[SunnyZ28]

What would a 68/69 Camaro with a 350 run in the 1/4 mile stock? Im looking at cars.. and I want to know what it would take for it to run 12.5x-13.0x in the 1/4 mile.. Someone told me it will run faster than the old times, because of the tires we have today.. but how much faster will it run now then before?

[hhott71]

Stock 295HP 350 automatic with 3.08 gears would run 15.50's +/- 3/10ths.
A better cam in the .450-.480" lift, 220º-230º range with headers and good dual ehaust.
The 041 heads are pretty decent, better with bowl clean-up. Vortecs are better still.
The stock Q-jet will work fine if you can tune one.
If not a Holley 650-ish range and an Aluminum dual-plane hi-rise intake will help.
Get a Vortec specific intake if you choose Vortec heads.
Add a decent electronic ignition.

Next are gears, posi, convertor. At least a 2400 rpm stall and 3.73 gears will make you think that alone was worth 200 HP.
If fuel economy is needed, obtain a 200r4 4sp OD automatic.

Slapper bars, and tires that will hold the power. Drag Radials or slicks.

The rest is tuning.

[Eleanor's Nemesis]

I think a stock 300 hp 350 will do just a bit better, probably 14.80 or so with a 308 peg leg rear end.

For a first gen to run 12.50 a formula will be a 375-400 hp engine, automatic with 2500 stall, 3.73 gears. That will get ya in the ball park.

[SunnyZ28]

I was looking to get a 4 speed.

and I was definetly already going to swap to 3.73 rear's. Fuel economy isint really needed THAT much, since it wont be a daily driver.. and how much worse could it be than my DD [4x4 Quad cab Hemi Dodge Ram] hah.
Can you put in a posi if it doesnt have one, or do you need to swap out the entire rear?
Whats a 12 bolt run? Ive found a few nice cars, one even with a 396 but they all have 10 bolts...

[Fred Ficarra]

Chris, can I suggest that you go to the track, get a pit pass and ask about the setups that are close to what you're interested in? Also, I think you'll find that for most folks racing these cars, a 4 speed is not practical. Too hard to keep together.

[Dave69Z]

i run a 69z28 with 4:10s a m22wr and 26 235 60 bfg drag radials the car is all stock interior etc and runs 12.9-113.2 .
it ways 3450 with driver.

[RJBaileyrn]

SunnyZ28,
As many here have pointed out in the past, what your motor is capable of running, what you think it will run, and what it actually runs, are three different things. I had high hopes for my '69 on my first run, and was totally disappointed. It takes a fair amount of time to get things together and actually run what your car is capable of, given the way you built it. Mine has taken awhile to get to 12.64, and i think there is much more there, just takes time.
Don't be disappointed by early runs, keep at it.
RJ

[Hrod382]

My '69 with a '70 Camaro 350 in it with a DZ302 aluminum intake and 3.55's runs high 14's but my transmission is very so-so.

You can make a 350 run if you put good parts around it (gears/headers/converter).

[Eleanor's Nemesis]

Originally Posted by SunnyZ28

I was looking to get a 4 speed.

and I was definetly already going to swap to 3.73 rear's. Fuel economy isint really needed THAT much, since it wont be a daily driver.. and how much worse could it be than my DD [4x4 Quad cab Hemi Dodge Ram] hah.
Can you put in a posi if it doesnt have one, or do you need to swap out the entire rear?
Whats a 12 bolt run? Ive found a few nice cars, one even with a 396 but they all have 10 bolts...

Just be aware that GM made a 'big 10 bolt' that housed a 8.5 inch ring gear.....might even be stronger than a 12 bolt because the pinion is bigger in the Big 10 Bolt. You could find 8.5 10 bolts in 2nd generation camaros among others...

what does a 12 bolt go for? Anywhere from 750 to 2000 bucks-only because of the dates/options/ etc......

You can get a ready to go Moser with a brand new (and stronger than original) housing with c-clip eliminators, bigger axles, your choice posi for 1500-1800 bucks or so.

