I have been playing with these cars a long time . Keep the 355's and get a 3500 converter. The only thing you will need after that is new tires every month
The car was heavy at 3650. It did 128 in a quarter but it was still pulling hard in drive. Calculated top speed? The recall would read 9300 if I would over wind it when it was to far gone sideways to shift. And it had no problem winding that car tight in drive to 8500.
The motor would wind up. But the body and steering said slow the hell up. You have to keep the air from under these old cars . They would lift at those speeds and it becomes scary real quick. I Tied the front down and prevented lift with bump stop extensions. It kept the front down and helped the 60 foot times. The new car will be very light so We should be good with 456's. It was quicker with 488's at that weight, We have new gears , 430's to try and the weight will be around 2800.
My 428 batten motor made 600+@7200 at the crank 686 lift 1000 BLP carb.. This 416 indy motor made 800+@7900 at the crank. Much bigger cam ?? and 1050 quick fuel carb. the 416 was balanced withing a 1/2 gram. Balancing means a lot
The car should have been much quicker. The top rings were shot from street driving and getting it hot with a bad rad.
The new motor is the same except Smiths push rods for less flex , total seal rings, Kings heat treated bearings and the T&D rockers were corrected.
What you have to take into consideration is this car was all steel completely original . Full interior, stereo and amp. spare still fastened in the trunk to hold the factory gas tank up as designed. It also was running through mufflers and tail pipes.
All that factory stuff is going in my Demon. This drive train is now going in a look a like orange Duster to mine but a 25.5 light weight chassis car . Can't wait to see how it goes in a light car
My son driving it out of the driveway on its last day.
Ouch sorry to see this. But I guess you guys had your time in the sun with that one! Good memories I am sure! Thats what its all a about!!!
Thanks for your input on the 3:55 rear gear ratio. Just out of curiosity and self learning. What would be the drivability differ you comparing 3:55 and 3500 stall to 4:11 and say 2800?
