Re: Under the index for under a grand!
 

Billy been watching this thread like a kid waiting for Christmas morning.
New to the forum but interested in stock racing. This post is what brought me to join. What did you mean by the heads are real stockers ? Can you elaborate more? Valve job etc.? I would like if possible for you to go into more detail on the small stuff that makes or breaks a build like this.
Thank you very much for taking the time and your expertise to show us novices that it can be done.

Joe


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Re: Under the index for under a grand!
 

Hi Joe, I'd be more comfortable answering a post like yours if I knew your full name.

Re: Under the index for under a grand!
 

Hi Billy,
My full name is Joe Cashuric. I used to dabble in f/s stock in 70-71 with a 69 w31 Olds at Pocono Drag Lodge and Island Dragway. Never ran close to the record, but was young and didn't understand alot about what it took to make it get where it needed to be. Now I build a few motors for bracket cars and do a little tuning for friends. I'm interested in finding out what does and doesn't work in these limited/low hp builds. I've always tried to make them work on a budget, and at this point in my life, I feel you're never too old to learn. Your project interests me, but I'm not asking for you to give away lifetime hard-earned secrets.

Thanks,
Joe

Re: Under the index for under a grand!
 

Billy . How easy would a 97 dodge ram 1500 SS/T truck be in G/TSA ( IHRA ) with 8.60 index .........equipped with a fuel injection 360 magnum......... 1/8 index is 8.65 @ around 4,000 lbs... ??...and a 13.85 1/4 index....?

Re: Under the index for under a grand!
 

x2. Watch the crank hit the ground!

Re: Under the index for under a grand!
 

FYI - not only does the 301 lack intake ports, it also lacks counterweights!

Re: Under the index for under a grand!
 

Well, I spent a nice quiet, snowy day in the shop yesterday. I took out the fuel tank and modified my pickup and got my fuelpump installed. Just a headsup on the fuelpump, don't ever throw anything away! Dug out my box of "bad" blue Holley pumps and spent some time just putting parts together until I came up with a pump that works and doesn't leak. I will have to spend a few bucks on fittings and a regulator diaphragm but the fuel system won't break the budget. I guess those years of digging through dumpsters and friends garbage cans is starting to pay off!
Today, I am going to put a broken factory fan shroud back together and mount a cooling fan in it. I'll try and get some pics later.

Re: Under the index for under a grand!
 

Fuel system is done except for mounting regulator and making line to carb.
$10 used cooling fan and a piece of scrap aluminium fixed my broken shroud and will work well.
"Dime Rocket" tip of the week! 80s GM cars have Bosch Relays and neat mounting brackets that can go anywhere and they're all over junkyards.
First pics of my NHRA approved racing seats! Ya know, I always liked that throw pillow motif! I wonder if it would be legal to mount a discoball in the back!

Re: Under the index for under a grand!
 

Nice "save" on the gas line.

Re: Under the index for under a grand!
 

And only you would notice that! In my defense, it is on the suction side and the last that I knew I was still allowed 12" of hose.

Re: Under the index for under a grand!
 

I use to have a set of buckets in my V/S malibu that same material. I don't think that they were that ugly in the late 80's
Mike Taylor 3601

Re: Under the index for under a grand!
 

Cheapo tips 1

I'm sure Billy knows this one, but on those old trailing arm cars, the rubber bushings get very gushy and weak after a while... Rather than making or buying something, just take a batch of 1" drywall screws and your battery drill, and run them into the rubber , 6-8 in each bushing, both sides ..Instant firmness!

2, Those A, later G bodies had a factory anti roll , or sway bar on the Monte's ,GN 's and even Malibu police cars. When you install the proper sleeves, bolts and bar, you stiffen up the lower trailing arm in the process. The holes are already there.

Re: Under the index for under a grand!
 

