[Jeff Beckman]

My 2cents. With the horsepower you are starting with, Top Dragster is out, plus your car is kinda short for the power you will need in TD. Back to your horsepower, I would think about a 1:69 gear in the trany with a 4:30 in the rear. I like 15 inch rear wheels as it gives you more sidewall in the tire to work with. In a swing arm or four link etc it may not be as important but with a hard tail I want any available tool for adapting to tracks.

I agree that a one peice glass body is the cats meow but for the reasons Chris mentions, I would go to a multi peice body, also the Aluminum option might work best for you as your car sounds one off possibley. Stock noses, dash etc are available and I would set the dash and pedals where I want them then the nose, fill the body in from there. Also dont forget fast access to electronics is a round saver in a pinch.

Convertors, easy start with a Hughes 7SC, for super comp with mild to 1000 HP it is the right convertor, however if the Chance convertor is the right price you can make that work for SC now and TD later. Do not dive into TD, SC will be more of a challenge than you can possible imagine. Do not forget you will get more seat time local bracket racing and recomend that you get some education and car sorting out done there first.

Starting out, it is hard to beat a Racedata dash, 500+- just saw one on race junk for 300, replaces all your gauges lets you replay one run, cleans the dash up a ton.

While were on your dash, Get a K&R wiring kit and delay box, a chipmunk could wire the car (that would be me). All you will have on the dash is a switch box, delay box and Race data. Send me your email and I can send you some pics if you like.

There are alot well intentioned folks without the best ideas in this world. Chris is a solid racer with sound ideas.

Good luck racing and dont forget that having fun and meeting all the great people out there is the best part of Drag Racing, Jeff