Re: what combo is better ?
 

Lew, I'd go with the 283......"Listen to Jim S., Mark, and "Captain Jack"....All 3 have many years of 283 experience under their belts....might NOT be the quickest...but would be BEST on the budget....You do want to get in the gate to race, right?

Re: what combo is better ?
 

Thanks to all for the great information! I've managed to assemble a collection of odds-and-ends to start to building a 275/327 so that's probably where I'll begin. The 283 looks to be cheaper initially, only because the Corvette restorers don't use them. ;) Anything has got to be better than what I now have now which is some-kind of Frankenstein small block of unknown parentage! I'm just looking forward anxiously to getting to the track, so if I have to, I'll run what I've got to get the chassis sorted out, and if it lasts long enough, I'll have the good piece ready for late in the season. I'll also thinking of a stick conversion to run with the 283.

Lew

Re: what combo is better ?
 

I have a 1968 Bel Air wagon that I race in IHRA H/PS. 327/270. Runs 13.20 on the 14.30 index. Take the slicks off and I can drive it on the street. Also stock/super stock races as well. Most fun for the dollar I've had in a while. 2 tons of fuf for sure. Pat.

Re: what combo is better ?
 

For those who dont know......the H/PS class is a 15 lb class like O/S in regular stock. Stick and automatics run heads up in in the same class in pure stock. They are 1 lb class breaks starting with 8 lbs per HP down to 16 pounds per HP. cam, valve springs rules are like pre 1985 stocker rules. Water pump must be driven off of the crank (no elec. water pump drives). Trans is SUPPOSED to be as per OEM. No lite duty automatics in place of Turbo 400's or 904s in place of 727's, and no C4s in place of C6s although I know of one car that is running the WRONG trans. IHRA made an allowance in the HP factor for it but its not enough. The cams and valve springs need to be checked in this catagory from time to time also or its a joke.

Re: what combo is better ?
 

My post was not intended as a joke; thers lots of guys who race pure stock for whatever reasons, budget being one of them. My Bel Air was record holder in 2006 in IHRA. Correct me if I'm wrong ,but the car has to be legal to hold a record. Cam and springs etc were checked. Also intake and heads etc. My intention was to say that the guys with the wagons posted here have great cars and are going to have a blast with them. Pat

Re: what combo is better ?
 

I didnt imply that YOUR car was illegal. The intent is that Pure stock has become somewhat of a joke. I know of your car and I was the one who wrote the rules for pure stock years ago. The ARE some who are not playing the game as they should and they are getting away with it because can you name just ONE tech guy who can check a cams duration and overlap that works for IHRA today. Hell they dont even have a quality spring checker in the tech trailer anymore.

Re: what combo is better ?
 

A few years ago I ran a 396/325 HP Stick Shift combo in I/S with a 68 Impala If the car is built right it won't break parts like everybody thinks. I had over 100 passes on that car with only one set of gears broken, and that was because they were not Pro Gears I also ran a lightweight flywheel with the Jerico. Car went quick as 11.71 at 4095 pounds in I/S It is on YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_SyTvAYeGU

I am now using that same motor and building a 84 Olds Cutlass to run in a IHRA Stock GT class with the stick. (SGT/B or C)

Will Lamprecht

Re: what combo is better ?
 

Will, Why did you give up on the 68 combo?? That was a really neat car. I run a 69 Biscayne 427 335h.p. combo in I/SA.