Great fun following this thread. Billy I will donate a brand new UNI Filter 14" diameter (have them in 3, 4 & 5") let me know it comes already pre-oiled from factory the car may pickup .003 with it...LOL

I bought my first new car 1981 Monte Carlo Sports Coupe, had the 267 V8 the car could be outrun by the local ice cream truck. it had the charcol prefilter element inside the housing, called chevy and they said that it would void the warranty if I took it out, when I got home I sawed it off, then I put a test tube from western auto in place of the catalytic converter. The best I ever got out of the car at the track was a 19.51 @ 69 mph...LOL

Re: Under the index for under a grand!
 

i'm interested in the manual brake stuff if you wanted to make a set for me I ASLO HAVE AL. BUMPER BACKING FOR FRONT gm had al hoods to hard to find i have one but it has hood scoop on it so i do not think you can use it may have rear bumper al backing i run 80 gp et bracket i boxs in all rear arms and it helps alot stock coils and car lifts front and goes st upper ones are abount 3 in higher to change angle i use 9 in ford from a ford truck 70

Re: Under the index for under a grand!
 

Well I managed to get the fuel system and electrical stuff pretty much done yesterday. This morning I started installing the tach and some cheapie gauges.
Dime Rocket tip of the week!
I must have about a half a dozen "non-functioning" Autometer tachs in my shop as I'm sure some of you do too. I picked out a model #6809 that decided it didn't want to work over 5k RPM and contacted Autometer. They told me where to send it and if they couldn't fix it there would be no charge. Well I boxed it up, sent it out and got back a VERY nicely redone tach. Price? $25. Nice to deal with and done promptly, thank you Autometer!
$250 tach for $25!

Re: Under the index for under a grand!
 

Thanks for spoiling my lunch Mr Billy, I just chunked one about 2 weeks ago. Good luck in your project, I've enjoyed reading it.

Re: Under the index for under a grand!
 

Where's the "like" button? That's awesome! Kudos to Auto Meter!

Re: Under the index for under a grand!
 

I need you to make me a shroud for the big girl.

Re: Under the index for under a grand!
 

don't suppose you'd share that address (or do i/we need to go thru autometer for that?)

Re: Under the index for under a grand!
 

Billy, have you made any progress/decisions with the engine,trans,
suspension combos yet?

Joe

Re: Under the index for under a grand!
 

I'm getting to a point with this project where I'm going to have to get serious about putting together the engine. But first, I'll talk about the trans.
As with almost everything else, it is from a previous project. When I bought my Lemans, it was a running NHRA Stocker (and a really nice body). The previous owner wanted to go in a different direction and wanted the car gone. Now here's the "Dime Rocket" tip, when you are buying a car, ask the owner what goes with the car AND just kinda look around his garage for any other connections. He was going with a different brand of car and complaining about all of the clutter in his "space". Well, after talking to him for a while he says to me "if it says GM on it, get it out of here". I went home with a beautiful, low mileage car AND a pick-up full of parts and the spare trans was one of the parts. Not to go too far off topic but when this GP came home, while talking about the car, the owner came out with a spare intake, carb and a couple of carb kits. All usable stuff.
The trans is a T-200 that is a fresh, stock rebuild with a Trans-Go kit in it. I've used it before, it shifts fine and I'm going to try and play with getting it to auto shift itself by tuning the governor.
I know that it's not a "racing" trans but it is a known piece and it will work. After all, I'm trying to get it under the index not under the record. Better pieces can come at a later date. I am on a strict budget!

Re: Under the index for under a grand!
 

I have been eagerly awaiting the trans and engine info...thanks for this thread Billy.

Re: Under the index for under a grand!
 

I'm getting the mid-winter doldrums out here in the "West End". Can't wait to head out to Fla. for the points meet next week.
I boxed the stock rear control arms yesterday. They came out pretty good, really stiffened them up. I'm going to start working on putting the engine together later.

Re: Under the index for under a grand!
 

We will be waiting for you in Fl. ................

Hammer

Re: Under the index for under a grand!
 

Billy, how is your project coming on? I wanted to ask what is in the brown four door Nees Nova? Claude

Re: Under the index for under a grand!
 

