Ray Allen versus Jack Werst '1970 SS/EA Showdown'

[Dan Bennett]

Thanks for all the replies.

I didn't remember that it was allowable to change the intake. Chevy had a really good one for the time that was used on the 375 horse stuff and it would have worked well. It just wasn't the one the factory used on the 450 hp piece.

The thing with the stock LS6 piece was that it had almost no rise whatsoever, probably a lot less than even the low hp cast iron parts.

According to the info I've seen, the LS6 was designed for the 1970 Corvette and was going to be the logical progression for the 427/425 and 427/435. Very close to model launch, the engine was killed for the Corvette but released for the Chevelles. That flatness was so it would clear the hood of a Corvette but the beancounters wanted to use the intake since it had been tooled and the investment had been made.

I've never seen the originals, but there are GM materials floating around showing an entire family of 454s in 1970, including the LS7 which was slated to replace the L88 and also a tripower 454 with big heads and solid lifters. The insurance thing was getting too hot and GM withdrew the engines before they were ever put into production.

So the top of the line Chevelle got an intake that looked like it belonged on a Olds 350 2bbl and the Corvette maxed out with a hydraulic 390 hp small port engine in 1970.

And yes, the fiber optic thing was a joke but I have seen some strange options on "factory supplied" cars.

[Rich Biebel]

Hi Dave Colbert......I built a '69 Camaro around 1979. I intended to just bracket race it but was talked into making it a SS/JA by the men at Crow's Head Shop....I soon was working there and did for 10 years. We machined lots of stuff for T/K's and I spoke to Ralph all the time. You might have been there.

The Camaro I built got a cam recommended by Ralph and it was one he said you used with great success. I had a cam reground to those specs. It was a G-K 308......I broke a pile of parts with that cam! Maybe it was because it was a regrind. I tried all kinds of things to stop the breakage but had to get that cam outta there.....I had much better luck with a Cam Dynamics or a Lunati......I never could run with the lead guys but gave it a try.......Best et was 11.18 at 118 around 1981 or 1982. The good cars were dipping into the 10.90's by then...

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by Rich Biebel

Hi Dave Colbert......I built a '69 Camaro around 1979. I intended to just bracket race it but was talked into making it a SS/JA by the men at Crow's Head Shop....I soon was working there and did for 10 years. We machined lots of stuff for T/K's and I spoke to Ralph all the time. You might have been there.

The Camaro I built got a cam recommended by Ralph and it was one he said you used with great success. I had a cam reground to those specs. It was a G-K 308......I broke a pile of parts with that cam! Maybe it was because it was a regrind. I tried all kinds of things to stop the breakage but had to get that cam outta there.....I had much better luck with a Cam Dynamics or a Lunati......I never could run with the lead guys but gave it a try.......Best et was 11.18 at 118 around 1981 or 1982. The good cars were dipping into the 10.90's by then...

By the early 80's a lot of the fast runners were porting and acid etching the heads. I didnt know about it until around 84-85. We never did that stuff on Jim Morgans 428 CJ but he still managed to get around guys like Warren, Weakland, and some other fast 325 HP Camaros and Mustangs in SS/GA. Had to run it like a small block Chev. with 5.86 gears and 8600 RPM in the traps. Jim would say he shut his eyes the last 300 ft so he didnt have to see the tach.

[Paul Ceasrine]

Intake manifold for Ray Allens/Briggs Chevrolet,,,,,,,
looks to be an aluminum dual-plane high riser,,,,,,GM-brand

Slicks,,,,,,,,went from M & H Racemaster,,,then to Good Year,
Firestones on the front,,,,,,,,,

SS/EA National Record for 1970,
Beginning of the year;
11.61
11.55
11.37
11.33
11.31
11.27
End of year

[Paul Ceasrine]

Tim Richards of Pennyslvania,,,,,,
Karl Gould Chrysler-Plymouth, out of Vestal, New York.

A damn good running SS/EA 1970 Hemi Superbird.

[ss wannabee]

Not sure if it's been mentioned but wasn't Ray the 1970 NHRA Super Stock World Champ...and did he clinch it in that final (against Crutchfield) at Ontario? BTW, that looks like Wenzel's car in the other lane against Charbonneau....

[Ed Wright]

Jim Hale had a gooney bird for awhile. Took a lot of crap over that ugly sucker. lol

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by ss wannabee

Not sure if it's been mentioned but wasn't Ray the 1970 NHRA Super Stock World Champ...and did he clinch it in that final (against Crutchfield) at Ontario? BTW, that looks like Wenzel's car in the other lane against Charbonneau....

Back in 1970 the only way to be world champ was to win the world finals. It wasnt a points deal like today. The points was for Div. champs and positions 1 thru 10 and being qualified to go to the world finals. If I remeber right at one time they only took the top 5 in each division. Yes...Ray Allen won the race and was the world champ because of his win.......NOT because of his points total.

[Bob Pagano]

Terry is correct, if you qualified for the finials you got a certificate with your name scrolled on top and signed by Steve Gibbs and a fee entry to the finials in the mail.

[pauldilcher]

Jess , ask Bob Glidden how he entered two cars in S/S at the same race in 1972 .