I am going to my engine builder next Thursday to order my new motor. My 67 has a bone stock body. I plan on installing subframe connectors, but that's about it. I DO NOT want to install any type of cage at all. The interior is completely stock, and is all brand new. I want to keep it that way. My question is, how much power can I put to this car without tearing the body apart? If it matters, the rear is a brand new Moser 12 bolt with 3:55. The new motor will be a big block with aluminum heads. Please let me know if anyone needs more info. Thanks.

You can tell when your rear window "V"'s start to crack as well as when the area in front of your rear wheel wells start's to wave or when you crack the windshield or back glass!

pdq67

OK, but I don't want to get to that point. I don't want to waste money on too much motor. I know, I know, I could detune the motor if it makes too much power. NO WAY. If it has it, I'm gonna use (hammer) it.

As I see it it's all in how you drive it... Back in the day my buddy tore up his '67 327/275 in relative short time. Jody and Charley here on the site both owned a ZL1 clone with big power and then even bigger (800+ HP) power and never put a cage in it and didn't tear up the car. How hard the car hooks is where most body damage will occure, well other than wrapping it around a tree...

I'd say build what you want. Your not going to hurt a body with 600-700 hp, especially with good frame connectors. I've gone mid to low 11's with bone stock RUSTED bodys with no problems :thumbsup:



bob

With frame connectors I wouldn't worry about any thing. If you use street tires it won't really ever hook up. If it doesn't wheel hop, you don't even need connectors the stronger the motor the more it is like driving on ice.

I plan on running street tires most of the time. It will probably make it to the track a couple of times a year, and then I plan on running 10 1/2 DOT slicks. I told the engine builder I want 600-625hp. How do you think that will hook?

I told the engine builder I want 600-625hp. How do you think that will hook?



LIKE CRAP :thumbsup: :beers:


Have fun..........


bob

I plan on running street tires most of the time. It will probably make it to the track a couple of times a year, and then I plan on running 10 1/2 DOT slicks. I told the engine builder I want 600-625hp. How do you think that will hook?

Does your car have mini tubs? I don't see a 10.5 tire in a stock wheel well. With stock tires and 600 hp you won't twist yor car at all. As stated above it will be like driving on ice.
I had 550 hp with 3:55s and a turbo 400 with a tight 3000 stall. You couldn't drive it comfortably on a wet road. Too much gas at takeoff and hold on. Fortunately I was only on a wet road twice. Monster holeshots were a blast though.

Monster holeshots were a blast though.


Did you get any air under the tires? What were your 1/4 times like?

I read on a different post that a 15x7 with 4.5" and a 10 1/2" slick will fit the stock wheel wells. Is this not the case?

My engine builder comes highly recommended (I've never used him before, this is my first "real" motor), and tell me that he is going to build for top end power because the car is too light to handle very much on the bottom. He said he can do it, and still give me 15# vacuum at idle.

Um, 625 HP is a mid ten second ride without a great hook. MY Nova is about there and it is a waste driving it with hard steet tires. Even with ET Streets on the street it will pretty much anhilate them in 1st gear from a role. I just putz to the track and try to hook there. 500 HP on the street is plenty of HP.

Not to disagree, but a car doen't have "plenty of HP" unless it can leave two black strips on the road from one turn to the next.

I read that somewhere a few years ago, I thought in this forum, and thought it was pretty funny.

The actual quote was "too much HP", but same idea!

Ok, my car can spin the tires from a 50 mph roll with 625 HP with street tires. Have fun with your new engine! My T400 hasn't liked mine much yet.

I run ET streets that are 26 X 11.5 and they just fit. With 4.5" back spacing it should work. I tried 28 X 11.5 and they did rub, so I would recommend a smaller diameter tire than 28 if you run a two ply wrinkle wall. I ran a 275/60 drag radial that is 28" diameter that did not rub either.

My T400 hasn't liked mine much yet.

??? Please explain???

I broke a snap ring in it last year and the 34 element sprag this year. I've logged 1500+ 12 sec passes in my car and never broke anything.

The BB hasn't been the case. Hopefully the new 36 element sprag will be fine. The Dana 60 has been holding up well.

I don't like my car to break (enjoy racing at the track rather than fixing it) and didn't want to break parts when I put this 491 in hence the Dana and what I thought was going to be a stout T400. With the new sprag it should be better.

I didn't get any air under the tires, the car wouldn't hook on street tires and I didn't run slicks.With good suspension it would have had "air " under the tires.

Heavy duty sprag in a TH400 will be fine for 550+ hp. Is your engine builder building a square port engine for you? In a 69 Camaro an engine that builds power on the top end is a good idea in my opinion. My 454 made 500 + ftlbs at 3000 rpm. It was a monster to 6200 where it fell off being a hyd. roller. I know alot guys preach oval ports on a street engine which is what I had but my buddy has a 500 hp 396 with a square port solid roller and it is a top end screamer and a moderate street engine. It gets there fast being in a Camaro, a Chevelle might be a different story.
A 67 might take a bigger tire than a 69 but I don't think a 10.5 slick would have fit under my car.

I don't see a 10.5 tire in a stock wheel well.



Sure NO PROBLEM.....4.5 BS 15x7 or 15x8 wheel and a 28x10.5 M/T slick fits just fine. Rally wheels or Welds.......Take your pick :thumbsup:


PS.....You may have to trim the outer wheel well a tad......MAYBE.

I've done it MANY TIMES.



bob

Is your engine builder building a square port engine for you?

I talked to the first guy yesterday. He wanted to use oval ports. I wasn't real impressed. He couldn't make up his mind which parts to use, and he was very reluctantant to put anything on paper. He also wants me to find a Gen VI block to use. Where can I find one for less than the $1200 Summit wants? The only thing is that this guy comes highly recommended.

I am meeting with the second person this coming Thursday. He has already said he is going to gives me three options, on paper, and I can decide from there. I also won't need to provide the block. He sounds much more impressive, but I don't know anyone that has used him in the past.

I used to be a bodyman, I can make them strait and shiny, I just want someone to tell me how to make it fast!