Well, the engine is on hold till I get back from Fla.. It seems that I may have had an attack of CRS and can't remember which cams went where! At any rate, I'll be sending an old cam core out to be re-ground when I get back(dime rocket tip of the week!).
So, let's talk torque converters today. First, a little bit of personal commentary, beyond the motor, there is more to be gained(IMHO) in the correct torque converter than anything else in the car(assuming the car is right). Now I already know that this car is going to want a tight 8" converter but it isn't in my budget(maybe later).
Back in the 70s the hot lick for going fast cheap was to go and get a "Vega" or "Pinto" converter. They were very inefficient and fragile but they were fairly fast and easy to find. Not so in the 21st century so I actually had a converter made, cheap. I already know that my combo makes very good torque for a small motor as I ran my GP with the race motor and a stock converter for a couple of weeks before getting a good one. My car actually ran a tenth under with the stock one but it's got a bit more motor in it. Through a friend in the transmission business, I contacted a (stock) converter rebuilder and asked him what my options were. He looked up my stock converter and found it to have a 1600(that's right) RPM stall and figured that by mixing and matching some stock parts and assembling it with the widest tolorances he could get me about 2800-3000 RPM. Price? $80, for that I'll give it a try.
Now I want to be perfectly clear here, my car picked up a half of a second by putting the correct race converter in the car so the money spent is well worth it but this is being done on a strict budget and if it doesn't work, shame on me.
I'll be back in a week!

Re: Under the index for under a grand!
 

Hurry up Billy we are starting to run out of popcorn. Good luck and go fast.

Re: Under the index for under a grand!
 

Billy we used to do a cheap converter for the turbo dodges. Talk to me about it this weekend. I'll be rolling in on Friday morning.

Re: Under the index for under a grand!
 

I am VERY interested in the converter discussion Billy!

Re: Under the index for under a grand!
 

you said you went to manual brakes did it save any wt and what would you charge for everything to change over to manual 78 gp

Re: Under the index for under a grand!
 

Just a quick update, I hung the trans and converter in the car yesterday mainly to get it off of the floor and out of my way. Have you ever heard the old saying "some times it's chicken and sometimes it's feathers"? Well since I got back from the points meet, I've been busy trying to get some "buddy stuff" done and I don't see me being able to get back to the motor until I get back from the Gators.
Sorry Larry, looks like the popcorn is gonna get cold.

Re: Under the index for under a grand!
 

I'll pop a fresh batch.

Re: Under the index for under a grand!
 

Any updates?

Re: Under the index for under a grand!
 

Hey Billy
Have not not seen any posts on this from you in a while. Hows the engine coming ?
I am sure there are some of us still very interested in your project. And awaiting your posts.:)

Joe

Re: Under the index for under a grand!
 

Billy, cheap convertor for a 200, get one from a 76 Chevette. They came with a 200 and use an 8" convertor. You will need to do a little adapting on the front end but nothing serious.

Jim Mantle V/SA 6632

Re: Under the index for under a grand!
 

Thanks Jim, I think that you'll find that the 76 Chevette was the first car to actually have a 200 turbo in it. Hopefully, I'll be getting back to the motor this coming week.

Re: Under the index for under a grand!
 

Good idea, Jim.
Those converters were basically the Opel design and size...They had funky stators in them .but you could always upgrade it later.
You would need to make a pilot adapter with a 1.702 O.D. and whatever ID that thing has on it now. You should be able to weld that on without opening the converter.
Then make some tabs to adapt to the small GM pattern flex plate, and weld them on too.
Just make sure the overall height is the same as a V 8 converter...This just might work...for now.

Re: Under the index for under a grand!
 

Thought that Chevette's came with the French-built TH-180? Can those conv. be used in a TH-200?

Re: Under the index for under a grand!
 

Not sure about all of them.
The Strasboug 180 is listed in the Chevette for 78-87.
The TH 200 can out in 76 ,and so did the Chevette.
Maybe we can get Billy to crawl under a few...if he can find any in Pa.
At any rate ,the 180 converter is listed as a 27 spline input, matching the 200.
I'm sure they've all got the standard GM 27 spline stator support.
As long as it's got the metric style 1 3/4 hub, which I 'm pretty sure it does, you should be good with the mods discussed in my previous post.
I know the Chevette got the 245 mm (9") lock up with the metric hub in about '81.

Re: Under the index for under a grand!
 

There are 3 in the wrecking yard here in Montana, I can look today and see...