most are slow compared to what people remember.
That's funny, because my neighbor once told me his high school buddy had a 273 '65 Valiant (I assume a Commando) that would lift a front tire. It was the fastest car in town!
most are slow compared to what people remember.
How about a non stocker 65 barracuda built with performance parts of the time (cam, carb, intake, headers, a little weight reduction, etc) and 4.86 rear gear?
Just for grins here is some information on the fastest 1965 273/235 1965 Barracudas "back in the day." Granted these were modified cars but show the potential of the 273 CI cars in the Barracuda body running in AHRA & NHRA Junior Stock classes.
Doug Patterson's 1965 Barracuda "Brand X Eliminator" 273/235 HP in F/SA.
Won F/SA class at the 1965 NHRA Springnationals at Bristol.
Also Runner-Up in Stock Eliminator.
The Golden Commando's (Hamilton Motors, Detroit) "GOLDFISH"
Won F/S Class at the 1965 NHRA Indy Nationals.
Set AHRA F/S class record in 1965 with a 13.47 @ 103.68.
Supposedly had acid-dipped fenders, doors and thinner side glass,
among other lightened components.
I have posted this before but to answer the capabilities of a street legal 1965 Plymouth Valiant 273 in the period 1975-1980 in my case was a best ET of 12.72 @ 108 mph.
I built the motor at my Community College auto technology class:
All bearing and piston ring clearances set to maximum allowable factory specifications. Reciprocating assembly balanced.
stock block bored .060 over to 282 CID with deck surfaces cleaned up by machining.
stock connecting rods (beams polished, shot-peened, aftermarket rod bolts)
Vehicle weighed 2960#
One brief water burnout in second gear.
Clutched engaged at green light at 6000 RPM, full power shifts at 6000 RPM, trap 6400 RPM and still pulling strong past finish line.
I need a class like that. Thanks for posting.
The Auburn clutches were a joke. Just a low buck production clutch. I thought they were just used for slant 6 applications only.
So, then, IF a guy has a 273 commando, 4 speed and 3.55's in a light early A-body, my '65 B-body, 318 2bbl, auto and 2.94's would have taken him in the 1320. Cool..
Just saying, if the '65 A-body with Commando 4-speed and 3.55's went a best of 16.03 stock, and my '65 B-body 318 ('85 LA stock using the 273 manifolds the car came with) 2bbl with 2.94's and auto went 15.90's, I'm in for the win, correct? I believe my dragway is at 600ft above sea level, that could be a big difference if the Commando is at 3k ft. Just say'nLet's not get 'crazy' now.