[WHT73]

12blts consume more power the 8.5" rears. It should be a little bit easier to get a camaro in to the 12s then it was for me, as Daves69, said his weighs 3450 with him in it.
My car weighs 3500+ with me in it, but it took alum, heads,water pump,rad and took some bumper brackets out also.

[SunnyZ28]

What do you mean by too hard to keep together? I would REALLY prefer a 4 speed over an automatic. What would the 1/4 mile difference between an auto and 4 speed be? taking into account, I would rate myself a pretty good standard driver. Not amazing, but decent. I just think standard's are a lot more fun overall to drive. The car wouldnt be at the track all the time either. Eventually [depending on how much I spend on the car] I was thinking of a 6 speed T-56 + 4.11 gears. Thoughts on this? Sorry guy's. I have a third gen but I dont know much about first gens

[Everett#2390]

Originally Posted by SunnyZ28

What do you mean by too hard to keep together? I would REALLY prefer a 4 speed over an automatic. What would the 1/4 mile difference between an auto and 4 speed be?

The problem with a 4-spd at the track is the initial shock of 5K rpm clutch dump.

Imagine having 400 ft./lbs. of torque available, sidestep the clutch, and havoc sets in as this 400 lbs of torque through gear multiplication, tries to move a 3400 lb car from rest. U-joints, pinion gears, axles, and trans are the most immediate items prone to failure. Automatics have softer shock, since there is a fluid coupling between the engine and trans.

Quarter mile times would be better with an auto because of faster/consistent upshift(s). What happens when you miss the next gear?

Four/five speeds are nice, don't get me wrong, I drive one on the street every day. If you go to the track for FUN, then go 4-speeding, its a blast. If you go to win, you have to be consistent, auto is the way to go.

Just my thoughts.

[booman55]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't another consideration to doing the PG to 200r4 swap durability. The 200R4 will run at a lower RPM which is less stress on the car.

[68RS-SS]

Originally Posted by Everett#2390

The problem with a 4-spd at the track is the initial shock of 5K rpm clutch dump.

Imagine having 400 ft./lbs. of torque available, sidestep the clutch, and havoc sets in as this 400 lbs of torque through gear multiplication, tries to move a 3400 lb car from rest. U-joints, pinion gears, axles, and trans are the most immediate items prone to failure. Automatics have softer shock, since there is a fluid coupling between the engine and trans.

Quarter mile times would be better with an auto because of faster/consistent upshift(s). What happens when you miss the next gear?

Four/five speeds are nice, don't get me wrong, I drive one on the street every day. If you go to the track for FUN, then go 4-speeding, its a blast. If you go to win, you have to be consistent, auto is the way to go.

Just my thoughts.

I switched from a 700R4 to a Tremec 5spd last year and after taking to the drag strip several times totally agree with these comments which sums it up well. I think I'm more there for fun and if I win (which is till about 90% of the time) it's even more fun but keeping the 5spd. since mostly a street-driven car and the 5spd. has added a new and intersesting challenge when I go to the strip. I can tell you though it did cost me a couple of races that I would have won with an auto ttranny using the same engine. You can get a better launch (esp. if you have some slicks/drag radials) with an auto and that's where it's at.

[TraxUnderground]

If your like me and want to have bigtime fun and feel in controll of the car' a 4spd-5spd is the way to go. This is just my opinion. I have had almost all 4speeds growing up and am used to the fun they can be. I had an auto Cuda. Great car but boring to drive unless in traffic. If you are gonna race then listen to the guys who race all the time. I dont . I have been told by guys who do that you will break things with a manual. If your gonna go down to the track with you friends once in a while, to have fun and see what your car can do then you chose which you would have more fun with. To me its easier for me, a backyard wrench turner to swap out a clutch than rebuild an auto. Thats just because I dont know. Always willing to learn. Sounds like you really want to drive a manual. No matter what you do just have fun.