66 L72 Biscayne in SuperStock
 

The Nostalgia section is pretty quiet but I thought this might be relevant here anyway.

The 66 L72 Biscayne was pretty successful in STOCK circa 1965-71.

But none appear in SuperStock 1967-71.
The L72 seems plenty capable, easy build to ~L88 specs.
Looks competitive.
Any idea why not?
Coils didnt hook up as well?
Axles not strong enough?
What was the biggest tire that would fit? IIRC my buddy ran L60s on the street back then so thats about an 11" section.

Seems this should have been a competitive combo, running (strangely) heads up against the 68 428CJ Mustangs.

Re: 66 L72 Biscayne in SuperStock
 

Coils/Axle/Tire Size would not be a Superstock problem.

Re: 66 L72 Biscayne in SuperStock
 

I always thought that body was a good platform in SS trim.
By SS Trim I mean getting the back half issues handled.
The front tire location is forward and that helps finish line racing.
There is also plenty of overhang out back.
Frontal area & weight doesn't compare to the late model cars and that is somewhat of a negative.
In early 1990's Scott Carroll in Monroe La. back halfed a 1966 Super Sport Impala for one of my customers. I built a 516 Cu in Brodix headed BB for it. Set up for bracket racing with a turbo 400 and ATI bracket converter it was a great race car. I drove it for a few weeks and it left hard and was deadly consistent. I liked the way it drove the finish line, too.
I've always wanted to get that car back and put some form of SS/GT package in it. Can anyone see a modernized '68 with a COPO ?
Jeff Hefler show us the way!

Re: 66 L72 Biscayne in SuperStock
 

Trying to remember how many Super Stock classes they had 67-71. Best I can remember it only went to D or maybe E. Remember the Camaro's running D. Maybe the Biscayne didn't fall in the upper classes in Super Stock. Also remember in Stock they ran B stick.

Re: 66 L72 Biscayne in SuperStock
 

In 71 they at least had SS/I and J I think. By

Re: 66 L72 Biscayne in SuperStock
 

Oh, the L72 Biscayne / Impala fit just fine, here are some examples:

66 Biscayne 2dr sedan W/P 3725/425=8.76
1966 B/S=8.70
1967 A/S=8.70

1968 factored to 435hp so 3725/435=8.56
1968 B/S=8.50
1969 C/S=8.50
1970-71 D/S=8.50
The combo ran & won or set records every year in all those classes.


And in SuperStock:
1967 SS/D=8.70
1968 SS/E=8.70 no fit
1968 SS/D=7.70 bad fit
1969 SS/G=8.50
1970-71 SS/F=8.50
Other than the results I’m still hunting for (see below if you have any), the combo is NOWHERE in these classes even though it’s a near perfect fit in 1967-69-70-71.

Maybe it was just money- cost was the same to prep an engine/driveline for a hotter class, so the cost to get these “heavy” cars to run didn’t bring enough winnings. And I did get a PM saying the factory 12-bolt would be iffy if these big cars DID hook up, whereas the tires in Stock back then really couldn’t hurt the axles.

I once had an ex-SS 429SCJ Torino, 3834 lb (heavier than the 66 Biscayne!), and with a 5.14 locker and IIRC 12” slicks it had twisted the 31 spline axles. So even the Ford 9” was living on the edge with the OEM parts back then. Maybe SuperStock would just be too much for the factory 12-bolt stuff back then especially with a 4-speed hitting it.


As noted in this thread:

https://classracer.com/classforum/sh...ad.php?t=84674

I’m still looking for Stock and Superstock results sheets from these NHRA Nationals events:

1970 TX Spring
1970 PA Summer
1971 CA Winter
1971 TX Spring
1971 NJ Summer
(anybody have these?)
But, I don’t see any big Chev’s or Fords up in the SS/ classes.

Re: 66 L72 Biscayne in SuperStock
 

According to Dwights site, the 66 full sized Chev with a 427/425 HP is a stick only combo, with SS/F the natural class at 3868 pounds with driver. Sounds like a parts breaker to me. Years ago, I used to help a local racer, who ran 65 Big Chevs in Super Stock. This was in the early-mid 70s, his 65 Biscayne ran SS/KA with a 396/325, he later swapped the running gear into a 65 Impala wagon, which ran SS/LA, I think it was. I remember he ran a Turbo 400, which unless I am mistaken, was the first year for a 3 speed in a Chevy? Back in those days, S/S cars had to retain stock style rear suspension, and those cars had a habit of ripping the upper control arm brackets out, even the BB cars, that had 2 uppers.

Re: 66 L72 Biscayne in SuperStock
 

I hadnt thought of the upper control arm issue.

I have seen examples documented of the big Chev in SS/Auto, not so much impact loading, but it seems indeed the loading was too much to launch a winning stick car.

There was a T400 L72 for its final year 1969 only but it looks like very few were built like under 100. I dont see any of those in the win sheets either for 1969-71 but as I pointed out I'm missing a few event results from those years.

Do you have a link to Dwight's site you referred to?

