Pure Stock Drag Racing tips & tricks

[COPO PETE]

Marlin, Don't even talk to me if your not running the stock over the counter camshaft! My theory is GM spent millions developing these motors and shafts to run with manifolds, and if you put on headers, they would respond well, but they work well with manifolds. I've had so many guys ask me what shaft I'm running and I tell them. Then were at the track and their car is not doing the number, only to find out they put a "little " bigger one in or the 30/30 shaft. Bigger is not always better! Don't dick with the center line and put some over lap in it as you will lose some very important compression. Shift at 6000 rpm, not 5900 and not 6100 rpm.
I've had good luck with Protronix. Get the old style, as new one has some problems still.
My Nova is stock and unrestored. As in original springs front and rear, with UAP NAPA 50/50 shocks on all corners. I do put two clamps on each side ahead of the spring, mostly to help not spit a driveshaft.
Exhaust is very important. 2 1/2 inch mandrel all the way. My Nova currently has kinky 2 1/4, which is costing me close to 2 tenths.
Put in new body mounts, poly urathane is best. I currently have the original cracked ones in it, gotta change it. Brand new rubber is good also and won't flex much.
Run as close to 11:1 as possible, JE pistons are much better than the TRW I have. Likely only about 10:1 if measured.
In your case, save your original M21 and put in a M20 if your gunna bang on it. That's good for 2 tenths.
If I take my own advice here, I'm sure on E70-14's I can get a 12.80 out of it, maybe even a 12.70. Time will tell. Now get to work!!! [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]
Peter

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Hmmmm!
Thanks for the tips. I have the Mallory under-cap conversion in my car now, seems ok but I won't know till I run it up in RPM. I have only revved the engine to 5500 so far.

My cam should be ok, I didn't put the exact cam in because I don't like Crane cams so I put an equivelant Comp Cams in. The M20 is a quicker trans, but the COPO Nov's came with the M21 so I really can't be changing that! I have a Gardner system on my car with the krinkle bends, twin resonators etc...

I guess I will just have to tune it the best I can, and run it to get a baseline! I'd be happy if it ran as well as Neal's red deuce, 13.7's in the heat, 13.5's on a cool evening.

[Chevy454]

M:

I hope you have better luck with your cam decision than I did. Against someone's advice, I went with something other than the GM (Crane) cam and it came in way short. I the stood back and watched a GM cam spec right on the money...live an learn!

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Rob;
I know, I have heard both sides of the Crane Cam story. I never built an engine before the deuce's, so I had to weigh all the stories that I had heard. Neal has had good luck with the Comp's so that's what I went with.

I also used the TRW pistons, 11:1's, because I figured they were the stock ones. If I could do it over again, I'd use JE's after hearing your experiences with the TRW's.

Oh well, I'll wait till spring, and see if I can get it to the track. Doing a little drag racing with the Yenko is the last part of my goal with this project. What good is a Yenko car if it looks pretty, but doesn't run the number [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[COPO PETE]

Neils had good luck with his comp cam???????? When he was running his big block, for two years he kept asking me, "what cam?". I'd tell him, "go to GM and order the real deal. Finally after the Ohio race, he was frustrated and asked again. I gave him the same answer. He tried to get me drunk on Canadian beer to see if I would change my answer. First off, never try and get a Canadian drunk on Canadian beer and try and stay with him drink for drink. He would'nt remember if I told a different answer anyway! The following week he finally put in the GM L78 cam from gm. First pass was 2 tenths and 3 mph quicker than the car ever ran!!!! [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] I expect the same difference on his small block!
Peter

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

I was referring to the Comp cam he has in his red Deuce.

The Comp Cam that Neal had in his '68 BB was a little cam he had put in for the street many years ago, he didn't have a local source of higher octane fuel. He knew it was much smaller than stock, but thought it would work better with the iron mani's. He was indeed happier when he put the L78 cam in, so was the BB [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

I wouldn't try matching you guys beer for beer! You must admit, JJ is awfully funny when he gets a few in him though. Quite animated when he shows you how to shift the 4hitter in the middle of the hotel room, then he burned himself with his cig!

[Salvatore]

Marlin, I am new to the site, but I met you at the Vargo Dragway Reunion 2 years ago. Your car is great. I love the overspray on the cowl panel. In 1971, we put a 1970 LT1 crated motor in my 1969 SS Nova. I bought the motor from chevy, and we took it apart and went over everything and had it balanced and clearanced. It had a stock LT1 intake, and the stock 1970 LT1 chevy cam, I think we set it at 24 and 26!!?? The car had the original 4:10 ring and pinion, and the original re-jetted 780 holley and went 12.56 at 108 mph. I still have the time cards. The stock single point ignition was also good enough. The 780 was from a 1969 Z/28. I changed the M21 trans and put my spare M20 trans. in and immediatly picked up 2 tenths. 90/10 shocks in the front and 50/50 in the back. The stock cam was a bear. Once it hit 3000rpm it pulled to 6500 instantly. I had 7 inch tires in those days 28 inches tall, and open headers. Everything is about the right combination. I bought the car new from Mullin Chevrolet in Ambler Pa. in April of 69. Cloth bench seat 4 speed, no gauges. Dark Blue, lite blue interior. A good guy to help you out on your tune up is a few miles from you. (Pete Suriano) Pete's Automotive Pottstown. (610)326-8322 Good Luck! Sam