Interesting vintage test video (non-Mopar)

-
MopaR&D

MopaR&D

Nerd Member
Joined
Jan 4, 2008
Messages
5,527
Reaction score
2,825
Location
Augusta, GA
Ironic vintage test video of a 1969 Impala, I guess there were still worse cars you could buy in '69? 396 2-bbl "couldn't punch it's way through a wet Kleenex" :rofl:

 
Good old Bud Lindemann...always had a unique way of delivering his message. Loved his NASCAR race reports...
 
''There should have been a light to show that it was moving.''
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!
Great post!
 
Man I loved driving these big ole lead sleds, they were literally the Bomb, fricken crazy. Ran several in demolition derbys at New Smyrna Speedway, late 70's well into the 80's. 72 Fury Police 4 door 383-727, 72 225 Buick Electra 455CID, 72 Ford LTD wagon 351CID C V2, 72 Pontiac Gran Prix 350CID, 65 Olds Jetfire 4dr, 72 Caddy 4dr 500CID. You could toss these cars around like a kid in a candy store. Never paid more than $100 and sold for scrap afterword. I sold the 383/727 for $150, kid put it in a Charger.
 
MopaR&D said:
Ironic vintage test video of a 1969 Impala, I guess there were still worse cars you could buy in '69? 396 2-bbl "couldn't punch it's way through a wet Kleenex" :rofl:

Click to expand...

That GM carb was only like 435 CFM. The L66 cam was the same as the 325 hp 396. The sum was clearly less than the parts. Especially in the Impala. They weezed out at 4000 RPM.
 
Now I ask the question, has there ever been a domestic V-8 with a two-barrel carburetor advertised as a performance motor? Heck, back in the early '60's a performance motor needed two four-barrels to be considered performance!
 
fratzog lover said:
That GM carb was only like 435 CFM. The L66 cam was the same as the 325 hp 396. The sum was clearly less than the parts. Especially in the Impala. They weezed out at 4000 RPM.
Click to expand...

It seems like the 396 was usually overrated? I've gotten the idea that even the high-perf versions didn't really perform in the real world as well as on paper. Also seems like the BBC in general needs more mods to make the same HP as a BBM and the torque always falls a bit short.
 
dibbons said:
Now I ask the question, has there ever been a domestic V-8 with a two-barrel carburetor advertised as a performance motor? Heck, back in the early '60's a performance motor needed two four-barrels to be considered performance!
Click to expand...

No but some of them did a lot better than others. I'm willing to bet a 383 2-bbl Polara or Fury would have performed better.
 
MopaR&D said:
It seems like the 396 was usually overrated? I've gotten the idea that even the high-perf versions didn't really perform in the real world as well as on paper. Also seems like the BBC in general needs more mods to make the same HP as a BBM and the torque always falls a bit short.
Click to expand...
The 325 and 350hp cast crank engines, yes. The 325hp was a station wagon engine. The L78, now that was the real deal.

 
Last edited:
fratzog lover said:
The 325 and 350hp cast crank engines, yes. The 325hp was a station wagon engine. The L78, now that was the real deal.

Click to expand...


How did the L78 compare to Mopar engines? Was it close to the 383 Road Runner engine or more than that? Obviously it was rated at 40 more HP than that 383 but wasn't the actual performance a lot closer?
 
MopaR&D said:
How did the L78 compare to Mopar engines? Was it close to the 383 Road Runner engine or more than that? Obviously it was rated at 40 more HP than that 383 but wasn't the actual performance a lot closer?
Click to expand...
It would burn a 383 to the ground. Chevy also rated it at 375 hp. The same engine as the 425 hp L 78 Corvette. Sneaky Chevrolet.
 
The 383 is my favorite engine of all time. But an L 78 is a beast. Picture the 383 with .520 lift, and 245@.050 of solid cam, aluminum intake, 780 Holley, forged pistons, 4 bolt caps and a redline around 6400 RPM. Gotta give Chevy their due. But the 396-2? it was ok in your C-20 pickup.
 
why did Bud test every vehicle at different speeds/distances ? 1 car he does a 0-30 and the next he does 0-40 etc...
 
mbaird said:
why did Bud test every vehicle at different speeds/distances ? 1 car he does a 0-30 and the next he does 0-40 etc...
Click to expand...
I know. Another thing, would it really have been much work to clean/blow off the acceleration area? How do you get accurate numbers spinning the wheels in half an inch of dust?
 
It’s a general observation video done with stop watches. They also didn’t have computers to get dead accurate results in the country fields.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
-

Back
Top