V/S Stick "Dime Rocket"

[james schaechter]

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

I wish that I had a "dime" for every time I thought about a stick in one of my Novas. V6 Malibu or Buick would be the way to go. I'd spend the time and money and find an old, outdated (by todays standards) DN ST-10 and be done with it. Heavy flywheel and stock bellhousing? Surprisingly, you DON'T need a shield in V. What are your legs worth? Find an old Lakewood that won't cert.

And don't overlook some older narrow gear Jerico four speeds. Most don't use them as front line pieces since they have narrower 3-4 gears, but when they are for sale, they can be had at a reasonable price. No way you would break it even if you trimmed the gears even more. I agree, plenty of scatter shields under benches and at swap meets that won't tag.

[Mark Yacavone]

RWD stick car...Your dime will grow to a quarter in a hurry.
Better find a used spool and axles or super trick clutch.
Today's tires and tracks will break stock axles and posi's .

[MYRONARL1119]

Guys we actually ran a Nova back in the day with 4.56 gears, a short like 27-28" tall tire and a 2.88 first gear super t10. This was back before the current radical stocker regrinds but with a 194 c.i. 6 cyl (.040 over) and a good head we ran low to mid 15s. Ran way under in the 1/8 th mile so we ran that mostly. If I recall correctly we weighed 2880#. If I were to do this today, I would use an aluminum flywheel, at least a 4.88 gear and would use a Nash 5 speed with 5th gear blocked so as to run as a 4 speed. By using this type of transmission it is easier to "underdrive first gear" so you can run a 3 something first gear. Believe this combo would still work....But if you want to run a totally unique Chevy combo, run the Chevy II with the 4 cyl instead of the in line 6.

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by MYRONARL1119

..But if you want to run a totally unique Chevy combo, run the Chevy II with the 4 cyl instead of the in line 6.

I've always thought that a 4 cyl Chevy II could be a good combo. Same size carb as my 230. Two downsides, find a clean early Chevy II 100 2 door sedan and then get it light enough.
2330 with driver. OBTW, you would want to do a 63-64. They have the big cam.

[Mark Yacavone]

4 cylinder Chevy Twice is probably okay with a 4 speed but heavy for W/Stock!

V/Stockers:

80 Mustang turbo..Still the best. 13 second car,...if you don't mind not being able to make two 60 footers in a row the same.

1977 Odd Fire 231 Monza looking Olds, Buick .
PITA ..especially for a stick car.

Aspen / Volare 2 dr. with a Super Six..Easy bolt together.
There's got to be some old pro shifted Chrysler 4 speeds around.They were common in Modified before the Nash came out.

Billy can tell you about the Malibus with V6.
Probably get away with a slick shifted T5 with the 200 combo.

[james schaechter]

Originally Posted by Mark Yacavone

RWD stick car...Your dime will grow to a quarter in a hurry.
Better find a used spool and axles or super trick clutch.
Today's tires and tracks will break stock axles and posi's .

I would try radials...

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by james schaechter

I would try radials...

Jim, Have you ever tried radials on a stick car?
I have, and it wasn't pretty.

[james schaechter]

Yes.

[Mark Yacavone]

Tell you my story first then.
About 20 years when the Hoosiers first came out, I tried a pair on my 400 4 speed Firebird .Can't remember why I did it when I did ,but it was the first round of a Divisional.
They hooked real well .In fact so good , I split the pinion flange in half right on the line.
Of course the red light was on in the other lane, but I couldn't come back for 2nd round.
A few months later at Bowling Green before Indy , I was having trouble with initial hook up.
I borrowed the same tires again, wanting to see what it would pick up on the other end.
It left fine but then started bouncing up and down thru low and most of second.
I was determined to run it thru the lights so I didn't lift .Right before the 2-3 shift it jumped right out of gear.
I went back to the pits, returned the tires, and never again tried radials on a stick shift.

[impstocker]

The 4 Cylinder deal could work too. Years ago my buddy Pat Henneberry bought a 1985 Camaro that came with a 151 "Iron Duke" Pontiac w the fuel injection. I looked it would fall into W/S with 24.36 factor and HP NHRA rated 115. We disconnected the exhaust took it to Island Dragway just to see. If i remember it ran 18.60 than we swapped out to a smaller diameter tire and picked up 3 tenths to a 18.30 This was totally stock with an automatic. That 200R4 i think. I would like to believe those were 17's but they were probaly 18's . Hey , he still has car. That motor has a hydraulic roller cam too! Small block 5.70 rod. 16.40 index.

Will Lamprecht