Some "Dime Rockets" for the 4TH!

[Joe Toller]

Originally Posted by Joe Toller

It's a Caprice. If I can get this beast home ($!) I'll make it a 77. Thanks!
Option B is a 77 Pontiac Catalina 4dr. Man it's ugly.
Either way, 305 2bbl is what I'm aiming for.

What do you think?

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by Joe Toller

What do you think?

I think you ought to keep looking for a Camaro.

[Joe Toller]

Understandable, but for two things:
1. Its a dirt track town, and this part of the state, a gutted Camaro or Nova shell still brings $500. I gave $300 for this, plus a complete 305 and a Metric 200.
2. I don't like Camaros.

[4406mopar]

Originally Posted by Joe Toller

Understandable, but for two things:
1. Its a dirt track town, and this part of the state, a gutted Camaro or Nova shell still brings $500. I gave $300 for this, plus a complete 305 and a Metric 200.
2. I don't like Camaros.

#2 is all the reason

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by Mark Yacavone

I think you ought to keep looking for a Camaro.

Mark, I think at this point in time it would be nice to see Joe just get a car running and to a racetrack. Joe can always make it a Camaro (or Firebird) at a later date.
Just an FYI, I don't know this to be the Gospel truth but have been told by a couple of knowledgeable Racers over the years that the body is worth about a tenth.

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

Mark, I think at this point in time it would be nice to see Joe just get a car running and to a racetrack. Joe can always make it a Camaro (or Firebird) at a later date.
Just an FYI, I don't know this to be the Gospel truth but have been told by a couple of knowledgeable Racers over the years that the body is worth about a tenth.

Hmmm..I see your point.
Actually, I misspoke .
What he needs is a '78 Nova Custom 2 dr HT ..it is now at 174 hp!
This Impala doesn't even make U/SA ..The Nova now does.
Let's see. 6 less hp = 120 lbs in U.
T/SA - 14.40, U/SA - 14.85 ...That's 4.5 tenths for another 174 lbs.
Minus 120 lbs. for using the Nova body.
That's cheap ET , just for using the right car. For a guy that seems to be budget-challenged, this sounds like a better way to go.
$200 more for a body is cheap ,for all that ET.
Plus the Nova has the stick shift option.

[Mark Yacavone]

Thought I might mention here.
I don't have a big problem with the Impala body style, per se.
All it needs is an air bag in the right rear, and it oughta hook anywhere.

Bob Michael goes plenty fast with his 77 Catalina in K/SA. Those cars are amazingly light for a full frame deal.

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by Mark Yacavone

This Impala doesn't even make U/SA ..

He knows that he has to make it a 77. A 77 does.
You're right about the weight and HP but in the 21ST Century NHRA, that's just a matter of going slow, writing letters and puckering up.

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

He knows that he has to make it a 77. A 77 does.
You're right about the weight and HP but in the 21ST Century NHRA, that's just a matter of going slow, writing letters and puckering up.

Fair enough.

Should be noted here. One has to actually go to Divisionals, at least, to get a reduction. .
Probably have to go through 2 rating periods to get all 6 hp off.
So this deal would have to live with the 120 lbs. for a while.

You can't just call 1-800-CRY- NHRA anymore ;-)

[Joe Toller]

I do have the correct 77 grille for this car. It was complete, titled, and solid, and a great home for a 305. I'd pay 500 for a stripped Nova or Camaro around here, so I'd also have to find interior and trim most likely, now that lighter roller costs me even more. I just want to get down the track, and eventually under the index. To do it in something nobody else runs is extra incentive for me.

It's odd to me that the 78 is 300lbs lighter in shipping weight than the 77 or 79, maybe an error?