Re: 66 L72 Biscayne in SuperStock
 

Norm Fryer ran one in stock & super stocker
He was in Div 1. Very fast as stocker , I thing he was the fastest of the Biscayne body cars.

Re: 66 L72 Biscayne in SuperStock
 

http://www.classracerinfo.com/ There's a sticky on the S/SS home page.

Re: 66 L72 Biscayne in SuperStock
 

from the 1969 rulebook

Re: 66 L72 Biscayne in SuperStock
 

Surprised no one mentioned Richard Feldman. He had a 66 , bought new, I believe.
Raced in stock but was pushed into SS in 1972.

Lots of issues with running one of those cars in the late 60's
Long wheelbase but they would hook hard still..right before they would rip the upper cross member off, or tear the end off an upper trailing arm..If none of the above first, they'd knock the left lower trailing arm bracket off the frame ...This was all with a 283 !
A spool and good axles weren't commonly available in the late 60's either.

Don't forget they overlapped the big block Chevelle and were only one year away from the BBC Camaro and two from the newer Chevy II
Case closed ..Not a big market for a SS full size Chevy.

Re: 66 L72 Biscayne in SuperStock
 

Also surprised no one mentioned Dwight Cox. Although not an L72, one of the hardest running SS Impalas ever;.

Re: 66 L72 Biscayne in SuperStock
 

I tore the end off the upper control arm in my 65 Bel Air 4 door sedan - with a 230 ci 6 cylinder.

Re: 66 L72 Biscayne in SuperStock
 

Good morning to all,
Please correct me if I'm wrong but didn't Dennis Oliver ( Dean's Dad ) run a stick shift Impala body and Cal Method have a couple of successful Impala bodied race cars?
"The Mind is a terrible thing to baest" !

Respectfully,
Henry Kunz 1534 H/SA

Re: 66 L72 Biscayne in SuperStock
 

I do have Feldman as winning D/S=8.50 1971 Summernationals.
No ET or MPH though, that's one of the results sheets I'm still missing.

I can see now a bunch of reasons these didnt appear in SuperStock. A few auto cars maybe but no 4-speeds.

Re: 66 L72 Biscayne in SuperStock
 

Do you know what years he ran? In Stock or SuperStock? 4-speed?

I've only been collecting & analyzing results 1960-1971 race years as you might recall. Still missing some results sheets from 1970-71 as listed in the thread so it could be there.

I thought about doing the 1970s, since my 1st run at Milan was 1975, but the HP factors must be all over the place with the 1972-up "net" ratings.

Re: 66 L72 Biscayne in SuperStock
 

I cant find Dennis Oliver in the 1960-71 race year database I have.

But yes Cal Method shows up, 66 Impala hardtop, P/S=16.00 class 283/220hp. Class records Sep 1970, won class at Pomona Feb 1971.
That would be a 3-link 10-bolt rear, right? Even weaker than the 4-link 12-bolt L72 cars. Sounds like GM engineering wasn't thinking SuperStock with these cars. Still, fair enough as they are pretty light compared to today's heavy iron. I'm sure a new Camaro weighs more than the 66 Biscayne-Impala.

Re: 66 L72 Biscayne in SuperStock
 

It was more than likely a 12 bolt. You could order a "heavy-duty" axle package in almost any Chevy. I'll probably be corrected by someone but I seem to remember that in 1967 a "posi" for your 10 bolt would cost you sixty sum odd dollars and the H-D axle assy. was just seven more.

Re: 66 L72 Biscayne in SuperStock
 

There were 4 arm 10 bolts and also 4 arm 12 bolts available across the entire line.

There were a few 65 396 /325 automatics in SS .

Dennis's 283 / 220, 1965 was never a SS car, I don't believe (It is now)

Bill Isykowski's 66 L 72 was a world Finals r/u in Stock...Also recall Wiley Cossey, John James, Paul Flanders, Mike McDowell , Bobby Blankenship, Harry Sheehan too, I think...Pat McVickers..Going from memory here.. ;-)

Re: 66 L72 Biscayne in SuperStock
 

Mark,
I hope you are writing all of this down for the rest of us.
Thank you, MJ

Re: 66 L72 Biscayne in SuperStock
 

Correct, Bobby Blankenship ran a B/S 66 Chevy 427/425, was runner up at Bowling Green around 78-79 at the SportsNationals. Was a two door post Biscayne, I believe.

Re: 66 L72 Biscayne in SuperStock
 

Correct

Re: 66 L72 Biscayne in SuperStock
 

Yeah. I did too after I put that. 2.46 T-10 in it. lol

Re: 66 L72 Biscayne in SuperStock
 

Dennis raced from 1974 to just recently.

This thread started as a talk about SS and now has morphed into including Stock eliminator. In that case, you have to include Kevin Fogerty (1966 Impala 283-220 P/S) and Marlon Stubbs (1966 Biscayne 427-425 B/S).

Re: 66 L72 Biscayne in SuperStock
 

The late Lee Valentine