Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by Tod Lane

If I read this right, a 79 Firebird with a shipping weight of 3358 LBS would have a weight break of 18.66 and fall into R/SA. The index is 14.05 ?

You need a 78 (Formula) with the 2GC (round) carb. Natural T car.


I'll get back on the Buick. I have to look at some specs.
First problem is a cheap set of headers...
Second is finding a torque plate....

[Dwight Southerland]

'78 Firebird Formula has a 19.18 break, so it is a natural T car and will fit U with weight.

[Robert Swartz]

Originally Posted by Dwight Southerland

'78 Firebird Formula has a 19.18 break, so it is a natural T car and will fit U with weight.

Late 70's 305 2bbl SBC? I had really overlooked this as a viable combination.

My 79 Firebird body is setting in the corner of the garage with the nose off. If there is no real difference in the tail lights, I need to replace the fenders and hood anyway. Finding a complete front clip for a 78 Formula might be a tall order?

I'd need to know the correct the correct carbuerator. What about head numbers, correct intake(s). Would this combo be a flat top or dish piston motor. With the 2bbl and small cam, this thing would be real limited on rpm, what 6000-6200 max? Scarey thought but, you could almost get away with stock press fit pistons with this.

Neat thing is, all I'd need to do is tie the sub frames, do the front end, take the 10 bolt to Moser. I wouldn't even need to put the roll bar in for this low a class! Better yet, I could run the Indy Points meet, less than an hour from my house!

You guys serious, I'd offer the car for a corroboration effort. I already have the Hooker super comp headers, Moroso springs, sub frame connectors, Cal-tracs and mono leaf springs, a torque converter and wheels. Just tossing something out there. It could be the first Class Racer special?

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by Robert Swartz

Late 70's 305 2bbl SBC?

I'd need to know the correct the correct carbuerator. What about head numbers, correct intake(s). Would this combo be a flat top or dish piston motor. With the 2bbl and small cam, this thing would be real limited on rpm, what 6000-6200 max? Scarey thought but, you could almost get away with stock press fit pistons with this.

Neat thing is, all I'd need to do is tie the sub frames, do the front end, take the 10 bolt to Moser. I wouldn't even need to put the roll bar in for this low a class! Better yet, I could run the Indy Points meet, less than an hour from my house!

You guys serious, I'd offer the car for a corroboration effort. I already have the Hooker super comp headers, Moroso springs, sub frame connectors, Cal-tracs and mono leaf springs, a torque converter and wheels. Just tossing something out there.

You can use any rochester 2g carb with a 1.18 venturi size. Reread the first post in this thread and substitute 305 Chevy for 302 Ford. Don't waste your time putting in the subframe connectors. You don't need them and it's weight in the wrong place. your headers are probably too big but they're a good place to start.

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by Robert Swartz

Late 70's 305 2bbl SBC? I had really overlooked this as a viable combination.

My 79 Firebird body is setting in the corner of the garage with the nose off. If there is no real difference in the tail lights, I need to replace the fenders and hood anyway. Finding a complete front clip for a 78 Formula might be a tall order?

I'd need to know the correct the correct carbuerator. What about head numbers, correct intake(s). Would this combo be a flat top or dish piston motor. With the 2bbl and small cam, this thing would be real limited on rpm, what 6000-6200 max? Scarey thought but, you could almost get away with stock press fit pistons with this.

Neat thing is, all I'd need to do is tie the sub frames, do the front end, take the 10 bolt to Moser. I wouldn't even need to put the roll bar in for this low a class! Better yet, I could run the Indy Points meet, less than an hour from my house!

You guys serious, I'd offer the car for a corroboration effort. I already have the Hooker super comp headers, Moroso springs, sub frame connectors, Cal-tracs and mono leaf springs, a torque converter and wheels. Just tossing something out there. It could be the first Class Racer special?

The fenders and hood are the same till 81 (Formula). The nose piece is different, as is the rear fascia and bumper cover. License plate is between the taillights 77-78

[goinbroke2]

I LOVE this thread! Had/lost a 82GT intake damn it. Been looking ever since. I'm a little leary on 86 fuelie 302's though as that was an "oddball" year with unique flat top pistons and bad flowing heads with "swirl dams" built in. The 87 and later fuelie 302's obviously work much better.
That said 162hp 2bbl 302 or 200hp fuelie;

162 hp, .419/.448 lift, hyd cam, 67cc head, 1.21 carb (I think)
200hp, .445/.445 lift, roller cam, 62cc head, 2.3" throttle

Is the roller cam, more lift, smaller chamber and higher flowing intake side worth 38hp???

Other note I guess is I like the look of the 82 but not the 86 LOL!

[west coast]

You guys missed this one last weekend at Woodburn divisional race.
1 6752 DF/S Shawn Kvaas, Pitt Meadows BC, '88 Chrysler14.601 15.60 -0.999
He was #1 qualifier. Talked to him, has very little money in to this thing, there is a video and pictures of it on Tobys thread from Woodburn last weekend.

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by west coast

You guys missed this one last weekend at Woodburn divisional race.
1 6752 DF/S Shawn Kvaas, Pitt Meadows BC, '88 Chrysler14.601 15.60 -0.999
He was #1 qualifier. Talked to him, has very little money in to this thing, there is a video and pictures of it on Tobys thread from Woodburn last weekend.

We didn't miss it..It's a turbo car.
Somewhere here , I thought we agreed " no turbos" in this discussion..Too easy, but too inconsistent and hard to drive..Ask me how I know..

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by Dwight Southerland

Okay, since I have already let the cat out of the bag on the other thread, I will start with my favorite, the '76 or '77 Camaro, '78 Camaro LT or '78 Firebird Formula, or '79 Camaro Berlinetta with a 305 2-bbl for U/SA. The pluses for this combination and the potential makes it a must look at in my opinion.

The engine is basically the same as the one Billy Lynn and Dean Oliver race in their Malibus in K & L. The only difference is the carb and a smaller intake valve (which may be a plus with the smaller carb!). Those Malibus run 11.80s consistently at 3250 lbs, so we can get a guage on the potential of the U combination from that. If you allow that the switch to a 2-bbl will chop a full second off and the added weight for U (3770 lbs. minimum) will slow by another .6 or so, the U combination should run mid 13s in a class with a 15.15 index. I see lots of potential there to be a competitor.

Then, consider that the 200 Metric or 200R4 is available and the car will be equipped with a GM 8.5" ten bolt. The 200 is a transmission of choice in lots of classes and the 8.5 is plenty strong enough with stock parts for this combo. The body has leaf springs so traction is easy and the plethora of available bolt-ons makes used parts easy to find. There have been several racers over the years chase combinations using the Rochester 2-bbl, so even the carb is not exactly an unknown.

I see lots of affordable potential in these combinations. I think the big problem for most people would be resisting the temptation to go overboard with the cosmetics and tricks that are available and applicable for the engine and car.

Bob, first page of this thread and 8 1/2 years ago.
I'm just glad to see a few 305s, 302s and 318s being built and run and running well!

[Tom Moock]

1978 305 2 bbl. camaro 180 hp. malibu 177 hp. nova 174 hp.