New to Stock - Buying an 85 Camaro G/H/I??

[HandOverFist]

Originally Posted by Allen Sherman

Rich, depends on what all parts you have in place already of course, but let's say you wanted to start from scratch and build a complete motor, carb to pan, to be a middle of the road piece, I think you're still gonna spend in the 6000-8000 range for parts...and that would be buying some parts either used or second hand new stuff...and David it's no secret that there's port work being done on the really fast stuff, that's why NHRA incorporated the runner volume rules at the same dimensions as super stock, hence that's why the cost is $5000...but for a break down here's where the price comes from, a good set of heads and intake is gonna be $3500 then you're gonna have about $500 in the good valves, another $750 in the right springs retainers and locks, and another $250 in studs and guide plates. I may be off $25-50 bucks on a couple prices but $5000 is a close estimate. It costs to run at the front of the pack, always has been that way and it always will, just the nature of our sport...and rich if you're asking just what work needs to be done I think at minimum you need a quality block, good pistons and a good ring package, and you can probably get some 5-7 year old heads off someone and it'll put you in the middle of the pack...just my opinion of course

So, without the latest/greatest head work what would one expect with the rest of the package in order? In other words, how much are the fully prepped heads really worth?

[Bill Diehl]

Originally Posted by HandOverFist

So, without the latest/greatest head work what would one expect with the rest of the package in order? In other words, how much are the fully prepped heads really worth?

16 new .375/.325 deep valve seats and proper valve job will really wake some castings up....some more than others


without porting, acid, or any cover up work you got yourself a set of 325+ cfm STOCK castings from one particular manufacture (and let me be clear WITH NO PORTING) other results from other makes will not be as good


replacing seats has been in the rule book as long as I can remember.


run them numbers thru your favorite internet calculator and you will see what kind of power can be made


The cheating bastards doing cover up work are not using that head as far as I know though


let the sh*_ storm begin

[cicero819]

I saw the add also and I have to agree, this is a Steal with a capital S. I have about $15k in my stocker with no paint or fuel,brakes lines etc. I have a Bud Rowe motor(used of course for $5k and I stole that one, i guess someone wanted a new racer in stock so decided to sell me their spare engine as a gift, we dyno'd the engine and wow! did they ever give us a good engine. I should have bought a complete racer because I would be racing it now. This car looks like a deal. Claude Ruel.

[Alan Roehrich]

For those who ask why it costs what it costs:


You have to understand that if you're buying a set of top of the line heads, part of what you're paying for is the experience and knowledge of the guy doing them. For example, I pay Jimmy and Chris at Bridges Performance for Jimmy's 50+ years of experience plus the years of experience Chris brings to the equation. Not to mention the fact that there's well over 40 hours of work in a set of Stock heads if you start with a pair of bare old used castings. So yeah, you're going to pay $5K or more for a set of heads.

The same thing applies to engine builders. You pay guys such as Darrell Wikle, Jeff Taylor, Brian Tilburg, Bobby Warren, Gary McGlasson, and Steve Ficacci as much for what they know as you pay them for what they do.

[HandOverFist]

Not so much the cost as I understand that part. I was just wondering how much performance gain from head work alone (ballpark figure).

[Alan Roehrich]

Originally Posted by HandOverFist

Not so much the cost as I understand that part. I was just wondering how much performance gain from head work alone (ballpark figure).

Rich, the only honest answer is "it depends", on how good the heads you have are, on how able your short block is to take advantage of them, and on what else you have to make them work. If the heads are the only thing holding you back, you have a true low budget set, and you get a top notch set, they could be worth 2 tenths or more.

[jamie2370]

A set of top of the line heads and intake is worth a BUNCH!!! It's not about porting more than proper air flow. You can't just hog them out and expect them to run. It is all about how to get the most air through them the most efficient way. I would say a #1 set with matched intake should be worth around at least 40hp and that should be 3-4 tenths or so. What people fail to remember is .60 under today is .90 under a couple years ago. So builders had to work really hard to overcome that .3 deficit that NHRA handed out.

[dustin423k]

Still in the market for a car.

Legend, thanks but I really want something that will run G-I.

Johnny Rod -" Wow !!!!!!!!!! is all I can say. You guy's are a bunch of negative jerk off's . This is why we don't have any new racers in our class I read all the posts It would scare anyone away. That's not how to build our class. My advise!!!! Buy the car looks like a great deal . And surround your self with positive racers and have fun. And stop asking advice from keyboard racers." Noted and looks like fun. I will have something at the track soon with shoe polish in hand and a weather station, it's just a bracket race until your draw the wrong guy right!??

[countrypuppy4865]

Dustin, don't be discouraged. I think the car is a good deal. In D4 you should be able to move around and learn how to dodge the fast guys. You will generally have 1 or 2 fast ones in each class.

[FLEMING]

G/H/I is a rough place to be. thats where my car falls.. Just dont worry about trying to spend what everyone else does.. Go race and have fun..