This is my first post so be gentle. I have decided to go with a 400 SBC setup in my 68', but I can't decide on what combination of parts to use, soo maybe you guys/gals can help me out. My goal is to hit mid 10's, while being able to use 91 Octane pump gas. So fare I have:

- Dart Block(on order)
- Scat 4340 SuperLight Crank
- Scat 4340 6" I-Beam Rods

I can't decide on what heads(I know I want Aluminum), cam/valvetrain, piston/cr, intake manifold, and gears to use. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks.

Driftin-

Welcome aboard!

We need to know about the rest of the car. Transmission, gearing, tires, suspension, etc.

The more information, the better.

Here ya go:

- Hughes TH350 w/3K stall
- 4.11 Gears on Ford 9"
- Right now the car is fitted with slicks, 31x15.0/15 rear.

Just an opinion. Use a light weight forged bottom end, a properly sized roller cam, AFR, TF, Dart heads ported for the job at hand and one 4 barrel. I think you might have to go up on the converter and maybe down on the tire size. A back half and a 4 link sure would help. Get a REAL GOOD machinist and a good head man. You'll be glad you did. Allow for dyno time.

You'll need to make around 550hp to go mid 10s if your car is around 3400lbs.
11:1 - flat top with an open chamber head will work good.
I'd go with a 210-220 head, 2.08 - 2.10 valves, port them - should be easy to get
300+cfm out of them. Super Victor HP950 carb. 1 3/4" to 1 7/8" headers (that will
depend on rpm range of the engine) and a roller cam in the 250-260 range. I do think
that a looser stall would help. A friend has a similar set up in a Luv truck thats run
10.20@129, (and should go 10.0s@130+ in good weather) - this could run mid 10s
in a heavier camaro easy.
;)

Personally...if I had a nice '68 Camaro, I WOULDN'T want to go mid-10's. I wouldn't want a trailer queen, either...but I'd not want the roll bar that was going to be necessary to a) prevent wrinkling the c pillars and generally twisting everything up, and b) get the track to allow you a 2nd pass once you post a 10 second time. And I wouldn't really like the street manners of a 10-second small block, either. (On the other hand, I wouldn't really listen that closely to anyone else's opinion about what I should do with MY car, either.)

I have a friend with a nice '70 Chevelle with a solid 454 that he used to run 10's with (one run at a time). Actually, he used to run 11's, then he hopped it up a little too much and broke into the 10's. He didn't want to butcher it with a roll bar, and it was a little too hairy for much street driving (like commuting...taking the wife and kids out for a nice cruise, etc.)...so it sits on blocks in his yard, and he "takes it out once a year, stomps on the gas, and scares the sh*t out of (himself)", and puts it back.

My point is, and you're maybe well past this, make sure your really know what you want, and what you're gonna get...not just "boy, it'd be cool to have a 10 second car". I know my response isn't what you asked for, but I couldn't resist adding my .02's worth. That said, I know there's the expertise here to get you where you want to go. Have fun, and good luck!

10's is pretty radical for a street Camaro.

Some good aluminum heads that I'll add to the list are the new Pro Action, or some Canfields, or even Brodix.

Good bottom end...great heads and a solid roller cam...sweet, not matter if it can't pull 10's. :D

Thanks for the replys.

DriftinG Z32,

I've got a mild about 9.8 to 1, 496 sitting on my engine stand in front of my car. All I want is a couple of passes so that I have an idea what it will run like b/c I am not going to put any safety stuff on it at all except for maybe a front driveshaft loop.. I'm not planning on racing it so what the hey!!

Yes, please be sure you want to modify your car as much as it will take so that you can run it on the strip b/c at this power level, it isn't going to be all that "streetable" imho...

My motor is mild to the tune of, (per D2K), 551hp at 5500 rpm and 579t at 4500 rpm so I just call it my great big "tow-truck" motor!!

And if it doesn't give me the third gear "seat of the pants" feel I am looking for, I will either drop a small 177 or 250 blower on it or go a 598!!

pdq67

pump gas is pretty tough with 500+ hp. You really need a good amount of cylinder pressure to generate that number.

I would not start with a 23 degree head if you really have your heart set on that number (u will need to push everything else like compression and cam timing to make up for the less than maximum airflow).

Find an 18 degree or newerdesign. Then, take those flow numbers (should be 320+) to a cam grinder with your objectives. They will then grind something with probably .680+ lift and it will generate more than 500hp easy.. it will kind of require a pretty gradual ignition curve but should be able to run on pump with some tuning.