are my time slips.
The best run from 1986 was a 15.55, not too bad considering the magazine editors back in 1965 only got a 16.00 (with a non-posi rear). In 2001 I was able to better that time with absolutely no modifications to the car mechanically since 1986. It was very cold but I netted a best for the night of 15.274. I was even running the same tires I had used in 1986! I knew there was more in the car but wheelspin, street tires and lazy 3.31 gears all conspired to make better times a challenge. At a later date we returned to the track and I had improved the mechanical advance curve and replaced the exhaust heat riser with a straight-through piece to improve exhaust flow a bit. My technique improved a bit as well as I was able to turn a 15.166. I wanted 14's! I borrowed Bob's street-legal cheater slicks and got in one more run before the night was out and netted my best of 15.028. So close!
Sept. 28, 2002: I reached my goal! I broke into the 14's! Check the new timeslip on the far right! This run was made with slicks but the engine is bone stock right down to the uncut heads, exhaust manifolds (with the heat riser in place!) and 3.31 gears. (The date on the time slip says Sept 27 for some reason.)
I didn't really think to get any pictures at the strip any of the times I was there, but my friend Bob did get a few of me lining up for my last and best run of the night. The sun was down so the picture is pretty low quality but it's all I have from that outing.
And, you might ask, how does racing this trailer queen show car make me feel?
I kept the "proof" that I'd been racing on the car for a few more days after my all-time best run. The slicks were still on it.
